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We* are committed to supporting and promoting the advancement of women at our firm and in the legal industry. That is why we developed and created ReferToHer™, a series of lists of experienced female lawyers to whom lawyers and clients can confidently refer work. Through ReferToHer™, we balance§ our commitment to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion with concrete action. Recognizing that referrals are key to achieving business success, ReferToHer™ aims to balance the scales on referrals to ensure that female lawyers are as top of mind for referrals as their male colleagues..

ReferToHer™ is a series of lists, organized by practice group, of experienced female lawyers to whom you can confidently refer work. As referrals are key to achieving business success, we hope this program ensures that female lawyers are positioned as equal, available, resources for those seeking legal help. This is a step towards ensuring that, regardless of gender, clients are referred to the right lawyers.

ReferToHer™ was initially launched as a litigation referral network in June 2019, by Sana Halwani and former Partner and current Chief Legal Counsel at EY Canada, Shara Roy. Working with senior female lawyers at our firm and other senior women in the industry, lists in the following practice areas were developed:


​​​​​In January 2020, McCarthy Tétrault, together with Lenczner Slaght, developed the first Corporate ReferToHer™ lists of its kind for:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions (Private)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (Public)
  • Private Equity
  • Securities & Capital Markets


Our intention is for ReferToHer™ to grow organically over time to reflect the Canadian legal market. To learn more, visit refertoher.com today and join us in balancing the scales on referrals.

What is ReferToHer™?

ReferToHer™ is a series of lists, organized by practice group, of experienced female lawyers to whom you can confidently refer work. As referrals are an important part of achieving business success, we hope this program ensures that female lawyers are positioned as equal, available, resources for those seeking legal help. This is a step towards ensuring that, regardless of gender, clients are referred to the right lawyers.

How did ReferToHer™ and the initial lists originate?

ReferToHer™ was initially launched as a litigation referral network in June 2019 by Sana Halwani, Partner at Lenczner Slaght, and Shara Roy, former Partner at Lenczner Slaght and current Chief Legal Counsel at EY Canada. Working with senior female lawyers at Lenczner Slaght and other senior women in the industry, ten litigation lists were developed at launch with lawyers originally placed on only one of the lists. In January 2020, McCarthy Tétrault, together with Lenczner Slaght, developed the first Corporate ReferToHer™ list of its kind.

Lenczner Slaght remains responsible for developing and updating all litigation lists and maintaining litigation@refertoher.com.

McCarthy Tétrault remains responsible for developing and updating all corporate lists and maintaining corporate@refertoher.com.

Is ReferToHer™ a directory or a ranking?

No, it is not a membership or a legal ranking.

Can someone be on more than one list?

While lawyers were originally placed on only one list, you can endorse a lawyer to have her included on multiple lists by filling out the form on Get Her on the List. The intention is for the lists to grow organically over time to reflect the Canadian legal market.

How does someone get on the list? What are the criteria?

If you are already on a list, you may visit Get Her on the List to endorse an addition. She must be a partner, counsel, sole practitioner, or a lawyer with at least 8 years of experience (i.e., with a Bar Admission of 2016 or earlier), she must be a litigator (Litigation list only) or corporate lawyer (Corporate list only) practicing in Canada, and she must identify as female. She should also be someone to whom you have or confidently would refer work. Please keep in mind that you cannot endorse someone from your own firm.

Can a listee endorse an addition to any list?

No, there are some limitations. Only those who are on a Litigation list can endorse an addition to a Litigation list and only those who are on a Corporate list can endorse an addition to a Corporate list. However, anyone on any list can endorse an addition to a Supporting Legal Areas list and vice versa.

Who will make updates to the list?

Periodic updates to contact information on the Litigation lists will be made by Lenczner Slaght. Periodic updates to contact information on the Corporate lists will be made by McCarthy Tétrault.

What type of updates will be made?

Those who are no longer practicing in private practice will be removed from the lists. In addition, if you are on a Litigation list and wish to be removed, you can email litigation@refertoher.com. If you are on a Corporate list and wish to be removed, you can email corporate@refertoher.com.

How long will it take to receive a response from litigation@refertoher.com or corporate@refertoher.com?

Please allow 48-72 hours.