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2023 TLA EMERGING EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT |
Devin Persaud to receive the Toronto Lawyers’ Association Emerging Excellence Award of Distinction on March 2 in Toronto.
TLA is pleased to present the TLA Emerging Excellence Award to Devin Persaud, Senior Associate at Goodmans LLP, Toronto.
The Award recognizes a lawyer who has been in practice for 10 years or less and exemplifies leadership and/or innovation in advancing the TLA’s three pillars of Knowledge, Community, and Advocacy.
Devin Persaud is a Senior Associate at Goodmans LLP practicing in competition, antitrust, foreign investment, marketing, and corporate compliance law. He also advises clients on consumer protection best practices as well as in running internal investigations and implementing corporate compliance programs.
He was first drawn to practice law as a child who was intrigued by compelling courtroom dramas like “A Few Good Men”. Growing up in a largely immigrant community, Devin saw early on that many residents were skeptical and often fearful of the law, he strived to educate himself about the law so he could one day be a resource to his family, friends, and community. As an example of his commitment to his community, he was a founding member of MY ROOTS (Malvern Youth Recognizing Our Opportunities To Succeed).
He obtained his law degree from the University of Ottawa where he graduated with distinction. During this time Devin was also a founding member of the University of Ottawa's Business Law Clinic, and an executive of the Law Student Society.
Prior to law school, Devin received a Bachelor of Business Administration with Distinction, from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and proceeded to work in the consumer-packaged goods industry.
Devin is also the current President of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto the largest equity seeking bar organization in Canada. His leadership style is one that fosters the growth of future leaders by ensuring that new lawyers have access to sufficient knowledge, mentorship, community and resources to succeed. Through SABA, Devin puts in great effort to help the profession find equality in both legal recruitment and in the workplace. He created the SABA-Student Liaison Program, which develops a pipeline of future leaders who are currently in law school and also created of the annual SABA Student Recognition Award which has so far awarded over $20,000 in scholarships to high-achieving South-Asian law students. He was recently one of the youngest recipients of the 2019 Lexpert Zenith Award - celebrating Change Agents in Law. In 2020 Devin was also a recipient of the FACL Young Lawyer of the Year Award. In 2022 Devin was also awarded the prestigious Precedent Setter Award.
“Devin’s commitment to his clients and the practice of law, combined with his ongoing efforts in helping to bring more inclusivity to the profession have earned him the respect of legal professionals and community members from all backgrounds,” said Erin O'Donovan, President of the TLA.