Conflicts of Interest
The CBA’s Task Force on Conflicts of Interest published its landmark report containing 21 recommendations dealing with the duty of loyalty, the duty of confidentiality and letters of engagement, on August 16 at the CBA’s Canadian Legal Conference in Quebec City.

Since its creation in March 2007, the 16-member Task Force successfully fulfilled its ambitious mandate to propose practical guidelines for the profession in applying our duties of loyalty and confidentiality to clients. At 275-pages, the report includes a 75-page tool kit that contains forms, samples and precedents for lawyers.

On August 17, CBA Council endorsed the approach of the Task Force. Over the coming months the final recommendations will be redrafted into actual amendments to the CBA’s Code of Professional Conduct, and presented to Council for final approval in February 2009.

Report: www.cba.org/CBA/groups/pdf/conflicts_finalreport.pdf
Toolkit: www.cba.org/CBA/groups/conflicts/toolkit2.aspx
Podcast: www.cba.org/CBA/groups/conflicts/
Resolution: www.cba.org/CBA/resolutions/pdf/08-04-A-ctfd.pdf



Photo: Conflicts of Interest Task Force member Susan McGrath (left) joins Chair Scott Jolliffe (centre) and then-President Bernard Amyot (right) at a news conference on the release of the report.

Resolutions
Also on CBA Council agenda were resolutions on topics including choice of official language by clients, registered pension plans for self-employed lawyers, a comprehensive renewal of the Privacy Act, compensation of prothonotaries, and policies covering CBA preferred suppliers, event sponsors and periodical advertisers.

Resolutions (requires CBA member number): www.cba.org/CBA/resolutions/2008res/Default.aspx

Recognizing Excellence
During its Conference in Quebec City in August, the CBA honoured lawyers who made exceptional contributions to the association and the legal profession.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD
J. Vincent O’Donnell, QC, Ad. E. of Montreal

PUBLIC SECTOR LAWYERS JOHN TAIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Vincent Calderhead of Halifax

RAYMON JOHN HNATYSHYN AWARD FOR LAW
A. Alan Borovoy, OC of Toronto

FOUNDATION FOR LEGAL RESEARCH WALTER OWEN BOOK PRIZE
Marie Pratte, of l’Université d’Ottawa, and Jean Pineau, formerly of l’Université de Montréal

LOUIS ST-LAURENT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Virginia Engel, QC of Calgary

SOGIC AWARDS
The Honourable Claire L’Heureux-Dubé (Ally), formerly of the Supreme Court of Canada, and Toronto lawyer Joanna Radbord (Hero)

TOUCHSTONE AWARD
Nova Scotia Family Court Judge Corrine Sparks of Halifax

YOUNG LAWYERS PRO BONO AWARD
Heenan Blaikie LLP associate Ryan Teschner of Toronto

TARNOPOLSKY HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
Yves Fortier, CC, OQ, QC LL.D. of Montreal

JUSTICIA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM
Reporter Madeleine Roy and producer Mireille Ledoux for of Societé Radio-Canada’s Emission Enquete (broadcast), and journalist Don Butler of the Ottawa Citizen (print).

Details on CBA award winners: www.cba.org/CBA/News/2008_Releases/



Photo: Virginia Engel, QC of Calgary receives Louis St-Laurent Award from Second Vice-President Kevin Carroll, QC.

This article was published in the October 2008 issue of BarTalk. © 2008 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.