Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi
The Role Model
- Partner, Insurance Defence Law at Torkin Manes LLP
- Called to the bar in 2002
- Involved in cases at the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada
- Director of her firm’s articling program and co-chair of its Indo-Canadian marketing group
- South Asian Bar Association president
- Organized a large donation for orphanages in Haiti in 2010
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi had no idea she was setting an example for other young South Asian lawyers, and for the community in general, until she was named partner in 2010 — just six years after joining Torkin Manes.
“People began congratulating me at events,” she recalls of outings with the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (SABA), for which she served as vice president at the time. “They would also ask for a few minutes of my time for insights into achieving partnership and building profile,” she recalls.
She fell naturally into a mentorship role. “[Mentorship] was given very freely to me, so I absolutely try to help others,” says Mukherjee-Gothi. What they learn from her is a dedication to high-quality work, and the ability to co-operate with a wide range of people.
Those key traits, and her work with SABA, have helped Mukherjee-Gothi bring in business for the firm. In fact, she secured one of her largest clients because they were impressed with her professionalism at SABA events.
Meanwhile, inside the firm, she guides new lawyers as the director of the Torkin Manes articling program, which she played a vital role in developing.
Mukherjee-Gothi is currently on maternity leave with her twin daughters, but when she returns to her demanding practice and resumes her volunteer positions this summer, she plans to focus on her work, not collecting accolades. “I just want to be a good lawyer.”