Two alumni named “Leading Lawyers Under 40”

Anil Aggarwal, Law ’96, a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Toronto, and Jacqueline Armstrong Gates, Law ’94, a partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Kitchener

Anil Aggarwal, Law ’96, and Jacqueline Armstrong Gates, Law ’94, were recently honoured as “Rising Stars — Leading Lawyers Under 40” on Lexpert’s prestigious 2010 list of 40.

Winners were nominated by peers and selected by Lexpert’s advisory board on such criteria as important deals and cases, community or professional involvement, contributions to their firms’ profitability, adaptability to change, and qualities as a team player.

“I’m very pleased by the recognition,” says Aggarwal, a partner practising corporate/securities law at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in Toronto. “I’m humbled as well; the Lexpert advisory board is comprised of some of the most respected senior lawyers in Canada.”

Known for expertise in structuring investment products, Aggarwal developed a self-sustaining practice early in his career, was named a partner at his firm in 2003, and was appointed Vice-Chair of its Ontario business law section in 2007.

One of the Toronto office’s top billers, he acts as counsel to investment funds, dealers, advisors and managers, as well as public and private corporations. “Most rewarding to me is working closely with clients not only as their legal counsel, but as a trusted advisor who really gets to know their business.”

Among his high-profile roles, he has been outside counsel for Manulife Financial’s Individual Wealth Management Division for more than 12 years—half that time as lead counsel—and lead counsel on many multimillion-dollar initial public offerings.

Queen’s Law prepared him well, Aggarwal says. “The School has tremendous faculty, strong curriculum, and teaches students to think in a critical and analytical way, to problem solve. That’s the most important skill I carried with me from my law education, and I use it every day.”

For her part, Armstrong Gates, a partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Kitchener who specializes in civil litigation with a focus on commercial and banking law, says she’s “humbled and excited” to be named to Lexpert’s list.

Over 15 years of practice, she has acquired a reputation for expertise in shareholders’ disputes and has argued cases at all levels of court in Ontario. “What’s most satisfying is that you can really help people, as litigation matters can be a real quagmire,” she notes.

Armstrong Gates is the office’s Advocacy Department Head and leads its mentorship program. With the Ontario Bar Association, she has played many roles, including executive member-at-large, secretary, and chair of the awards committee and Law Day (the OBA’s single largest educational initiative). Of particular note, she developed the Kitchener Waterloo Law Day program.

Active in her community, Armstrong Gates volunteers where it will “help my children, my profession, and advance women.” She was named to the Waterloo Record’s “Top 40 Under 40” Leaders in 2010. She’s co-founder of the Empowered Women’s Social Networking Group, is a former board member and now fundraiser for the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Brigadoon Public School and the Food Bank.

Like co-winner Aggarwal, Armstrong Gates credits Queen’s Law for an excellent legal education. “It was a great foundation. As my niece could tell you, I think everyone should go to Queen’s.”

-- Kirsteen MacLeod

Photo of Anil Aggarwal courtesy of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP; photo of Jacqueline Armstrong Gates by Lisa Randall