Law Times

Page 16 January 25, 2016 • Law Times www.lawtimesnews.com BLANCHARD APPOINTED UN AMBASSADOR McCarthy Tetrault LLP's loss will be the United Nations' gain as the firm's chairman and chief executive officer, Marc-André Blanchard, has been appointed am- bassador to the UN by Minister of Foreign Af- fairs Stéphane Dion. "e United Na- tions is where the world comes together. Being asked to lead Canada's mission to the United Nations is an immense honour, particularly at a time when Canada has re-committed itself to multilateral diplomacy and to engage more widely on the international scene," said Blanchard in a press release from the firm announcing the appointment. "It's been my privilege to work at McCarthy Tétrault since 1997 and lead the firm for the last six years. "I now look forward to directing my energies towards my new role at the United Nations, an institution our government recognizes as having a vitally important role to play on the global stage," he said. Hélène Sansoucy, specialist, clients and marketing for McCarthy Tétrault, says Blanchard will remain in his CEO post until April 1 and that the firm's board of partners has initiated the process for selecting the next CEO. "As CEO, Marc-André has been the leading champion of our firm's innovative approach to the market in terms of client service delivery and other initiatives. For the foreseeable future, we will continue with our current strategic direction and our commitment to innovation, diversity, efficiency, and excellence," Sansoucy says. u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story Marc-André Blanchard "Scampering around? No problem. Jumping in the water? No prob. But you'll still have to negotiate with our L.A. agent. Last season we sold the rights to our mating ritual." A DAILY BLOG OF CANADIAN LEGAL NEWS FEEDS LEGAL POWERED BY CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/LEGALFEEDS FEEDS LEGAL POWERED BY LegalFeeds_LT_Dec1_14.indd 1 2014-11-26 9:44 AM NEW FIRM IN THE CANADIAN FOLD International law firm Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak and Stew- art PC has made its first foray into Canada. One of the U.S.'s larg- est labour and employment law firms with offices already in Eu- rope and Mexico, it has expanded to Toronto with its 49 th office. "Canada is an important mar- ket for our firm, as many of our clients have operations there and need representation and counsel on Canadian and cross-border labour and employment law mat- ters," said Kim Ebert, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins, in a press release announcing the expansion. "We know that we've chosen the right team of lawyers who share the firm's culture and values to establish our presence in the country." ACCESS TO JUSTICE FUND APPLICATION CALL OPENS e Law Foundation of Ontario has announced its 2016 call for applications has opened for the Access to Justice Fund. Created in 2009 aer receiving almost $15 million in cy-près awards, the fund is now a permanent fixture in the organization to im- prove access to justice. e LFO will be accepting letters of intent until April 1. To be considered, applications must be from Ca- nadian non-profit organizations and must be for projects that ad- dress the legal needs of: children and youth; consumers; public le- gal education intake and referral; racialized groups, or refugees. Full details are at the LFO web site at www.lawfoundation. on.ca. LAW TIMES POLL Leave pension planning to the feds, the bulk of our readers have said. Last week's poll asked if people think the Ontario gov- ernment should continue with its plan to go it alone in a pro- vincial pension plan. About 33 per cent of our readers said, sure, we need a separate plan apart from the CPP to ensure seniors can retire in comfort, or at least more comfortably. e naysay- ers represented just less than 68 per cent, saying no way to a pro- vincial pension plan as Ontario is broke and businesses can't af- ford another tax at this point in the economic cycle. LT CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR POOCH, OR ELSE LONDON — Your doggy droppings could land you in a heap of trouble. A new pilot is being debuted in the United Kingdom to use DNA testing to track down dogs who make a mess, and owners who don't pick up after their pets. The BBC reports that a pilot program has been launched where officers from the London Bor- ough of Barking and Dagenham Council, as well as park rangers, will be picking up doggy samples. The dog's DNA will then be compared with that on a database, reports the BBC. Dog owners can currently voluntarily register their pooches, but microchipping for dogs will be necessary from this April onwards. The pilot program will help determine whether the dog mess is the result of owners who are not registering their pets. The BBC reports that Councillor Darren Rodwell said: "This scheme, which is in response to concerns raised by our residents, is about bringing considerate owners on board with us now, enabling us to gather evidence so we can get tough on inconsiderate owners later." The BBC reports there will be 1,000 free registrations with animal DNA specialists PooPrints. The BBC reports that Gary Downie, managing director of PooPrints UK, said the technique was useful "in this age of austerity." He said it would ensure dog owners who do clean up after their pets are "not tarred with the same brush by the actions of those dog owners not playing by the rules." MAN BUSTED BY POLICE FOR SEEKING RELATIONS WITH HORSE PHOENIX, Ariz. — A Pennsylvania man who travelled to Arizona to have sex with a horse before being nabbed by undercover police was sentenced to 18 months of supervised proba- tion, court officials said. Michael Crawford, 69, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bestiality un- der a deal with prosecutors after his arrest by sheriff 's detectives at a horse trailer in Tolleson, west of downtown Phoenix. His attorney declined to comment on the sentence following the proceedings in Mari- copa County Superior Court in Phoenix. Crawford was arrested last July in an under- cover sting operation that began when a deputy responded to his online advertisement that de- tailed his sexual intentions. Authorities said Crawford sent graphic e- mails and had telephone conversations about wanting such an act and made it clear that he was seeking a willing horse owner. Undercover detectives then met Crawford at the Phoenix airport and took him to a meeting with a volunteer posse member at the trailer. He was taken into custody after he con- firmed his sexual intentions to the deputies, authorities have said. He told detectives at the time of his long history of travelling the country seeking horse owners willing to let him have sex with their animals, the sheriff 's department said. It was not immediately clear if he has ever been suc- cessful. LT encourages readers to send us letters, but will edit them for space, taste, and libel consideration. Please provide your name, address and contact number and send all letters to: Law Times, 2075 Kennedy Rd., Toronto, Ont. M1T 3V4E-mail: lt.editor@tr.com

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