Cherie Brant receives U of T Law Distinguished Alumni Award

March 20, 2023

The University of Toronto Faculty of Law Alumni Awards biennially recognize the exceptional contributions of valued community members.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the Faculty’s highest honour, recognizing a graduate’s extraordinary public leadership and lifelong commitment to the community.

Cherie Brant (JD 2002) is a Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) and Independent Director at Hydro One Networks since 2018 and Toronto-Dominion Bank since 2021.

At BLG, Cherie is the national leader for the Indigenous law group at BLG and member of the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance initiative. Her commercial practice extends across a wide variety of sectors, including energy and transmission, land development and financing on First Nations lands, Indigenous Infrastructure, and economic development for Indigenous owned businesses and Indigenous governments. She also provides strategic policy and governance counsel to Indigenous groups seeking to exercise their jurisdiction and authority.

She also serves on the non-profit boards for the Anishnawbe Health Foundation, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and Canadian Club of Toronto. In 2017, Cherie received the Lexpert Zenith Award, a national award that recognizes women’s contributions to the law. In 2012, she was named one of Lexpert’s ‘Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40.’ Cherie holds a JD from the University of Toronto and a BA in Environmental Studies, Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo.

Cherie is both Mohawk from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and Ojibway from Wikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve.

The U of T Law alumni awardees will be recognized during a fireside chat on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Alumni and colleagues are welcome to attend, and to join us in congratulating the 2022 recipients.

For nomination details or more information, please contact alumni.law@utoronto.ca.