National firm and its lawyers give $1 million to support McGill's Faculty of Law

Ogilvy Renault lawyers and agents join forces to make historic contribution to Campaign McGill

Leading Canadian law firm Ogilvy Renault LLP has partnered with its lawyers, agents and retired partners to collectively raise $1 million in support of McGill's Faculty of Law. This major contribution to Campaign McGill will support two scholars in the field of international arbitration and commercial law, to be known as the Ogilvy Renault Faculty Scholars in Arbitration and Commercial Law.

Individual Ogilvy lawyers, agents, and retired partners from all cities, departments and levels of seniority have contributed to the cause – together raising more than $500,000. The $1-million gift includes $250,000 from the firm itself, as well as $250,000 from L. Yves Fortier, a Campaign McGill Co-Chair, longstanding Chairman of Ogilvy Renault, graduate of the Faculty of Law, and leader in international arbitration law.

With offices across the country, the law firm of Ogilvy Renault is recognized as a leader in international arbitration and commercial law. The participation rate of McGill graduates in this fundraising effort was 84 per cent, and 89 per cent amongst graduates of McGill’s Faculty of Law. Ogilvy Renault lawyers have been instrumental in the success of Campaign McGill to date – one of the Campaign's lead gifts was a $5-million contribution from Ogilvy Renault Counsel and Campaign McGill Co-Chair, Senator Michael Meighen, and his wife Kelly.

"Ogilvy Renault has a very important relationship with McGill and its law school. Our successful Ogilvy Renault Faculty Scholars fundraising campaign and the very important university-wide campaign leadership roles played by both Yves Fortier and Michael Meighen are a testament to the firm's longstanding commitment to McGill," says Norman M. Steinberg, Chairman of the firm.

Last fall, a $3-million gift from aluminium giant Rio Tinto Alcan allowed the Faculty of Law to establish the L. Yves Fortier Chair in International Arbitration and International Commercial Law. Working with the appointee to the Fortier Chair, the new Ogilvy Renault Faculty Scholars will contribute to a critical mass of international arbitration and commercial law experts at McGill.

"Ogilvy Renault is making one of the most substantial gifts to teaching and research at a Canadian law faculty ever," said Dean of Law Nicholas Kasirer. "The Faculty is immensely grateful to the firm, its partners, retired partners, associates and staff for its historic generosity in embracing this international and transsystemic project to support arbitration as an emerging field in the Faculty of Law. We share Ogilvy Renault's conviction that international arbitration and commercial law are critically important to McGill's future and the future influence of Canadian law around the world."

Students at McGill's Faculty of Law study in both French and English, and earn both civil and common law degrees, enabling them to pursue diverse careers in the law across Canada and around the world, and to develop a full understanding of the law unhindered by jurisdiction.

Campaign McGill: History in the Making was publicly launched in October 2007, seeking to raise the funds needed to attract and retain the world’s best students and faculty, increase access to quality education, and enhance McGill's ability to address critical global challenges. To date, the Campaign has surpassed the $475-million mark, thanks to more than 67,600 donors worldwide.

For more information on Campaign McGill, please visit https://www.mcgill.ca/campaign/

For more information on the McGill Faculty of Law, please visit https://www.mcgill.ca/law/

For more information on Ogilvy Renault LLP, please visit http://www.ogilvyrenault.com