Law Times

PAGE 16 The Inside Story REFUGEE LAWYERS UNITE More than 150 lawyers and academics have teamed up to launch the Canadian Associa- tion of Refugee Lawyers. Lorne Waldman, a To- ronto immigration lawyer and the new organization's fi rst president, said the group will promote just and consistent practices in the treatment of refugees across Canada. "Th e treatment of detained refugee claimants on the West Coast and arbitrary detention proposed in recent government legislation were a call to arms for all those concerned about basic principles of justice," he said. "More than ever, lawyers and academics across Canada must co-ordinate their eff orts to protect human rights, preserve the Charter, and defend asylum seekers." Th e association promises to intervene before the courts and Parliament and off er sup- port to refugee counsel across Canada. COLUMNIST JOINS MILLER THOMSON Jeff rey Lem, author of the Th e Dirt column in Law Times, is leaving Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP after more than a decade there as a partner in its Toronto real estate group. Lem will continue his prac- tice from the Toronto and Markham, Ont., offi ces of Miller Th omson LLP. Lem's real estate practice in- cludes the acquisition, disposi- tion, leasing, development, and fi nancing of several large real estate projects and portfolios. He'll also be working on Miller Th omson's global initiative in China. "Miller Th omson has added enhanced capabilities, depth, and resources in many core and specialty areas of exper- tise in the fi rm," said Nora Osbaldeston, offi ce managing partner of Miller Th omson in Toronto and Markham. "Hav- ing Jeff join us adds to our cur- rent bench strength and leaves us well-positioned to help domestic and international decision-makers with their real estate and other Canadian legal needs." WEIRFOULDS LAWYER HONOURED Toronto lawyer John McKel- lar will pick up the Edmund C. Bovey Award for lifetime achievement in arts leadership this week. Th e WeirFoulds LLP part- ner emeritus has spent 50 years advising, counselling, and vol- unteering in Canadian arts and culture. He'll receive the award at the Business for the Arts gala on Oct. 6 at the Carlu in To- ronto. During his career, McKellar has chaired the Toronto Arts Council, was vice chairman of the Ontario Arts Council Foundation and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and has also served as a direc- tor on a number of boards. "It is a great honour for me to receive this award, especially so because I knew Ed Bovey and greatly admired what he was able to do for the arts," said McKellar. "I also know many of the previous recipients and their accomplishments so I'm delighted to be considered worthy of joining them as win- ner of this award." HEENAN BLAIKIE BOOSTS PARIS OFFICE Heenan Blaikie LLP has boosted its Paris offi ce with the hiring of Jean-Jacques Essom- bè Moussio as partner. Essombè Moussio will head up the banking and fi nanc- ing practice at the Paris offi ce. He brings with him extensive knowledge of Africa and its fi nancial institutions. He has been advising French and in- ternational fi nancial institu- tions for almost 20 years on topics such as lending, fi nanc- ing, restructuring, fi nancial market regulation, and invest- ment funds. MCMILLAN CELEBRATES 60 YEARS IN MONTREAL McMillan LLP is celebrat- ing the 60th anniversary of its Montreal offi ce. "We're delighted to mark this important milestone in the fi rm's history," said Charles Chevrette, McMillan's offi ce management partner in Mon- treal. "We cherish our deep roots in Montreal and in the province of Quebec and look forward to serving this diverse and dynamic market for years to come." Th e fi rm traces its roots in Montreal back to 1951. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. RACE-BASED PRICING STIRS CONTROVERSY BERKELEY, Calif. — Can you say human rights com- plaint? Student Republicans at the University of California at Berkeley, upset at a proposed diversity law, have stirred up the famously left-wing cam- pus with plans for a sale of baked goods priced according to the race and gender of buy- ers, Reuters reported. A Facebook promotion of the event set for last week drew cries of racism and misogyny on the social net- working site. Student body president Vishalli Loomba called what the Berkeley Col- lege Republicans were doing off ensive. According to Reuters, or- ganizers say their Increase Diversity Bake Sale is satirical commentary on new legisla- tion that would again allow California's public universities to consider the race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin of admissions applicants. Th e sale was scheduled to take place near a campus phone bank set up by support- ers of the bill in order to lobby Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the measure into law. Th e original Facebook post for the event said pastries sold at the bake sale would be priced at $2 each for white customers, $1.50 for buyers of OctOber 3, 2011 • Law times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Asian descent, $1 for Latinos, 75 cents for black customers, and 25 cents for American In- dians. All women would get a 25-cent discount, Reuters re- ported. While enactment of the bill doesn't require university ad- missions offi cers to give prefer- ential treatment to applicants on the basis of race or gender, it would allow them to con- sider such factors. SUIT LAUNCHED OVER AUTOMATIC TIP NEW YORK — It's not just Berkeley student Republicans who are stirring the racial hor- net's nest. According to the New York Post, two customers have fi led suit against the Baluchi's res- taurant chain for allegedly adding an automatic 18-per- cent tip to the bill. Th e restau- rant's manager, they claim, said it applies the gratuity to South Asian customers who never tip. Abe Shah and Hema Virani are seeking unspecifi ed damages in response, the New York Post reported. Shah, who is of Paki- stani descent, and Virani, who is Indian, claim the restaurant slapped them with the man- datory tip when they received their bill on May 12. Shah, the suit alleges, then asked to speak to the manager, who responded that the restaurant applies the tip to Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi customers because "they never tip." Th e pair also claim a worker attacked them after they left the restaurant without paying the charge. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Th e restaurant, when reached by the New York Post, said no one was available to comment. SNOOKI SUBSIDY VETOED TRENTON, N.J. — You've got to wonder about some politicians' priorities when not even the Snooki Subsidy gets budgetary approval. According to Reuters, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a $420,000 fi lm tax credit dubbed the Snooki Sub- sidy for the show Jersey Shore. In a statement, Christie said the money would be better spent on "projects that actually benefi t the state." In a letter to the Economic Development Authority, which awarded the hit show $420,000 in fi lm tax credits, Christie said it wasn't just a matter of money. It was personal, too. "As chief executive, I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconcep- tions about the state and its citizens, " Christie said in the letter. Th e response from MTV, which has aired the seaside smackdowns and barroom brawls of both male and fe- male cast members of the show, was sober and brief. "Th e governor's decision will not impact the show," MTV spokesman Nathaniel Brown said. LT "That's what happens when the Supreme Court interprets the provisions of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act." Get more online Canadian Lawyer | Law Times | 4Students | InHouse | Legal Feeds lawtimesnews.com • canadianlawyermag.com www.lawtimesnews.com Visit Us Online 1-8-5X.indd 1 2/28/11 2:37:34 PM Fresh Canadian legal news and analysis every day

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