Dal Bhathal is a partner in Caldwell’s Toronto office and a member of the Professional Services Practice. One of Canada’s leading legal talent management experts, she leverages over 25 years’ experience building exceptional legal teams for law firms and corporations, and provides immeasurable expertise, sophisticated analyses, and robust knowledge to clients and candidates. A former practicing lawyer and recognized leader in her field, Dal has made a positive impact on the legal recruitment landscape, proving that ethical recruitment, expertise, and attitude make a superior recruiter.
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 recruitment assignments range from hiring partners for law firms and senior positions for in-house to providing entire teams for special projects. Dal focuses on building strong relationships and finding solutions to maximize the potential for both clients and candidates. Her recruitment 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.
Dal’s recruitment 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.
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 inclusion and diversity. 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 holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of West London and was admitted to the Law Society of England and Wales.
Dal has been quoted in various publications and media outlets, such as The Globe and Mail, Canadian Lawyer, the Financial Post, amongst many others. She is a regular speaker on topics relating to all facets of legal talent management, including recruitment, retention, leadership development, women in law, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession.