Steve McKersie has been elected to serve as CEO of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP for a six-year term commencing January 1, 2022. As CEO, McKersie will also serve as a member of Gowling WLG's International Board.
McKersie has spent his entire career with Gowling WLG. An accomplished business lawyer based in Toronto, he oversees a robust corporate and commercial law practice, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, debt and equity financing, and commercial contract negotiations.
Peter Lukasiewicz (left) and Steve McKersie (right)
For the past five years, McKersie has served as Canadian leader of the firm's global US Sales Initiative, forging strategic relationships across the United States and helping inbound and outbound clients pursue cross-border opportunities. McKersie has been responsible for managing the firm's relationship with some of its largest clients.
McKersie will succeed current CEO Peter Lukasiewicz, whose term ends on December 31, 2021. Looking ahead, Lukasiewicz will focus on supporting the firm's continued development by building client relationships, developing new leaders, and supporting strategic firm initiatives.
"Peter's leadership, the resilience of our teams, and the trust our clients continue to place in us, position Gowling WLG to emerge from the pandemic as a stronger firm, one with a renewed sense of the possibilities before us," said McKersie. "I look forward to engaging our people to harness that spirit as we continue to pursue innovative new approaches to how we connect with, and deliver value to, our clients and one another."
In 2016, Lukasiewicz became the first CEO to lead the Canada LLP arm of Gowling WLG. As CEO, Lukasiewicz grew the firm's brand while taking important steps to strengthen the firm's practices domestically, bringing greater equity to the firm's partnership admission and partner compensation processes, emphasizing associate advancement and inclusion, and working to make mental health and EDI top-level priorities.
"It has been my honour and privilege to lead our firm for the past six years and, in so doing, to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals around the world – including our next CEO," said Lukasiewicz. "I have known Steve since he first joined our firm 23 years ago. He has an outstanding ability to build trust and work effectively with clients and colleagues across our global platform."
Gowling WLG extends its deepest thanks to Lukasiewicz for his exceptional service to the firm during his term, and is particularly grateful for his steady leadership of the firm through the challenges posed by the pandemic.