Dal Bhathal is one of Canada’s leading talent management experts and a recognized leader in her field.
She started her career as a lawyer in England and upon moving to Canada in 1998 she joined The Counsel Network, national legal talent management and recruitment firm. As Managing Partner, Dal provides strategic advice and guidance to Canadian and international law firms and legal departments on all aspects of legal talent management, including recruitment of lawyers and in-house counsel, strategic acquisition of partners, teams and law firm mergers, lawyer retention, talent development, and succession planning. Her experience spans all major business centres in Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver, and she leverages an impressive legal and business network spanning the breadth and width of the national market.
She is a regular speaker on topics relating to all facets of legal talent management, including recruitment, retention, leadership development, women in law, gender pay equity and diversity and inclusion. Dal has been quoted in various publications and media outlets, such as The Globe and Mail, Canadian Lawyer, the Financial Post, amongst many others.
Dal is passionate about building diversity, inclusion, and equity in the legal profession. She serves as Co-Chair of the Ontario Committee for the Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Awards, which celebrates the advance and achievements of women lawyers, particularly as it relates to diversity and inclusion. She previously served as a board member of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) Toronto and continues to be involved with various equity-seeking bar associations, including SABA Toronto, the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. Dal is also a qualified diversity trainer and administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory.
Dal’s love for sport began at a young age. She firmly believes that girls gain essential leadership skills from childhood sports, including confidence, resilience, determination and focus which carry them through to personal and professional success. She is passionate about ensuring that girls have access to opportunities to participate and remain in sports.