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One of Canada’s most renowned business lawyers, Ralph E. Lean, Q.C., has been appointed distinguished counsel in residence at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

As senior partner at the leading Bay Street law firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Lean is a trusted advisor to clients ranging in size from global multinationals to entrepreneurs. He is also known for his highly successful work on behalf of clients in government relations and has been recognized by the National Post as one of Canada’s “most influential” business people.

“Ryerson is honoured to have a legal professional of Ralph Lean’s reputation join our academic community,” said Alan Shepard, provost and vice president academic, Ryerson University. “Distinguished visiting appointments such as Ralph Lean’s demonstrate Ryerson’s commitment to providing our students and faculty with innovative and professionally-relevant learning and teaching experiences.”

During his two-year term, Lean will share his insight, expertise and experience with graduate and undergraduate management students, and faculty. He will deliver guest lectures in undergraduate capstone courses offered by the Law and Business department as well as in the MBA program. He will facilitate and be involved in faculty research projects as well as attend faculty seminars and presentations at the business school’s research institutes, including the Law Research Centre.

“The Ted Rogers School of Management, and in particular our Law and Business department, will greatly benefit from having a business lawyer and advisor of Ralph Lean’s calibre in our learning environment,” said Ken Jones, dean, Ted Rogers School of Management. “He is one of the country’s most influential executives and has the ability to connect our school with some of Canada’s top organizations.”

Lean will also be very involved with the Law and Business Student Association, leading a major case competition and participating in networking and industry events.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to assist the Ted Rogers School of Management in further building its Law and Business department,” said Lean. “I look forward to working directly with Ryerson management students to add real-world practice and networks to their university experience.”

In addition to his distinguished legal career, Lean is a very active member of many Canadian public and private companies’ boards of directors, as well as several charities, foundations and civic groups including: the World Film Festival of Toronto Inc.; chairman, Right to Play Foundation; B’Nai Brith Canada, Board of Governors; retired member of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board; former member, Waterfront Revitalization Corporation; and past chairman, Board of Governors, Exhibition Place.

Lean is one of a number of distinguished visiting fellows, professors and scholars appointed to Ryerson University since 2009. The distinguished visiting appointments provide Ryerson with the unique opportunity to connect students, faculty and staff with highly-regarded, industry leaders. From a Canadian ambassador to an icon of business journalism, learn more about Ryerson’s distinguished visiting appointments at: ryerson.ca/provost/appointments.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 28,000 students, including 2,300 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca

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