Patterson Law LLP Recognized with the 2026 Meritas Women’s Leadership Award for Advancing Women Lawyers as Law Firm of the Year

Patterson Law LLP is proud to announce it has been recognized with the 2026 Meritas Women’s Leadership Award for Advancing Women Lawyers as Law Firm of the Year. The award was presented at the 2026 Meritas Annual General Meeting and recognizes a Meritas member firm for providing exceptional support and advancement opportunities for women in the legal profession while demonstrating innovation, leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to professional growth.

“The Meritas Women’s Leadership Awards recognize remarkable women lawyers, their supporters, and firms from across the Meritas network that are helping shape the future of the legal profession,” said Kate D. Harris, KC, TEP, Co-Managing Partner of Patterson Law LLP. “We are incredibly proud to receive this global recognition. At Patterson Law LLP, we are committed to creating opportunities for women lawyers to grow, lead, and succeed at every stage of their careers.”

“This recognition reflects the culture our team has built together,” added Jennifer Hamilton Upham, KC, TEP, Co-Managing Partner of Patterson Law LLP. “Supporting and advancing women in leadership is not a standalone initiative at our firm, it is embedded in how we mentor, collaborate, recruit, and serve our communities.”

The award recognizes a Meritas member firm for providing meaningful support and nurturing opportunities for women in the legal industry, recognizing the talents of women within the firm, and demonstrating innovation in enabling younger women lawyers to fulfill their professional objectives.

Founded in 1928, Patterson Law LLP  is one of Nova Scotia’s largest law firms, with offices in Halifax, Truro, New Glasgow, and Bridgewater. The firm provides a full range of legal services to businesses, institutions, governments, families, and individuals throughout Atlantic Canada.

The annual Meritas Women’s Leadership Awards, created by the Meritas Women’s Leadership Congress, reflect the network’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by recognizing and celebrating the leadership journeys of women lawyers across member firms. Through its work, the Congress supports professional growth by fostering visibility, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and skills development, while encouraging collaboration among firms to strengthen recruitment, retention, and the advancement of women leaders. Award submissions were reviewed and winners selected by a global panel of peers and industry experts.

About Patterson Law LLP

Patterson Law is an established Nova Scotia law firm with offices in Truro, Halifax, New Glasgow, and Bridgewater, with clients whose interests range from global to purely local. Our more than 160 lawyers and staff are dedicated to meeting our clients’ diverse legal needs. We endeavour to maintain the highest standard of service to our clients. Patterson Law continues to expand its legal services and strengthen its team to meet the evolving needs of clients throughout the province.

About Meritas

Meritas’ global alliance of independent, market-leading law firms provides borderless legal services to companies looking to effectively capture opportunities and solve issues anywhere in the world. Companies benefit from local knowledge, collective strength, and new efficiencies when they work with Meritas law firms. The personal attention and care they experience is part of Meritas’ industry-first commitment to the utmost in quality of service and putting client priorities above all else. Founded in 1990, Meritas has member firms in 244 markets worldwide with more than 9,200 dedicated, collaborative lawyers. To locate a Meritas resource for a specific need or in a certain market, visit Meritas.org or call +1-612 339-8680.