Ontario Securities Commission Chairman David Wilson today announced the appointments of Lawrence Ritchie and James Turner as vice chairmen to the OSC, effective February 21. Both appointments are for five years.

“Both Mr. Ritchie and Mr. Turner have outstanding reputations, extensive experience in securities law and a keen interest in policy development,” said Wilson, in a release.

Ritchie was a partner with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt and has been a litigator for almost 20 years, specializing in general corporate, securities and commercial litigation. In addition, he has experience in alternate dispute resolution and pensions. Ritchie has acted in a wide range of securities-related proceedings, including those related to shareholder rights and remedies and corporate governance issues, as well as in numerous regulatory enforcement matters.

Turner was a senior partner with Torys and has more than 30 years of experience as a legal practitioner in securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. He has advised some of the largest public companies and financial institutions in Canada on domestic and international matters.

Both vice chairmen have had experience working at the OSC. In 1993, Ritchie participated in a secondment to the OSC enforcement branch and served as an enforcement counsel. From 1986 to 1987, Turner served as general counsel to the OSC, providing advice on a range of legal matters with direct responsibility for take-over bids and mergers and acquisitions. He was also involved in key policy initiatives such as amendments to the insider trading rules.