Zaman says integrating his M&A group with other departments is his proudest achievement so far
By Julius Melnitzer | April 13, 2023
Serendipity and career path often intertwine – which is how Kashif Zaman finds himself helping steer the ship as vice-president, legal at the Toronto-Dominion Bank.
Called in Ontario in 2002, Zaman articled at Torys LLP, then joined Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, known for the intensity of its work ethic, in New York.
Zaman’s next stop was Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where he rose to partner and eventually spent 14 years.
“I started off doing a broad-based corporate and securities practice, but in my fifth or sixth years, began working more and more with banking clients, including TD,” he said. “Over time, I developed considerable industry expertise.”
TD noticed.
“I wasn’t looking to make a change, but TD was a good client, and I felt I should talk to them when the opportunity – a unique one because it’s the kind of job that’s much more common in the US than it is in Canada – came up,” Zaman said. “And the more I talked to them, the more excited I became because the position presented an excellent opportunity to learn and grow in a way that I couldn’t in private practice.”
What appealed to Zaman was the extent to which going in-house at TD would “embed” him in business and corporate decision-making. MORE . . .
Julius Melnitzer is a Toronto-based legal affairs writer, ghostwriter, writing coach and media trainer. Readers can reach him at [email protected] or https://legalwriter.net/contact.
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