Linda J. Godel

Tel: 416 643 8809 Fax: 1 888 554 6179

Profile

Linda is a partner at Torkin Manes and chairs the firm's Not-for-Profit & Charities Law Group. She counsels a wide range of not-for-profit organizations and charities (including charitable organizations and private and public foundations). Her clients include professional and industry associations, self-regulated bodies and organizations in such fields as religion, health, education, social services, poverty abatement, 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.

Lexpert Ranked Lawyer 2023

 

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Best Lawyers Award Badge

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Lexology Legal Influencers Q2 2020

Awards & Recognition

  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Not-for-Profit & Charities
  • Recipient of the OBA's 2020 AMS/John Hodgson Award of Excellence in Charity and Not-for-Profit Law
  • Recognized by Lexology as a Legal Influencer for Private clients - Canada (2020 & 2021)
  • Named Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in Canada© in the area of Charities/Non-Profit Law, Toronto, 2019 & 2021
  • Chambers Canada Guide — Charities/Non-Profit
  • The Best Lawyers in Canada© - Charities/Non-Profit Law 
  • Integra Foundation Volunteer Award, 2006
  • Awarded the Vera L. Parsons and Joseph Sedgwick, QC prizes for criminal procedure, Bar Admission Course 1989

Memberships

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Member of the Executive and various committees, Canadian Bar Association – Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section
  • Member of various working committees and past Chair, Ontario Bar Association – Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Section
  • Member, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, Not-For-Profit Governance Committee
  • Member, Not-for-Profit Joint Working Group, Modernization of the Legal Framework Governing Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations, Ontario Bar Association – Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Section (with Business Law Section)
  • Member, Ontario's Business Law Advisory Council, Not-For-Profit Subcommittee, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, 2016 - 2017
  • Member, Government of Ontario’s Social Enterprise Stakeholder Panel, February - May, 2014
  • Co-Chair, Canadian Bar Association/Ontario Bar Association National Charity Law Symposium, 2007 - 2011
  • Former director and member of Fundraising Committee and Governance Committee, Bialik Hebrew Day School
  • Former director and member of Executive Committee, Executive Search Committee and Finance Committee, Integra Foundation

Education

  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1987
  • B.A. (with Distinction), McGill University, 1984

Credentials

  • Called to the Ontario Bar, 1989