Legal Veteran Jud Whiteside Joins Dickinson Wright LLP

Dickinson Wright LLP, Canada’s leading full-service business law firm specializing in cross-border transactions, is pleased to announce that Jud Whiteside has joined the firm.

In a career spanning over four decades, Mr. Whiteside currently focuses his practice in corporate and commercial law with extensive experience and special expertise in competition law and sports law. He acts for direct-sales companies and professional sports leagues, on a national and international basis, which are faced with extensive and constantly changing government legislation. He also advises clients on matters related to compliance with the Competition Act and its impact on various elements of their businesses.

“I am so pleased to be joining Dickinson Wright, a cross-border firm with a client-specific approach that continually aligns its business goals with those of our clients,” said Mr. Whiteside. “This approach is a significant benefit to my U.S. and Canadian-based clients and it further bolsters my own commitment to deliver to clients timely and top-quality legal services at competitive pricing.”

Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Mr. Whiteside was a senior partner with a prominent Bay Street business law firm where he practiced corporate and commercial law for over 43 years. He was also this firm’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1992 to 2007, growing it from 50 to 450 lawyers. Over his career, Mr. Whiteside has also represented a diverse group of clients such as financial institutions, automotive, manufacturing and information technology companies.

“We are delighted to welcome Jud to Dickinson Wright’s cross-border team,” said Mark Shapiro, managing partner of Dickinson Wright LLP. “Jud’s extensive senior legal experience and longstanding client relationships, many of whom span his entire career, will be a significant asset to the firm. We look forward to working with him as he helps us strengthen our cross-border corporate expertise in the many industry sectors that he knows so well.”

Mr. Whiteside is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Sports Lawyers Association, the Metropolitan Toronto Board of Trade, the Royal Canadian Military Institute, and The Toronto Club. He is a recipient of the Markham Board of Trade Tony Roman Award as business leader of the year for 2009 and he is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Government of Canada.