Every day, Dave executes on his vision for the future of our firm – one where clients and the industries in which they operate are paramount.
As CEO, Dave leads McCarthy Tétrault’s mission to be Canada’s premier provider of legal services to public and private enterprises in Canada and around the world. Dave helps the firm achieve this mission by supporting our partners and professionals across the country to deliver creative solutions and exceptional business advice so that clients can achieve their objectives. He drives the firm’s strategy to offer true borderless client service through our commitment to meeting client needs now and in the future.
Committed to doing things differently
As the leader of one of the most storied firms in the country, and with more than 20 years of experience as a litigator, Dave is relentlessly focused on deepening client relationships and building the law firm of tomorrow. Under his leadership, the firm has realigned its support along the strategic issues and industry lines that matter to clients, to better serve their needs. This transformation included the game-changing acquisition of MT>3 (formerly Wortzmans), the country’s top e-Discovery and information governance law firm, and the development of the firm’s innovative MT❯Divisions business lines — MT❯3, MT❯Align, MT❯iplus, MT❯Ventures and MT❯Version — to deliver superior client support amid the rapidly changing business and legal landscape. Additionally, Dave spearheaded the opening of our New York office to better serve clients’ cross-border objectives.
Under Dave’s guidance, McCarthy Tétrault has earned a reputation as an inclusive, leading law firm, defining new standards for innovation within the industry. As a result, McCarthy Tétrault was the only law firm listed in the Report on Business Top 25 Best B2B Brands by The Globe and Mail in 2021 and has received the Canadian Law Awards “Shaping the Future Award” (2022), among other honours.
Visionary leadership founded on integrity and inclusiveness
A vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, Dave has been recognized for his leadership and support of D&I initiatives and was named Senior Executive of the Year (Eastern Region) by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion in 2019. He is particularly passionate about working to remove the barriers that have historically prevented under-represented groups from advancing in traditional law firms. In overseeing more than 750 lawyers and operations in offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, New York and London (U.K.), Dave makes it a priority to incorporate the perspectives, experiences and insights of members across the firm to build a cohesive strategy for the future of the business.
Under Dave’s leadership, the firm founded its Inclusion Now program, which is dedicated to diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility. The first-of-its-kind in the Canadian legal profession, the program informs all aspects of the firm and has achieved tremendous results and industry recognition, earning back-to-back Diversity Initiative of the Year honours at the Canadian Law Awards, including one for its Anti-Racism Strategy in 2021.
Dave is also an active member of the United Way’s Campaign Cabinet, and, under Inclusion Now, spearheaded the firm’s commitment to donate $5 million to United Way Centraide, over five years.
Dave received his LLB from the University of Western Ontario in 1992 and was called to the Ontario bar in 1994. Dave practised in our litigation group, representing a wide range of clients, and in 2012, he was appointed National Practice Group Leader for litigation before assuming the role of CEO in 2016.