Headquarters:
Toronto, Ontario
Year founded:
1974
Number of partners and employees:
71 partners, 155 employees (including 48 associates)
Phone:
416 863 1188
Email:
jdales@torkinmanes.com
Website:
www.torkin.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/torkin-manes
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
Torkin Manes LLP
Jeffrey I. Cohen
Managing Partner
Anne Kennedy
Partner, Risk and Practice Management
Joe Conte
Partner
Leadership
As managing partner, Jeffrey Cohen has led the ongoing development, growth, and success of Torkin Manes LLP. He is an active practising lawyer and member of the firm’s business law and corporate finance groups, with a practice that encompasses a wide variety of business transactions and financings. He has significant experience with mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions of businesses and, as a trusted advisor, provides the firm’s clients valuable strategic legal advice, always keeping their goals top of mind. To complement his practice, Cohen sits on the Board of Directors of several companies to which Torkin Manes LLP provides legal services.
Managing Partner
Jeffrey I. Cohen
For over 30 years, Anne Kennedy has been involved in various management roles at Pallett Valo, including two terms as managing partner. Since 2021, she has held the role of partner, risk and practice Management, where she manages conflicts and ethics issues that arise in the modern practice of law. Kennedy acts as an advisor to the executive committee and oversees the firm’s knowledge management. She is also a member of the firm’s management committee. With over 40 years of experience, she was awarded the 2023 Peel Law Association Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her substantial contributions to the practice of law and the local community.
Partner, Risk and Practice Management
Anne Kennedy
As an experienced business law generalist with particular expertise in secured lending and finance, Joe Conte represents banks and other commercial lenders, owner-managed businesses, public companies, and multinational corporations. He also sits on the firm’s executive committee, a role in which he advises and supports the managing partner to implement firm strategies and goals.
Partner
Joe Conte
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
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“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
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Shad McKnight
Chief Underwriting Officer
Shad McKnight joined ISC in July 2019, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the P/C space in leadership roles in underwriting, product development and management, actuarial, analytics, marketing, claims, strategy, and IT. His career also includes serving as SVP of underwriting, product, and actuarial with Merchants Insurance Group; VP of product management at CUNA Mutual; and regional AVP of product and underwriting at Nationwide Insurance.
Chief Underwriting Officer
Shad McKnight
Brandon Wiener
Partner, Member of the Management Committee
Brandon Wiener’s practice focuses on personal, corporate and trust planning for high-net-worth individuals, professionals, executives, owner-managers and their businesses, both domestic and international, including corporate reorganizations, structuring of investments and businesses including professional incorporations, purchases and sales of businesses and real estate, estate planning, immigration and emigration, and non-profit organizations and charities including private foundations. He also advises investment funds and their managers and advisors in connection with structuring and other fund-related tax issues.
Prior to joining Thorsteinssons LLP in 2010, Wiener worked in the litigation and tax departments of the Montreal office of a large national law firm. He also worked as a law clerk for the Honourable Mr. Justice Michel Bastarache at the Supreme Court of Canada. Having a strong background in tax litigation, Wiener also assists and represents clients in their dealings with the taxation authorities in the context of an audit or assessment or voluntary disclosure.
Partner, Member of the Management Committee
Brandon Wiener
Torkin Manes LLP is a full-service law firm based in downtown Toronto. Founded in 1974, Torkin Manes has built its practice by focusing on the core principles that make a great law firm: a deep and personal understanding of clients’ business needs; a results-oriented approach that provides practical, smart, and cost-effective advice; and, above all, responsiveness to its clients.
Torkin Manes’ lawyers and administrative staff are all committed to delivering superior client service. The firm’s client-driven approach has brought professional accolades. Since 2019, Torkin Manes has been ranked the #1 Ontario Regional Law Firm by Canadian Lawyer. Many of the firm’s lawyers are well known in the profession and in the community at large as highly respected leaders in their practice areas, as well as teachers, authors, and advocates for the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Bar Association.
A significant number of our lawyers are recognized by leading surveys and legal directories, including Chambers Canada, Chambers Global, Lexpert, Who’s Who Legal and Best Lawyers in Canada.
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
Kin Lee-Yow
Chief Information Officer
Catherine Sieniewicz
AVP of Travel and Retail
Rhonda English
Chief Marketing Officer
Evelyn Peng
Chief Risk Officer
Kin Lee-Yow’s combination of banking, payment, retail, e-commerce, and insurance technology experience has enabled him to contribute to the success and leadership positions in three large organizations in Canada, culminating in his current role as the CIO of CM Club Group. Kin is a graduate of Computer Science and Information Systems from the University of Waterloo. He also holds a Kellogg-Schulich master’s degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Chief Information Officer
Kin Lee-Yow
With decades of experience, Catherine Sieniewicz has always been devoted to growing within the travel and retail industry. Catherine became director of retail and travel at CCG in May 2019. In February 2020, she was promoted to AVP of travel and retail where she continues to guide all her decisions by what she has learned in member, associate, and business experience.
AVP of Travel and Retail
Catherine Sieniewicz
Rhonda English is a CPA, CMA and obtained her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and her MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. Rhonda joined CM Club Group as vice president of insurance, then took the role of vice president corporate marketing, overseeing business insights & analytics and the acquisition and retention of the CM lines of business. In 2016, she was named chief marketing officer, taking on additional responsibility for travel and membership product, digital, and the government & community relations advocacy team.
Chief Marketing Officer
Rhonda English
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
“Despite the challenging claims environment, QBE’s coverage and risk appetite have remained consistent. Brokers and customers know and understand our risk appetite and the cover we offer, providing them with certainty for the future,” says Erica Kofie, head of cyber proposition. “We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions.”
Kofie adds, “Through 2022, QBE successfully delivered significant growth in the cyber sector, reflecting the depth and strength of our team. We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations.”
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Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Management liability
Arch Insurance’s management liability team is dedicated to addressing the needs of our partners. Our underwriting approach is to recognize and address exposures particular to each insured and offer creative solutions for our customers including complex risk and hard-to-place industries.
Know more here: insurance.archgroup.com/north-america/canada/offering/management-liability
Cyber
Arch Insurance’s experienced underwriting team takes a forward-looking approach to writing network security, privacy and media liability for mid-to-large accounts.
Professional liability
Arch Insurance’s professional liability team is positioned to offer professional liability programs for financial service firms.
“Our thriving agency partnerships, long-tenured carrier relationships and strong leadership team are proof of Jencap’s values-centric work environment,” says Mark Maher, president of Jencap.
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most. Our brokers internally work very collaboratively. We check our egos at the door and work together to set our agency partners and their clients up for success by leveraging each other’s geographic expertise, carrier relationships and contracts, and technical expertise,” he adds.
Jencap’s areas of specialization include environmental; workers’ compensation; property; construction; habitational/real estate; transportation/garage; cannabis; cyber, management, and professional liability; manufacturing; healthcare; and many more.
Jencap is committed to employing innovative enterprise-wide technology solutions that support their underwriters in making more timely and effective risk decisions. As such, they launched Two Sigma Insurance Quantified’s SubmissionIQ in 2022. SubmissionIQ equips their underwriters with the data they need to make smart and strategic risk assessments, further supporting them in implementing best-in-class business processes.
The common thread woven through Jencap’s success is its people, as they have the best brokers and support staff in the industry. Fun fact: 20% of Jencap’s staff are employee equity holders. They don’t just say that their team members “own it” – they really do! This adds a unique layer of commitment and dedication to their job and the company’s success.
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position. Each acquisition has provided geographic expansion, new market access, exclusive programs and niche specialization,” says Jencap Chief Executive Officer John Jennings.
To date, they have acquired 19 companies and rebranded 10 of those companies to Jencap.
Click here for more information on Jencap.
Medal
Hospitality
Fast Starter
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
Overall service level
BDM support
BDM support
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Hospitality
Fast Starter
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Hospitality
Fast Starter
info@torkin.com
437 997 0215
jdales@torkinmanes.com