We are saddened to share the news of the passing of our long-time partner, colleague and friend Peter Ascherl.
Peter was, first and foremost, a proud father and devoted husband.
He was also an excellent lawyer. Understated, talented and gracious, Peter was the consummate corporate advisor. He built a green energy practice long before that came into vogue, playing a key role in the financing, development and acquisition of numerous wind farm projects and taking on a leadership role in the Firm’s energy practice. He broke ground as one of the first Black law partners on Bay Street, honoured as a trailblazer by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers in 2010.
Peter’s expertise was recognized through a range of rankings, perhaps most notably as an Acritas Star, a recognition that comes solely from independent client feedback. Peter was also recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and featured in a Lexpert Special Edition on Energy, published in The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. He was, quite simply, a tremendous person and a tremendous lawyer.
The law was not Peter’s first professional career. His first career, and his first passion beyond family, was hockey. After finishing law school, he played professionally in Germany for six years, largely spent with Manheim. Peter continued to play hockey, with colleagues and friends, throughout his career, making quite an impression on new and younger colleagues from time to time.
Peter will be dearly missed by colleagues and friends around the Firm and by his many friends in the broader community.
Please join us in extending our condolences to Peter’s family – his spouse Catherine, their children Pierre-Christof and Bianca – and his many friends both within and outside the Firm.