Five BLG partners receive national recognition for outstanding legal achievements
Toronto, November 13, 2026 - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announces that five partners have been named 2026 Lexpert Rising Stars. This award recognizes Canada's emerging legal leaders for their professional track records, industry contributions and community leadership.
This year’s Rising Stars are:
Kevin Bianchini (Montréal): National Business Leader for Specialized Business Law, Kevin leads tax strategy on multibillion-dollar M&A transactions and recently secured a landmark Federal Court victory against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA);
Laura Delemere (Toronto): A partner in Construction Disputes, Laura leverages her civil engineering background to advise on major infrastructure projects, including a C$13.9 billion hospital development;
Andrew Guerrisi (Toronto): A partner in Commercial Real Estate, Andrew leads high-profile cross-border transactions, including a recent C$1.35 billion data centre acquisition and a C$1.7 billion battery plant development;
Elly Seddon (Vancouver): A partner in Financial Services, Elly advises on billion-dollar syndicated credit facilities and played a key role in the C$55 billion Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program. She is also a dedicated advocate for women's access to justice; and
Whitney Wakeling (Toronto/Edmonton): A partner in our Investment Management group, Whitney is a leading voice in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry, securing pivotal regulatory exemptions and structuring investment solutions for top asset managers.
"Our 2026 winners bring intense focus, deep industry knowledge and creative strategy to their respective areas of practice," said David Di Paolo, national managing partner and CEO. "They anticipate market shifts, manage critical files and actively shape the Canadian legal landscape."
The Lexpert Rising Stars 40 and Under awards recognize leading lawyers across Canada who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their practices, their communities and the legal profession. Winners are selected through a rigorous process involving peer nominations and evaluation by an expert advisory panel.