Risa Kirshblum Recognized for Excellence in Mentoring

Lenczner Slaght is proud to announce that Risa Kirshblum is the 2024 recipient of The Eric Hoaken Excellence in Mentoring Award, to be presented at The Advocates’ Society End of Term Dinner on June 26, 2024. 

“Risa is an exceptional litigator and her mentorship is truly legendary among her colleagues,” says Managing Partner, Monique Jilesen. “Over three decades, she has completed thousands of hours mentoring and teaching, both formally and informally, ensuring that her support and leadership reaches to all corners of our firm and extends across the legal profession. She is truly an extraordinary mentor and more than deserving of this recognition!”

The Eric Hoaken Excellence in Mentoring Award is presented biennially and honours advocates who have shown outstanding commitment to and excellence in mentoring other advocates. The recipients are selected based on their dedication to mentoring other advocates; generosity of time and expertise, with a commitment to assisting more junior advocates; commitment to The Advocates’ Society’s mentoring and educational programs; and professionalism in all aspects of his or her participation in the work of the Society.

Risa is a Partner at Lenczner Slaght and co-leader of its Professional Liability group. She is deeply committed to training the next generation of leading trial lawyers and is instrumental in their success for the benefit of our firm and clients. She insists on providing juniors with opportunities to gain experience at all stages of their careers in meaningful and substantive ways, even on complex, high-stakes files. Risa does not simply mentor, she champions, and goes above and beyond for others. 

Outside the firm, Risa’s dedication is equally unwavering. She has taught hundreds of lawyers through countless speaking engagements across every legal organization. Highlights include participating in over 20 programs for The Advocates’ Society, including as a trusted instructor of their intensive Train the Trainers program, and being an instructor for Osgoode’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop for 20+ years.

Congratulations to Risa on this well-deserved recognition!