Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is excited to announce several key leadership changes. Effective April 4, 2024, Ryan Jacobs and Jonathan Sherman will serve as Co-Chairs of the firm’s Executive Committee, and Jennifer Wasylyk will take on the role of Deputy Managing Partner.
Ryan Jacobs is a partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency Group and has been a long-standing member of the firm’s Executive Committee. A former New York practitioner with one of the most active bankruptcy groups in the United States, Ryan has developed a leading cross-border restructuring practice in Canada, serving as a trusted advisor in many of the largest and most complex in-court and out-of-court reorganizations, recapitalizations, and restructurings in recent history. For his work, Ryan is recognized as a leader in his field by Best Lawyers, Chambers, and the IFLR1000. A driver of change, Ryan is lauded both for his pioneering strategies for clients and his dedication to the growth and success of the firm.
Jonathan Sherman is a partner in the Business Law Group, Chair of the Cannabis Group, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. The youngest lawyer to make partner in the firm’s history, Jonathan has been at the forefront of many of the largest industry transactions in the cannabis industry, providing strategic and legal advice to a range of leading industry players on complex and innovative transactions in Canada and cross-border. For this work, Jonathan is ranked by such authorities as Best Lawyers, Chambers, and the IFLR1000. Jonathan’s dedication to professional excellence and his innate leadership abilities have been a defining characteristic in his work on the Executive Committee over the past several years.
Jennifer Wasylyk is a partner in the Financial Services Group with a practice that focuses on debt, specialty/alternative finance, and project finance transactions – including project debt, subordinated debt, equipment finance facilities, and specialty finance matters. Jennifer has acted as lead counsel regarding debt matters on many of the most significant recent M&A transactions in the natural resource sector. Jennifer is recognized as a leader in her field by Best Lawyers and as a leading practitioner by Lexpert. Within the firm, she has continually demonstrated a commitment to the Cassels community. As Professional Resources Committee Chair, Jennifer implemented several key initiatives to improve the associate experience, promote EDI, and ensure equitable access to work. She has also served as Co-Chair of the firm’s Financial Services Group and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practice team. In recognition of her remarkable career and commitment to the both the firm and the legal community at large, Jennifer was recently honoured as a Lexpert Rising Star.
At Cassels, we believe that our commitment to provide excellent solutions, advice, and representation to our clients is made possible through teamwork and strong leadership. Says Kristin Taylor, Managing Partner: “I am thrilled to welcome Ryan, Jonathan, and Jennifer to their new roles. I believe that their youth, vision, and dedication will further bolster our firm as we balance a period of unprecedented and exciting growth with our commitment to our clients and to our community. I also believe that their example will serve to inspire the next generation of leaders here at Cassels.” Kristin adds: “At this time we also thank Mark Bennett and David Budd who will complete their terms as Executive Chair and Deputy Managing Partner, respectively. Both Mark and David have been instrumental to the success we have achieved as a firm over the last decade. Mark will continue to focus on his mining securities practice. David will continue to focus on his debt and specialty/alternative finance practice.”