Elissa Ferrari

Elissa Ferrari is the legal talent director for Gowling WLG’s national Real Estate & Banking Department. She is responsible for managing the department’s professional development and recruitment initiatives.

With a strong focus on career coaching, retention, and leadership development, Elissa works closely with associates and department leadership to cultivate a culture rooted in collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence. Her approach blends strategic insight with genuine mentorship, empowering associates to reach their full potential while advancing the firm’s long-term goals.

She formerly acted as the assistant director of student & associate programs for the firm’s Toronto office. In this role, she was responsible for managing the overall operation of the summer and articling program, as well as legal talent in the Toronto office. Her portfolio included recruitment, professional development, performance management, mentorship, and the annual review process, in addition to maintaining strong relationships with law schools across Canada.

Elissa is an experienced litigation lawyer with over a decade of legal practice experience. She holds a J.D. from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and a B.A. with Honours in Criminology from York University.