The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) Ontario has selected Toronto-based partner Parna Sabet-Stephenson as the recipient of the Lawyer of Distinction Award for 2023.

The FACL award recognizes "an Asian-Canadian legal professional who has practised law for a minimum of 10 years, for significant accomplishments in the law and for service to the legal profession, areas of social justice and/or the Asian community."

Parna leads Gowling WLG's FinTech and InsurTech groups and, among her many accolades, was named "Lawyer of the Year" for FinTech Practice in Toronto by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023. For over two decades, Parna has represented an extensive roster of Canadian and international clients across all areas of outsourcing, technology law and e-commerce.

A passionate advocate for women's advancement, Parna has led and supported a number of initiatives aimed at providing leadership and career opportunities for women, including in the tech industry. These initiatives include launching the first "Women in Tech Law" events in Canada and co-founding Yara Leadership Society, a women's leadership-focused organization for the Iranian-Canadian community.

Outside of her practice, Parna is a frequent speaker at legal and industry events and is a Canadian delegate to the e-commerce working group of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Learn more about the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Ontario.