Filomena Frisina
Filomena Frisina is a Toronto-based Gowling WLG partner and co-leader of the firm's Italy Desk.
A senior corporate and mergers & acquisitions practitioner, Filomena utilizes her extensive experience to lead transactions related to private M&A, as well as to advise on insurance regulation and general business matters. She works closely with numerous domestic and multinational clients representing a wide range of industry sectors, including financial services, food distribution, real estate and healthcare.
Filomena has led a number of multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional Gowling WLG client teams, pairing her leadership skills and strategic business acumen to achieve successful outcomes on complex project work. She sets a co-operative but rigorous tone in bringing together the required capabilities from other practice areas to complete a transaction.
In recognition of her dedication to client success, Filomena is ranked by Chambers Canada for her knowledge and experience in M&A transactions and insurance regulatory work. Legal 500 Canada 2022 recommends her as a Leading Lawyer for Insurance. In the 2021 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, she is listed as Repeatedly Recommended in the area of Corporate Mid-Market.
As leader of the firm's Italy Desk for Canada, Filomena helps Canadian clients pursue commercial opportunities in Italy, leveraging her in-depth local connections to connect clients with the right Italian legal advisers. Similarly, she collaborates with Italy-based clients who are looking to do business in Canada. Filomena also works to promote strong relationships between Italian and Canadian professionals, organizations and students.
Filomena seeks excellence in every aspect of her work, as well as outside of her professional life. She enjoys working in the arts, where she can apply her creative abilities, and she has leveraged her legal background in advising art collectors in their acquisitions of valued pieces.
She has served throughout her career as a member of numerous boards for public and private companies and not-for-profit organizations. Until recently, these have included Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH).
Filomena is a former member of the Columbus Centre and while on the board, she served as a member of the committee of the Italian Canadians as Enemy Aliens: Memories of World War II project. She is the current Chair of the AGH Council of Governors and a member of Women Get On Board.
Within Gowling WLG and outside of the firm, Filomena continues to be an avid mentor to students and young professionals in their career development.