The Ontario Securities Commission Thursday announced the appointment of veteran securities lawyer Edward Kerwin as a commissioner for a two-year term, effective January 4.

Kerwin was a partner of McCarthy Tétrault from 1979 until his retirement at the end of 2009.

“Edward Kerwin’s tremendous legal expertise, knowledge of the capital markets and experience as a director will serve the Commission well in carrying out its regulatory, adjudicative and operational responsibilities,” says Howard Wetston, OSC chairman.

Kerwin has more than 35 years of experience in securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance law. He has advised major investment dealers on securities offerings by reporting issuers, and has advised the senior management of issuers. Kerwin has also served on the boards of several corporations.

Kerwin is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B.Sc.) and Osgoode Hall Law School at York University (LLB). He was called to the Ontario bar in 1973 and the Alberta bar in 1981. He completed the Directors Education Program at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in 2005 and has also attained the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Kerwin has served as a board member for a number of arts organizations and community groups.

The OSC is composed of at least nine, but no more than 15 commissioners, each of whom is appointed for a fixed term.

Currenlty, the OSC has 14 commissioners. Three are full-time — Chair Howard Wetston, Vice Chair Lawrence Ritchie and Vice Chair James Turner –- and 11 are part-time.

IE