Osler, Hoskin, and Harcourt LLP honour Dale Ponder (LL.B. ’80) with scholarship and award
March 13, 2024
Photo: Dale Ponder
Long-standing supporters of Western Law, Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, have generously recommitted to enhancing student financial aid opportunities with a $100,000 donation for a new scholarship and award in honour of Dale Ponder (LL.B. ’80).
The Dale Ponder, LLB'80, Osler Entrance Scholarship will provide $15,000 to support undergraduate students based on academic achievement. The award will be presented to a student entering first year who demonstrates leadership through community involvement.
Undergraduate students pursuing a combined JD/HBA degree with the highest standing in select business law courses will be eligible for the Dale Ponder, LLB'80, Osler Award, valued at $5,000.
“Western Law is grateful for this gift in honour of Dale Ponder, a trailblazer in the profession and one of our most distinguished alumnae,” said Western Law Dean and Professor, Erika Chamberlain. “This generous gift from Osler will provide important support to our students while celebrating Dale’s legacy of leadership.”
Dale Ponder is the former Co-Chair of Osler, retiring from that role December 2021, and also served on its Partnership Board for many years. She is the Firm’s immediate past National Managing Partner and Chief Executive, a position she held for over nine years. In her role as a long-time senior member of the Firm’s M&A practice, she has had extensive experience leading transactions relating to public and private M&A matters, including cross border transactions, and advising public boards on governance, capital markets and securities law matters.
“Dale was for many years an outstanding lawyer and leader, both at our firm and within the legal profession more broadly. When she assumed the role of National Managing Partner at Osler, Dale was the only woman in Canada to serve as chief executive of one of the major national law firms at that time,” said Doug Bryce, National Managing Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. “We are proud to honour her amazing career at Osler with a contribution to Western Law aimed at helping launch the next generation of talented Canadian lawyers.”
Ponder has been repeatedly recognized as a leading corporate and M&A lawyer by various peer ranking publications, including Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, Lexpert’s Leading Corporate Lawyers and Best Lawyers in Canada. Over the course of her illustrious career, she has generously dedicated time and support to her alma mater as a distinguished speaker, lecturer and donor. In 2018, she was recognized for her contributions to Western Law and the alumni community with the Ivan Rand Alumni Award.
“Osler is aware that I had kept up a strong connection with Western Law during my practice years, including most recently teaching a course at the law school with one of my partners,” said Ponder. “I consider the Osler tribute donation to be a wonderful recognition of an institution that remains important to me, and to Osler, and a very thoughtful gift.”
