This is to advise that Vanessa Rochester of the Montreal office of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, the CMLA’s Regional Vice-President for Québec and Chair of its Carriage of Goods Committee, has been appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Canada. See the announcement from the Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice of Canada, dated August 6, 2021 at: As the Minister’s message indicates, Madam Justice Rochester holds B.A., B.C.L. and LL.B. degrees from McGill University, where she worked during her legal studies with the late Professor William Tetley, as well ... as an LL.M. and a Ph.D. (with distinction) in maritime law from the University of Cape Town. A member of the Barreau du Québec, she is also qualified to practice law in England and Wales, and did so for a time in London, as well as in Singapore, before assuming her present position at Norton Rose Fulbright in Montreal. She has been recognized in various publications for her expertise in maritime and transportation law and is dedicated to promoting gender diversity and equality in the shipping industry, particularly as Canadian President of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA-Canada). Justice Rochester also sits on the Maritime Law Executive and the Federal Court Bench and Bar Liaison Committee of the Canadian Bar Association. All members of the CMLA are delighted to learn of Justice Rochester’s appointment to the Federal Court, replacing Mr. Justice G. Locke, who was appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal in 2019.

We congratulate and wish Vanessa every success as she assumes her new role. Her judicial appointment, following those of other distinguished CMLA members in recent years, brings yet further honour to our Association, which she has served so faithfully and effectively as member, director, committee chair and regional vice-president. For a brief period to come, messages may continue to be sent to her email address at Norton Rose Fulbright in Montreal (vanessa.rochester@nortonrosefulbright.com), from which they will be forwarded to her.