The Expert Panel on Securities Regulation has appointed a legal advisory committee to support its effort to improve securities regulation in Canada.

“The six-person committee, which is drawn from across the country and represents a number of areas of legal expertise, has been created to provide legal advice in connection with the preparation of a model common securities ac,” said Tom Hockin, chairman of the Expert Panel, in a release.

The legal committee consists of:

Philip Anisman, barrister and solicitor, Toronto;

Richard Balfour, partner, Torys LLP Toronto;

Patrick Finnerty, partner, Blakes Cassels and Graydon LLP, Calgary;

Mitchell Gropper, partner, Farris, Vaughn, Wills and Murphy LLP, Vancouver;

Francis Legault, partner, Ogilvy Renault LLP, Montreal; and

Glorianne Stromberg, securities lawyer, Toronto.

The Expert Panel is manadated to provide a final report to ministers responsible for securities regulation by the end of 2008.