Linda Godel’s practice focuses on not-for-profit and charitable organizations. In that regard, she has been involved with charities (including charitable organizations and private and public foundations) and other not-for-profit organizations covering a wide range of disciplines. Her clients include professional associations, self-regulated bodies and other organizations in the fields of religion, health, education, social services, poverty, childcare, athletics and recreation.

Linda acts as external general counsel to numerous not-for-profit organizations, both charitable and non-charitable. She has advised organizations in the third sector on structuring and restructuring matters, corporate governance, by-law interpretation, directors’ and officers’ liability, compliance issues, cross-border and international relationships and gifting, endowment and fundraising issues. She also provides general commercial advice to not-for-profits and charities.

Linda was named a top practitioner in the 2009 and 2010 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, which is the most comprehensive guide to legal talent in Canada. She frequently writes and speaks on topics pertinent to the voluntary sector. Examples include a paper on the “Investment Powers of Charities Across Canada” presented at the 2nd National Symposium on Charity Law in April of 2004; a paper on “Multiple Corporate Structures” presented at the 4th National Symposium on Charity Law in May of 2006 which was subsequently published in The Philanthropist in the spring of 2007; and a paper on “Organizational Issues for Not-for-Profit Organizations” presented at an Ontario Bar Association program on fairs, festivals and fundraisers in October of 2007.

Linda is also an active volunteer. Among other roles, she sits on the Executive of the Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association where she currently holds the positions of Vice-Chair and Continuing Legal Education Liaison. In addition, she was Co-Chair of the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 CBA/OBA National Charity Law Symposiums and will Co-Chair the 2011 Symposium.

Linda completed her legal studies at Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989. Upon completion of the Bar Admission Course in 1989, she was awarded the Vera L. Parsons and Joseph Sedgwick, QC prizes for criminal procedure. She holds a BA from McGill University, where she graduated with distinction.

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