From litigation to dispute resolution, mergers and acquisitions to national security, and labour and employment in the age of COVID-19, our dedicated new associates are tackling the issues that impact how you do business. They are Novera Khan, MacNeal Darnley and Véronique Champoux.
Novera Khan
Novera Khan graduated from the Canadian & American Dual J.D. program at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and the Detroit Mercy School of Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Sociology and Economics from the University of Toronto. Throughout her academic years, Novera was active with a variety of extracurricular activities that honed her legal skills. As a volunteer, she worked at Community Legal Aid and the Federal Pro Se Clinic housed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
What drew you to the practice of law?
Novera: I have been debating competitively, in the national and international circuits, since I was 14. It’s what drew me to litigation. I’d like to think the years spent refining my research skills and crafting arguments to succeed at debating tournaments now allow me to articulate my clients’ positions in a succinct and persuasive manner.
What is your practice group and area of speciality?
Novera: I am an Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. I also work with the International Trade and Communications groups.
What do you consider to be the most interesting or significant legal issue for clients related to your practice areas?
Novera: It is crucial to keep up with legislative changes and policy developments in areas relevant to the client, and to understand how current events might inform further changes to legislation and policy in these areas. This allows the client to be proactive and adapt quickly to avoid any non-compliance with the law.
What was the last book you read?
Novera: All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
Novera: I enjoy watching any documentary that Netflix has to offer, exploring new patios with friends and travelling (though that’s been on hold since 2020).
I am also actively involved with the Canadian Bar Association. I was elected to, and will serve as an Executive Member of, the International Law section, the Constitutional and Human Rights section and the Administrative Law section.
MacNeal Darnley
MacNeal Darnley is a graduate of the Queen’s University Faculty of Law and he holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction from the University of Toronto. While pursuing his legal education, MacNeal volunteered as a project lead for Pro Bono Students Canada, as a volunteer editor for the Queen’s Law Journal, and as a food bank volunteer at The Downtown Mission of Windsor. He served in numerous leadership positions with the Law Students Society at Queen’s and worked as a judicial extern to an appellate judge at the Michigan Court of Appeals.
What drew you to the practice of law?
MacNeal: I always wanted an intellectually rewarding career that allowed me to help others and make concrete contributions to the public good.
What is your practice group and area of speciality?
MacNeal: I have a broad corporate/commercial practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate reorganizations and corporate governance matters including management fiduciary liability and the protection of confidential business information and trade secrets. My practice also focuses on cybersecurity and national security matters, where I work with clients in federally regulated industries and transactions to provide legal, policy and government relations solutions.
What do you consider to be the most interesting or significant legal issue for clients related to your practice areas?
MacNeal: In the era of COVID-19, national security considerations should be top of mind for clients. We have seen COVID-19 expand the national security landscape in Canada, impacting everything from the protection of critical infrastructure to securing the supply of goods and services. Going forward, even in the post-pandemic environment, clients should expect continued government attention on national security.
What was the last book you read?
MacNeal: I recently read John Grisham’s The Rainmaker, a compelling story about a young man just out of law school. It reminds me of the importance of ethics and empathy being the underpinnings of the decisions we make, both personally and professionally.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
MacNeal: In my spare time, I enjoy teaching sailing, maintaining my Ford Mustang and spending time with my family.
Véronique Champoux
Véronique Champoux is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s bijural Programme de droit canadien (dual J.D. and LL.L.). She also has an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with Bilingual Specialization from the University of Windsor. The uOttawa program offered her the opportunity to acquire the analytical skills to compare and contrast the two most widely used legal systems in the world, and find creative solutions to challenging situations. Véronique also participated in the federal government’s Copyright Policy Moot as a law student, where she was the recipient of both the Best Paper and the Best Presentation awards.
What drew you to the practice of law?
Véronique: I have always been interested in the rules that govern how we collectively live as a society and resolve conflicts when they arise. I also love learning new things, so the fact that the practice of law includes a lot of research appealed to me because it allows me to learn every day.
What is your practice group and area of speciality?
Véronique: In the spring of 2021, I joined the Labour, Employment, and Human Rights Group. I currently have a broad practice that allows me to provide practical and strategic advice in all areas of labour, employment and human rights. Additionally, I practice law in both French and English.
What do you consider to be the most interesting or significant legal issue for clients related to your practice area?
Véronique: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, employers must be able to quickly adjust their internal policies to reflect new government mandates. Employers also need to make important determinations on various matters, such as whether they will open, reopen and/or close their physical workplaces or put in place vaccination policies. In making these determinations, employers must also keep in mind their duties to their employees.
What was the last book you read?
Véronique: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I loved how it wove together multiple generations of a family to explore how the past shaped each family member’s decisions, desires and expectations. Its exploration of the reasons a person might feel pulled to live as something other than their origins was also extremely interesting.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
Véronique: I enjoy spending time with friends and family, exploring different neighborhoods around the city and reading.