March 9, 2009

Alison J. Youngman

We mourn the passing of our long-time friend and wonderful partner Alison Youngman, after a short and graceful battle with lung cancer. Alison was born on May 23, 1948 in London, England. She joined the firm in 1972 as a law clerk in the Montreal office, before moving to the Toronto office in 1976. Founding partner Fraser Elliott was a huge admirer of Alison and her accomplishments in the early years in finding her way to Canada - all alone, with $200 in her pocket. He encouraged her to go to law school and she subsequently graduated from Osgoode Hall in 1984 and rejoined the firm to article. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1986 and became a member of the England and Wales bar in 1994. She joined the partnership in 1992.

Alison's two sons, Christopher and Philip, were born in 1984 and 1986.

In Stikeman Elliott tradition, Alison was an entrepreneur. Long before it was fashionable to do so she encouraged us to approach marketing in a systematic manner. She started and headed up our first marketing group, and she urged us to be progressive about adopting new technologies. She then turned her attention to Knowledge Management, recognizing the huge impact that the area would have on our practices.

In her practice, she saw the Technology boom coming and taught herself the law, becoming a recognized leader in the field and, more importantly as far as she was concerned, she built a nationally recognized Technology and Outsourcing Group in the firm.

Alison also maintained a steadfast dedication to community initiatives. In 2004, she was honoured by the YWCA Canada as one of Canada's "Women of Distinction". More recently, she was President of the Canadian chapter of the International Women's Forum (IWF), a global organization committed to advancing women's leadership by connecting pre-eminent women of significant and diverse achievement, and was a member of the global board of directors of the IWF Leadership Foundation. She was the Chair of the National Board of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) and spearheaded Stikeman Elliott's participation and contributions to the annual CBCF-CIBC Run for the Cure. She was also a long-time volunteer with the Toronto Out of the Cold program. Of her volunteering and community involvement, she once said "Volunteering is the gift that keeps growing. It is the other piece of my life - on the other side I have great clients and a very privileged existence."

Alison was an incredible contributor to the firm on many levels. Her most important contribution was her leadership. She was passionate about our firm and led the way on many issues particularly those dealing with women's initiatives. She was always a leader by example. In pursuing her initiatives she was always collegial and inclusive - she truly understood partnership. Alison was well known in the firm as a wonderful mentor and an inspiring role model, and she balanced her professional life with her family and community service in a way that we all admired.

Alison approached her death as she did her life - with acceptance, humility and humour. The firm will not be the same without her.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go to Alison's sons, Christopher and Philip.

The Off Centre Music Salon, of which Alison was a long-time supporter, will play a concert dedicated to her memory on Sunday, May 3.