Yonatan Petel

Partner, McMillan LLP

40 Under 40 Category: Legal Services

Biography:

Yonatan Petel is a partner at McMillan LLP in Montreal. His practice focuses on all types of commercial, corporate and structured finance transaction. Yoni advises lenders and borrowers in structuring and negotiating a broad range of complex domestic and cross-border syndicated and bilateral financing transactions, with a particular emphasis on factoring and mid-market syndicated asset-based lending deals, as well as acquisition, real estate, and project finance.

He earned B.Sc. and B.A. degrees in 2003, and his B.C.L. and LL.B. degrees with Great Distinction in 2008, all from McGill University, and has been a member of the Quebec bar since 2009.

A recognized leader in Montreal’s business and legal communities, Yonatan regularly advises several charities and non-profit organizations. He is McMillan’s Montreal Pro Bono Partner, and has recently started a three-year term as a Governor of the Quebec Bar Foundation.

What is the best professional advice you have been given and how have you implemented it?

The best advice I have received is to constantly seek ways to add value for clients. Legal counsel and other professionals are necessary to manage legal and operational risk, but otherwise are often perceived as providing no inherent value. Delivering sound, effective and timely advice is only a starting point; setting yourself apart from the crowd requires more. With that in mind, I have always done my best to understand the market trends and business pressures facing those I advise. I take every opportunity to refer them business and introduce them to potential business partners, to anticipate potential pitfalls or opportunities, and advise them of changes that can affect their business.

How would you define what a good leader is, and what can you do to reflect those characteristics as you progress in your career?

To me, a good leader is someone who is not only invested in their own success, but also the success of those around them. More than anything, it is important to lead by example. I have benefited tremendously from working closely with many talented leaders over the years that were able to balance competing values. They have had the vision and self-confidence to make tough decisions when necessary, but the openness and humility to value diverse opinions and involve others in steering the ship. They have had the foresight to articulate a strategic plan, but the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Perhaps most importantly, they have allowed me to benefit from their experience and the lessons learned from their mistakes, without denying me the opportunity to make and learn from my own. Those of us aspiring to be leaders in our organizations and in our industry need to find that balance. As new technology and generational shifts in the industry present new challenges and opportunities, we need to do what we can to teach and inspire those we work alongside, while allowing them the space to innovate, develop their own style, and chart their own course.

What advice do you normally give to the junior talent you mentor/what advice would you give to forthcoming generation of talent aspiring to win this award?

The first piece of advice I give to those I mentor is take ownership of your practice, your career and your own professional development. Building a successful and fulfilling career is a long-term, ongoing project. It is important to play the long game and develop not only the skills but the relationships that will allow you to identify and create your own opportunities. Business is built on personal relationships and it is important to find strong mentors and champions who are willing to invest in your success. I also try to emphasize that, through the pressure to specialize early on and the demands of getting to know the details of the law and the technicalities of the documentation, it is important to keep an eye on the big picture. Get to know your clients and their businesses – understand where they are coming from, what keeps them up at night, and what they are hoping to accomplish. Doing so will not only help to differentiate you from others, but will add meaning and satisfaction to your practice.