Ralph Lean

Ralph E. Lean is a highly regarded business lawyer and a trusted advisor to clients that range from start-ups to global corporations. Since September 2011, Lean has been a distinguished counsel in residence at the Ted Rogers School of Management. In addition, Lean had an illustrious legal career at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Gowlings LLP. Lean also serves on the boards of many Canadian public and private companies, as well as several charities, foundations and civic groups: he is the Founding Chair of the Canadian Advisory Board of Right to Play, and serves on the boards of Giants of Africa and The PS43 Foundation.

Leveraging his strong connections in the legal and political community, Lean frequently brings in guest speakers to the classroom. Teaching at an undergraduate level to the students in “Law, Business and Politics – the Real World,” Lean has featured Paul Beeston, CEO and president of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and an entrepreneur on CBC’s Dragon’s Den. On a graduate level, Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, and John Honderich, chair, Torstar Corporation, have been featured as part of a special Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) Toronto MBA student speaker series. Lean is also very involved with the Law and Business Student Association, leading major case competitions and participating in networking and industry events.