Governor James Blanchard joined DLA Piper upon the conclusion of his duties as United States ambassador to Canada in April 1996. In recognition of his outstanding performance as ambassador, Secretary of State Warren Christopher presented Governor Blanchard with the Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service in a ceremony at the Department of State, making him one of only a handful of ambassadors to receive this prestigious award.

Mr. Blanchard was named ambassador to Canada in May 1993, after serving two terms as governor of Michigan (1983-1991) and four terms as a member of the United States Congress (1975-1983). In 1992, he chaired President Bill Clinton's successful campaign in Michigan. Governor Blanchard is also former chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and the National Democratic Platform Committee, as well as a former member of the National Governors Association's executive committee.

During his tenure as ambassador, Mr. Blanchard managed a broad range of trade, natural resources, environmental and national security issues between the United States and Canada, providing support critical to the passage of both NAFTA and the Open Skies Agreement. Commenting on Mr. Blanchard's role in the Open Skies Agreement, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chreacute;tien said, "Tomorrow, we will show the world that even the sky is not the limit for our relationship as we sign an open skies agreement. It will enhance what is already the largest bilateral air relationship in the world. Ambassador Blanchard has played a key role in these negotiations, and he has done a fantastic job here in Ottawa. I want to take this opportunity to salute him."

Jim Peterson, a former federal Minister and Secretary of State, is Counsel at Fasken Martineau.

Jim has extensive knowledge and first-hand experience in government affairs, having served in the Government of Canada as Minister of International Trade, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions), and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

As a former Minister of International Trade between 2003 and 2006, Jim has expertise in trade policy and experience in trade disputes. While Minister, he represented Canada at the World Trade Organization's Doha round of negotiations which focused on expanding trade and investment in leading emerging markets including Brazil, Russia, India and China, and dealt with complex issues related to trade with Canada's NAFTA partners, the European Union, the Middle East and the Americas.

As Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions) from 1997 to 2002, Jim was instrumental in piloting significant financial institution reforms through Parliament including legislation permitting foreign bank branching and aligning Canada with international standards in the fight against money laundering and terrorism. He handled the insurance industry demutualization file. Working with caucus and stakeholders, Jim approved major financial institution mergers including BNS-National Trust, Great West Life-London Life, Clarica-Met Life and TD-Canada Trust.

As Chair of the House of Commons Finance Committee between 1993 and 1997, he began the practice of public pre-budget hearings and completed a number of major studies including a review of Canada's value added tax (the GST).

Chi Carmody is Associate Professor and Canadian Director of the Canada-United States Law Institute at the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law in London, Ontario.

Professor Carmody received his Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) from the University of Ottawa in 1992, his Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from the University of Michigan in 1997, and his Doctorate of Laws degree (S.J.D.) from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001.

He currently teaches courses in Public International Law, International Organizations, International Trade Law and International Business Transactions. He has been Canadian National Director of the Canada-United States Law Institute since 2001.

Lawrence (Larry) Hermanis a graduate of the University of Toronto Law Faculty (1969).

He served in the Canadian Foreign Service in the 1970's in a variety of posts, at the United Nations in Geneva and in Ottawa, representing Canada in numerous international conferences and meetings, including the GATT, OECD and the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. Prior leaving the External Affairs Department in 1980, Larry was the head of the Department's Economic and Treaty Law Section in the Legal Bureau.

In private law practice, Larry appeared on behalf of Canada in the International Court of Justice in theGulf of Maineboundary case in 1984.

Larry concentrates oninternational tradeandinternational businesstransactions. He has acted for private sector clients, governments and international agencies, dealing particularly with the GATT/WTO, FTA and NAFTA and appears as counsel before dispute-resolution bodies under the NAFTA, as well as before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the courts and Parliamentary committees. He was a member of the Market Access Advisory Group (MAAG) of the Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department, advising on business issues in WTO trade negotiations.

Ms. Lussenburg serves as Board Chair of the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation. The principal businesses of OCGC are to manage the interest of the Government of Ontario in the $ 205 million Ontario Venture Capital Fund LP, which invests primarily in Ontario-based and Ontario-focused venture capital and growth equity funds that support innovative, high growth companies, and the $250 million Ontario Emerging Technologies Fund which co-invests alongside qualified investors in innovative, high-growth, private, Ontario companies.

Ms. Lussenburg is a director of the Association of Corporate Counsel (Ontario Chapter) and a member of the Advisory Board of the Canada-United States Law Institute and its Executive Committee.

Ms. Lussenburg was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at OMERS, one of Canada's largest public pension plans. At OMERS Ms. Lussenburg was responsible for the Legal Division, including the Corporate Secretariat, Board Secretariat, and Compliance as well as the provision of legal services to OMERS business, investment and pension operations. Prior thereto Ms. Lussenburg served as ATT's Chief Regional Counsel for Canada and Vice President, Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at ATT Enterprises Canada Co., supporting ATT's Canadian and international operations.

Ms. Lussenburg is a Canadian representative to the Trade Ministers' NAFTA 2022 Advisory Committee on the Resolution of Private International Commercial Disputes; a Roster Member, Appointed under Agreement on Internal Trade (between the Governments of Canada and the Canadian Provinces) to reduce barriers to the movement of persons, goods, services and investments within Canada; and a Canadian Roster Member, under to the NAFTA Chapter 20 (Arbitral) Dispute Resolution Provisions. Ms. Lussenburg has written and spoken extensively on international trade including trade barriers, NAFTA, establishing business in Canada and other jurisdictions, corporate governance and pension matters.

R. Richard Newcombis a partner based in Washington DC where he is chair of the International Trade practice group. He comes to DLA Piper from Baker Donelson, where he chaired the International group.

Mr. Newcomb has had considerable international experience dealing with target governments, front-line states, like-minded allies, multilateral organizations (the United Nations, the European Union and others), financial and business communities worldwide and others who are responsible for compliance with asset controls and economic sanctions and embargo programs. He is adept at handling regulatory procedures relating to international transactions, including navigating the requirements of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Bank Secrecy Act (and anti-money laundering laws), Export Administration Act, Anti-Boycott compliance, US Customs law and the relevant portions of the Patriot Act.

From 1987 to 2004, Mr. Newcomb served as director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Treasury Department. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Newcomb oversaw the administration and enforcement of 39 economic sanctions programs in furtherance of US foreign policy and national security goals. His leadership guided the agency through many of the major foreign policy challenges the nation has experienced in the past two decades, from the advent of multilateral sanctions against Iraq in 1990 - coupled with a protective blocking of approximately $50 billion in Kuwaiti assets - to the transformation of the agency after the attacks of September 11, 2001, to track and disrupt terrorist organizations and their financing networks.

Mr. Petras practices in the business and corporate areas with special emphasis on international business transactions. Mr. Petras began his career in international law in 1978 when he worked in the legal department of a large multinational corporation at its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, concentrating on European community law relating to contracts, technology licensing and competition policies.

Mr. Petras has acted as counsel in numerous significant transactions, including international/global structuring of business operations for manufacturing, high-tech and services companies, mergers, acquisitions and international securities transactions. The deal size of any transaction varies and includes those exceeding $1 billion (U.S.). His practice also includes representation regarding international regulatory compliance issues and commercial agreements for joint ventures, product distribution and development, agency and distributorships, technology licensing, and sales transactions.

Mr. Petras is a past president of the Cleveland World Trade Association and was instrumental in the consolidation of this organization with the World Trade Center Cleveland, on whose Advisory Board he serves. Mr. Petras is the past president of the Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group and has long been active in efforts to increase international business throughout the region. He also serves the United States Department of Commerce as a member of the Northern Ohio District Export Council.

Michael Robinson, a 1964 graduate of University of Toronto Law School, (LLB/JD) has practiced commercial, corporate, securities and banking law in Toronto for 45 years. His emphasis is international private (business) law. Within that field his specialties are international business transactions and international trade and foreign investment law. He represents Canadian and foreign clients in all those fields.

Mr. Robinson taught at Osgoode Hall as an adjunct professor in 1982 and continuously since 2002 in both LLB/JD and LLM degree programmes, and also at University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law as an adjunct since 2005.

Mr. Robinson was very active in the Business Law Section of the International Bar Association, London, for thirty years. He held senior Committee and Council positions there for many of them.

Mr. Robinson advised Canada on the negotiation of the 1989 Canada/US Free Trade Agreement and Mexico respecting the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement. He continues to advise and publish on international trade and investment dispute settlement law.

Mr. Robinson publishes and lectures widely, in Canada and abroad. His lengthy CV lists his many positions held, expertise recognitions granted, publications, lectures and related professional activities.