Proactive Management of Geopolitical Risks

The CBA is a professional organization that provides educational and networking opportunities for lawyers. Representing more than 36,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada, the CBA is committed to enhancing the professional and commercial interests of a diverse membership and to protecting the independence of the judiciary and the Bar.

Didier Culat has acted in financings and commercial transactions with international or cross-border implications and in securities law. In that regard, he has acted as corporate secretary and coordinating counsel for Canada and the United States to a manufacturer of motor coaches, counsel to an aeronautics manufacturer, Quebec relationship manager for an environmental management firm with operations in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, and coordinating counsel for a private equity firm with regard to their legal needs in Canada and the United States. He has particular experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate financings, and securitized transactions. Didier also frequently assists other Canadian and foreign law firms in their commercial or securities work in the Province of Quebec. He has also lectured and written for audiences in Canada, the United States, and Europe about opportunities under Canada’s free trade agreements and about doing business in Quebec. Originally from Lyon, France, Didier lived in Vancouver for 22 years and then studied in New Brunswick prior to moving to Quebec City. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from the University of British Columbia, Didier has completed a law degree in common law at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and a law degree in civil law at Université Laval in Quebec City. He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers since 1988. He was a student-at-law in the legal department of the Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat and the Ministry of International Affairs (1990).

Carol Hansell is the Senior Partner of Hansell LLP, a member of the Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Group. Over her more than 30 years in practice, she has led major transactions for public and private corporations and governments. She now leads an independent firm dedicated to advising boards, management teams, institutional shareholders, and regulators in connection with legal and governance challenges. She is regularly engaged in connection with special committee mandates, expert reports, board investigations, governance design and reviews, and shareholder engagement matters. Carol is also a principal with Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Inc., which, together with Hansell LLP, delivers integrated legal, governance, government relations, and communications advice. Carol has served on boards of organizations across a variety of sectors – public companies, Crown corporations, financial institutions, healthcare, not-for-profit, and arts organizations. She has served on the boards of the Bank of Canada, Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada, the Global Risk Institute, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, Michael Garron Hospital, SickKids Foundation, Royal Group Technologies (TSE: RYG), and Life Storage (NYSE: LSI), among others. She serves as Chair of the Dean’s Global Advisory Council, Schulich School of Business. Carol is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors, the American College of Governance Counsel, and the Governance and Sustainability Center of The Conference Board (New York). She is the recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in Investor Relations (IR Magazine), the 2017 Hennick Medal for Career Achievement, the 2022 Award for Excellence in Investor Relations from the Canadian Investor Relations Institute, and the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada. In 2024, Carol received an honorary doctorate from York University. Carol’s education includes an Honours B.A. from Western University, an M.A. from the University of Toronto, an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall, and an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business. She was called to the bar in Ontario and admitted to the bar in New York.

Lisa DeMarco is a Senior Partner and CEO of Resilient LLP, with nearly three decades of experience in law, regulation, policy, and advocacy relating to energy and climate change. Ms. DeMarco was previously a partner at Macleod Dixon LLP from 2002 to 2012, partner at Norton Rose Canada LLP from 2012 to 2013, and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP from 2013 to 2014. She represents several governments and leading energy companies in a wide variety of natural gas, electricity, pipeline, and energy storage matters before various regulatory agencies, including the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and the National Energy Board. She has been an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, is a guest lecturer at a number of law schools, and presents regularly. Ms. DeMarco is a director of the boards of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), MaRS Climate Innovation Board, and Planetary Technologies. She is a member of the Climate Economy Strategic Council and of the Expert Advisory Group of the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity initiative (VCMI). She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (B.Sc. Hons. – 1990), the University of Toronto (M.Sc. – 1992), Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (LL.B. – 1995), and the Vermont Law School (M.S.E.L., summa cum laude – 1995), and is called to the bar in England and Ontario.

Cheryl Graden is Chief Legal and Enterprise Corporate Affairs Officer and Corporate Secretary, TMX Group. She is also an officer of TMX Group Limited and its subsidiaries and a member of the TMX Group Executive Committee. Ms. Graden has responsibility for advising TMX Group on all legal and regulatory issues that arise out of its operations and business initiatives. Over the last few years, the scope of her role has expanded to include the oversight of Enterprise Risk Management, Government Relations, and Corporate Communications to ensure alignment in the enterprise approach across all stakeholder groups. Ms. Graden began her legal career at Torys LLP in 1996 and joined TMX Group in 2004 as Chief Legal Officer at NGX in Calgary. Her role expanded over the years to encompass additional responsibilities, including the Canadian Depository for Securities’ legal and regulatory affairs. In January 2013, Ms. Graden was promoted to Vice President, Cash Clearing and Energy. She is an acknowledged expert in energy and clearing and has been a regular speaker on these topics across North America. In addition to an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta, Ms. Graden earned LL.B. and LL.M. (Securities) degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Heather L. Treacy, K.C. is a highly sought-after and nationally recognized counsel whose practice is focused on civil litigation and dispute resolution. Heather is the former Managing Partner of the Calgary office of DLA Piper (2013–2019) and a former elected member of DLA Piper’s Executive Committee. She has over 30 years of experience in acting as counsel to clients in complex multi-party litigation and disputes, and has extensive experience with negotiation and mediation on matters related to tort law, class actions, energy and resources law, Indigenous and constitutional law, general commercial disputes, transportation, aviation, products liability, human rights, employment law, health law, and intellectual property law. She frequently appears before both the trial and appellate courts in the Province of Alberta, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and various tribunals, including the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, energy-related tribunals, and the Canadian Transportation Agency. In addition to the above, Heather provides legal and governance advice to both public and private sector boards. Heather also chairs the pro bono committee of DLA Piper. Heather also has specific expertise in Indigenous law and provides advice on a significant number of issues involving treaty, Indigenous rights, and Indigenous title issues and has been involved in several precedent-setting cases, including those in the energy sector. Heather has been recognized for her expertise in the area of dispute resolution by leading lawyer ranking guides Benchmark Canada (Litigation Star), Acritas (Star Lawyer), Chambers Canada, Legal 500 Canada, and Euromoney. In the area of Indigenous law, she has been recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, Chambers Global, and Chambers Canada. In 2014, Heather was named one of WXN’s Top 100, Canada’s Most Powerful Women; in 2016, she was a Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Award winner in the “Leadership in the Profession in Private Practice” category; and in 2017 she was named a winner of the Lexpert Zenith Awards: Celebrating Women in Law. Most recently, Heather was an Excellence Award Recipient in the Woman of the Year category for the 2020 Canadian Law Awards. Heather is active in the community and has a passion for the arts. She is the former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the University of Calgary Alumni Association. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Calgary International Language Foundation and currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Calgary French and International School Society.