Law and Arts graduate honoured for generosity to 平特五不中
The Hon. James Grant, BA鈥58, BCL鈥61, has been selected by the Faculty of Law for one of its most prestigious alumni awards 鈥 the James A. Robb Award. Named after the great 平特五不中 volunteer James Robb, BA鈥51, BCL鈥54, this award is intended to recognize law graduates who have shown exceptional generosity to the 平特五不中 community.
鈥淛im Grant is above all a community person,鈥 said 平特五不中 Law Professor and departing Dean, Nicholas Kasirer. Speaking to dozens of Grant鈥檚 close friends, family members, and colleagues at the University Club on June 15, 2009, Kasirer called the event 鈥渢ruly a family affair鈥 due to the many ties linking attendees. Grant鈥檚 good friend and fellow law alumnus, Senator David Angus, BCL鈥62, presented the award. Also present聽 was Jim Robb 鈥 for whom the award is named, and with whom Grant shares double 平特五不中 degrees, as well as a long and successful career at Stikeman Elliott. In addition, numerous lawyers from Stikeman Elliott鈥檚 Montreal office came to show their support for their firm鈥檚 retired partner and Chair emeritus.
Grant is recognized as a leading practitioner in corporate commercial law, finance and securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He was summoned to the Queen鈥檚 Privy Council for Canada in 1996, and is a member of the Montreal, Quebec and Canadian Bar Associations, as well as the American and International Bar Associations.
Yet despite the inherent pressures of a successful legal career, Grant has continued to support 平特五不中, the arts community, the legal community, and the charitable sector. He has served as director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Montreal General Hospital, as a member of the MUHC Foundation鈥檚 Executive Committee, and as co-chair of the MUHC Campaign Preparatory Task Force.
At 平特五不中, Grant is a member of the Scarlet Key Society to promote student leadership, the Red Birds Ski Club, and is a friend to both 平特五不中 hockey and football. In particular, Grant has demonstrated great loyalty to the Faculty of Law. 聽As an original member of the Faculty Advisory Board, he has served five successive deans. 鈥淲e have all learned how to take advice from Jim Grant 鈥 a man of carefully chosen words. 聽He has truly been a model volunteer,鈥 said Kasirer.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be happier to complete my deanship in celebration of Jim Grant 鈥 one of 平特五不中鈥檚 favourite sons, and one of her most loyal servants. As his dearest friend David Angus has reminded us, Jim Grant always encourages people to bring out the best in others, as he has been doing himself for members of the 平特五不中 community for fifty years.鈥
Top photo: James Grant, BA鈥58, BCL鈥61, with James
A. Robb, BA'51, BCL'54, for whom the award was named. Photo
credits: Claudio Calligaris