Two Davies Partners Named 2021 Lexpert Rising Stars
Maureen Littlejohn and Léon H. Moubayed have been recognized as 2021 Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 for their exceptional contributions to the legal profession and the community.
Maureen has earned a reputation as a passionate and talented advocate in complex litigation requiring a high level of legal and technical expertise. Organizations she has represented include Vale Canada in defending contractual claims relating to the Voisey’s Bay Nickel Project; Rogers Communications in successful appeals before the Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta courts to stay or dismiss class actions; and Potentia Renewables in defeating an injunction that sought to halt the development of a solar project in the Dominican Republic.
A former national team athlete and avid open-water swimmer, Maureen has also worked pro bono with the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team for nearly a decade, helping to champion issues related to gender pay equity, diversity and inclusion, and to establish a players’ association.
Maureen is in high demand as a speaker on topics related to her long-standing research interest in the law of privilege. She is also a valued mentor to the next generation of lawyers, and is co-chair of the firm’s newly established Working Parents’ Network.
Léon acts for clients in domestic and cross-border high-profile investigations and prosecutions relating to white-collar crimes. His recent representations include the successful defence of Bouclair Inc., in which he persuaded the court to order a stay of the criminal proceedings after establishing “serious, multiple and systemic” violations of constitutional rights by the Canada Revenue Agency. He also acts for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in relation to a billion-dollar corruption scandal involving a former minister. As part of the state’s global asset recovery efforts, he obtained a court order in the middle of the night to seize a private aircraft that had just landed at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
In addition, Léon is actively involved in pro bono work, such as the challenge of the Act respecting the laicity of the State now before the Court of Appeal of Québec. Léon is a prolific author and speaker, a sought-after mentor and a fellow of the prestigious International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators. He founded Davies’ International Investigations & White Collar Defence Summit – an annual event in Montréal that brings together the business community and white-collar practitioners from around the world.
The full list of this year’s winners is featured in Lexpert Magazine, published on Lexpert’s website and in The Globe and Mail.