James J. Lawson
President & CEO

Mr. Lawson is the President and CEO of Westerkirk Capital Inc., a Toronto-based family business office with a current portfolio that includes substantial investments in the hospitality, aviation, custom manufacturing, and real estate sectors. In addition to his current role, Mr. Lawson also consults with a number of ultra-high net worth Canadian families.

Mr. Lawson has served over the course of his career as a Partner at Torys LLP and at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and as the Senior Vice President of XO Communications Canada. Mr. Lawson is a graduate of Brown University, (A.B.) and University of Western Ontario (LLM). Mr. Lawson currently sits on the board of directors of a number of private companies including Sleep Country Canada and as Chairman of the Board of Viking Air. He has recently served on a number of public (Toronto Stock Exchange) boards including Algoma Steel Inc., Zargon Energy Trust and Countryside Power Income Fund.

Mr. Lawson is active in the Thoroughbred Horse Racing and Breeding Industry. He sits on the Board of Directors of Woodbine Entertainment Group and is Chairman of the Board of the Jockey Club of Canada.

Douglas Bradley
Managing Director

Mr. Bradley has extensive experience as both a business executive and a professional advisor. He has been a Managing Director at Westerkirk since 2005. Mr. Bradley is a former senior corporate development executive at TrizecHahn Corporation. Previously, he was a Managing Partner and Board member at one of Canada’s leading international accounting firms. Mr. Bradley has also served on the Boards of public, private, and not-for-profit corporations.

Mairi MacGillivray
Managing Director

Ms. MacGillivray has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and commercial law. Prior to joining Westerkirk in 2011, she practiced law in the Corporate Group of Stikeman Elliott LLP where she represented clients in a broad range of industries. Ms. MacGillivray also spent several years conducting research in the field of cell signal transduction at the University of Toronto prior to earning her LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario. She also has a B.Sc. (Hons) from McMaster University and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Zachary W. McIsaac
Managing Director
Mr. McIsaac has a range of experience in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings and strategic planning. Prior to joining Westerkirk, he worked in investment banking within the global metals and mining sector at a Canadian bank-owned dealer. Mr. McIsaac joined Westerkirk in 2011. Previously, he spent five years in the food retail industry in a corporate finance capacity. Mr. McIsaac earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mount Allison University, an MBA from Queen's School of Business, and he is a CFA charterholder.

Joanne Ranger
Managing Director – Finance

Prior to joining Westerkirk in 2005, Ms. Ranger served as senior vice president and chief accounting officer at Trizec Properties Inc., a major U.S. real estate investment trust. She also spent several years at both TrizecHahn Corporation and Bramalea Limited. Ms. Ranger is a chartered accountant with 20 years of experience in finance, accounting, financial reporting and financial control.

William C. Stevens
Managing Director
Mr. Stevens has over 20 years experience as a private equity investor and investment banker, most recently at Birch Hill Equity Partners. He has led investments and served on the boards of companies in the industrial services, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors, including as Chairman of former TSX-listed company Marsulex Inc. He joined Westerkirk in 2011 and currently serves on the Boards of a number of private companies. Mr. Stevens earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard College (AB Economics) and an MBA from Harvard Business School.