Paul Zed

Paul Zed

Paul Zed is a Canadian lawyer, professor, and politician who currently serves as Counsel and Strategic Advisor at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault.2 He was born on December 31, 1956 in Toronto and grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick.1

Early life and education

Zed graduated from St. Malachy's High School with honors and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University (BA 1977), a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick (LL.B. 1980) and a Masters of Laws degree from the London School of Economics (LL.M. 1981).1 He also completed the Directors Education Program of the Institute of Corporate Directors through the Rotman School of Management, Toronto (ICD.D May, 2012).1

Career

As a successful lawyer and businessman, Zed is a member of the New Brunswick, Ontario, Canadian and International Bar Associations.1 He was a lecturer in Contract Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa from 1982 to 1984.1 From 1984 to 1993, he was a senior partner at Clark Drummie & Company working in corporate, commercial and securities law, including lead counsel to New Brunswick Power, while also teaching business law at the University of New Brunswick.1

In 1993, Zed was first elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal, New Brunswick, becoming the first and youngest Liberal ever elected in the riding's history.1 During his parliamentary career, he served as Chairman of several important House of Commons committees.1

Upon his return to the private sector in 1997, Zed co-founded the public policy and business advisory company Summa Strategies Canada Inc. and served as its President for eight years.1 He was re-elected to Parliament in 2004 and served on various Standing Committees.1

Zed has been very active in Canadian and Atlantic Canada legal and community affairs, serving on the boards of organizations like Enterprise Saint John, United Way of Greater Saint John, and Special Olympics Canada.1