14 Jan 2026
DLA Piper in Canada names six new partners
"DLA Piper in Canada promotes six lawyers to partner across commercial transactions, construction and infrastructure, media and IT, intellectual property and technology, privacy and international trade."
Lee K. Axford has been promoted to partner. He practises commercial transactions, including commercial real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, share and asset purchase transactions, secured lending matters (including in the oil and gas sector), tax-driven reorganizations and commercial leasing matters. Lee acts for a wide range of public and private clients, providing strategic advice at all stages of transactions from negotiating and drafting principal agreements to post-closing support. He is called to the bar in Alberta, Ontario and Grenada and first joined the firm as a summer student in 2010.
Rosalie A. Clark has been promoted to partner. Her practice encompasses all aspects of construction and infrastructure law, representing public and private owners, general contractors, design professionals and specialized trade contractors and suppliers. She advises on procurement methods, contract models and disputes across a wide range of industries, and has appeared before arbitrators, the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and numerous administrative tribunals in British Columbia and Ontario. Rosalie is recognised by Best Lawyers in Canada and was named a Stand-Out Lawyer by Thomson Reuters.
Tyson Gratton has been promoted to partner. He maintains a business law practice focused on advising video game, media and information technology businesses as a member of the firm’s Media, Sports & Entertainment Group. Tyson advises on commercial transactions including publishing, development and sponsorship agreements, technology sales and procurement, and on consumer protection, marketing and consumer privacy matters. He assists clients investing in and expanding operations into Canada, is recognised by Best Lawyers in Canada in Information Technology Law, and previously practised in-house at a television studio.
Rob D. McDonald has been promoted to partner. He practises intellectual property litigation and enforcement, branding strategy, trademark protection and commercialization, and licensing and exploitation of IP. Rob provides IP due diligence on commercial and cross-border transactions and advises on media, sports and entertainment matters (including video games, athlete and celebrity agreements), artificial intelligence, and IT service and outsourcing agreements. He has litigated copyright, trademark, patent infringement, trade secret and shareholder dispute actions up to the Federal Court of Appeal, represents clients worldwide and is a registered trademark agent in Canada and the United States. He is recognised by Best Lawyers in Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, WTR 1000 and The National Post.
Cristina Mihalceanu has been promoted to partner. She is an intellectual property and technology lawyer with extensive experience in patent, trademark and copyright matters, including complex litigation and strategic advisory work. Cristina contributes to the firm’s broader litigation team, advises on regulatory and privacy matters involving technical or scientific issues, and works with clients and counsel across jurisdictions to develop coordinated global IPT strategies. She has trial and appellate experience before the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal and Ontario court, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology, and is recognised by Managing Intellectual Property as an IP Star and by Best Lawyers in Canada.
François Tremblay has been promoted to partner. He maintains a diversified business law practice covering international trade, privacy and data protection, and commercial and corporate law. François regularly acts for Canadian and international clients on mergers, acquisitions and financing matters, supports clients in navigating Canada’s privacy regime and advises on international trade, economic sanctions and export controls. He provides practical risk mitigation strategies and, in addition to French and English, is fluent in Japanese, which has enabled him to act on internal investigations involving Japanese multinational companies.