2023 AGENDA

All times in ET

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from chairperson

  

  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi

  Partner
  Pallett Valo

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  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi

  Partner
  Pallett Valo

  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi is a partner at Pallett Valo LLP and the head of the Insurance Defence Group. She has a thriving civil litigation practice, representing insurance companies, companies with self-insured retention, health professionals and corporations.  

   She regularly appears before the various levels of court in Ontario, including the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, and various administrative tribunals. She has conducted both jury and judge alone trials. 

  Sudevi’s practice focuses on occupiers’ liability, motor vehicle liability and the defence of professional liability (pharmacists, veterinarians, lawyers and independent adjusters). She also has experience in large environmental contamination cases, product liability cases, property damage claims and providing coverage opinions.  

  She chairs Pallett Valo’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is active with the Advocates’ Society and the Ontario Bar Association’s Insurance Executive. 

  She is the past president of the Toronto Chapter of the South Asian Bar Association and was previously a member of the Law Society’s Equity Advisory Group. 

  Mentorship is very important to Sudevi and in addition to mentoring at her firm, she mentors through the Black Law Student Association at Osgoode and has been a past mentor through the Western Law BIPOC Mentorship Program. 

  She is a proud military wife and mother of three.  She also enjoys writing, both legal articles and for pleasure. 

• 9:10 AM

  Keynote: Authentic leadership lessons

  What are the New Leadership Rules? It’s no longer enough to be an exceptionally skilled practitioner, rainmaker, business strategist, or to master the art of relationship building with clients. Market leading firms and in house legal departments of the future will be steered by lawyers that have additional tools in their leadership toolkit, including change management and DEI strategies. Young lawyers, the future leaders of our profession, come equipped with new ideas and perspectives. How can we build workspaces that welcome this new generation of lawyers? What does your leadership team need to do now to ensure your firm remains or emerges as a market leader in the future? Hear from Charlene Theodore in this keynote session exploring what it means to be an authentic leader today and for the future.

  

  Charlene Theodore

  Chief Inclusion Officer
  McCarthy Tétrault

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  Charlene Theodore

  Chief Inclusion Officer
  McCarthy Tétrault

  A diversity consultant, change management strategist and engaging speaker, Charlene helps shift perspectives and change the way leaders and employees think about the modern workplace.

  Charlene Theodore is Chief Inclusion Officer at McCarthy Tétrault. Committed to concrete action in advancing the Firm’s core mission to accelerate diversity, inclusion and corporate social responsibility, Charlene oversees McCarthy Tétrault’s award-winning Inclusion Now program. Charlene sits on the Firm’s Inclusion Now Council, an action-oriented governance model that leads the implementation of our EDI programs. Charlene also supports the firm’s clients with strategic advice on innovative and impactful solutions to realizing equity in the workplace.

  Charlene has a unique understanding of the interconnection between the legal profession and EDI, and how to achieve tangible results. As the first Black president of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) and 10th woman to hold Office, Charlene designed and implemented a series of initiatives for law firms and Corporate Canada to reimagine workplaces ꟷ building productive, profitable, healthy, diverse and inclusive work environments.

  Charlene’s achievements in workplace equity and inclusion are informed by her experience as a former employment and labour lawyer. She appeared before administrative tribunals and various levels of court, including Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal. She also represented the interests of Canadians of African descent before federal and provincial legislative committees, as well as United Nations human rights treaty bodies. Her employment and labour practice was centred on advising management and boards on all aspects of governance and workplace operations including government relations, labour negotiations, pensions, and benefits.

  Charlene is a member and former Director of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), Canada’s largest national association of Black lawyers and judges. She is a recipient of a 2017 Lexpert Zenith Award honouring her for work in advancing the interests of women in the legal profession and society. In 2020, Charlene was named one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.

  Charlene is also a member of the Top 40 Advisory Board, a body that reflects the diversity and leadership excellence in Canadian business, and identifies outstanding young business leaders for Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award.

• 9:55 AM

  Panel: Breaking the boys club – a novel approach to business development as a woman

  In recent years, many traditional business development activities, like sports matches and client dinners, have shifted in priority, as clients re-evaluate their time and firms refresh their strategies. But where do we go from here? Business development still proves critical to lawyers’ careers, but how can we approach it authentically as women, and what is proving effective these days? 

  • Explore alternative approaches to business development to impress your clients  
  • Gender neutral ideas and tips on how to reframe your approach to business development  
  • A look at natural relationship-building, rather than transactional incentives: remote group workshops, family-friendly activities, and more 
  • Discover fresh examples of business development best practices that work in a hybrid setting 

  Moderator

  

  Daniel Steinberg

  Co-Founder and CEO
  Lawbrokr™

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  Daniel Steinberg

  Co-Founder and CEO
  Lawbrokr™

  Leveraging his background in Professional Services (Ex-EY), Marketing Technology (Ex-Influitive), and Legal Technology (Ex-Clio), Daniel Steinberg is the Co-Founder, and CEO of Lawbrokr™, a pre-qualification platform that helps lawyers humanize the way clients interact with their law firm.  

  Panelists

  

  Janice Rubin

  Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner
  Rubin Thomlinson

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  Janice Rubin

  Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner
  Rubin Thomlinson

  Janice Rubin is co-founder and co-managing partner of Rubin Thomlinson LLP and its sister company, RTWT Inc. Janice is recognized as one of Canada’s leading employment lawyers and regularly appears on the Best Lawyers and Lexpert Leading Practitioners lists in Canada.

  

  Naomi Loewith

  Director of Strategic Partnerships – Canada, Investment Manager and Legal Counsel
  Omni Bridgeway

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  Naomi Loewith

  Director of Strategic Partnerships – Canada, Investment Manager and Legal Counsel
  Omni Bridgeway

  Naomi is responsible for nurturing and building key relationships with corporate clients, law firms and other industry partners. Naomi also serves as an Investment Manager and Legal Counsel. In that role, she assesses cases for funding, and acts as a sounding board for claimants and their counsel at all stages of their litigation.

  She is ranked by Chambers and Partners in their 2022 Litigation Support Guide as one of only two Band 1 individuals nationwide for litigation funding in Canada and is recognized as a Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal (2022).

  Prior to joining Omni Bridgeway, Naomi was a litigator at Lenczner Slaght LLP. In that role, she conducted trials and appeals before all levels of courts and regulatory bodies. Naomi has extensive experience with complex commercial matters, acting for corporations, boards of directors, senior executive management and public institutions.

  She is on the Advocates’ Society In-House Counsel Practice Committee, and is the co-chair of Ontario’s Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance. Naomi also serves as a parent mentor for the Bob Rumball Center for the Deaf.

  Naomi obtained a B.A. from Western University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Prior to her call to the bar, she clerked for Justice Morris Fish at the Supreme Court of Canada.

  

  Karima Kanani

  Partner
  Miller Thomson LLP

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  Karima Kanani

  Partner
  Miller Thomson LLP

  Karima Kanani is a Partner at Miller Thomson LLP and is one the Firm’s top health industry specialists. Karima serves as corporate counsel to public healthcare organizations across the continuum of care as well as private companies supporting and servicing the healthcare industry. Karima is a leading advisor, author and speaker on non-profit governance and health system transformation. She has been named as one of the “Best of the New Generation” of lawyers by Precedent Magazine, a “Rising Star” and “Leading Canadian Corporate Lawyer to Watch” by Lexpert Magazine, and one of “Toronto’s Top Lawyers, Healthcare” by Post City Magazine. 

• 10:35 AM

  Interactive networking coffee break

• 11:05 AM

  Negotiating beyond the gender pay gap – How to represent and empower yourself

  Pay and power gaps still exist in the legal profession, with women largely compensated less than men, and with less representation in leadership and partnership positions. Law firms promote their diversity targets but very few firms release their data on renumeration or partnership diversity. This practical session will provide you with the confidence to demonstrate your value and negotiate your renumeration, while meeting the needs of your organization. 

  • How to prepare for the conversation to get the outcome you want  
  • Strategies for negotiation and demonstrating your worth beyond billable hours  
  • Understanding your compensation expectations, incentives, and career progression   
  • Alternative compensation models that value performance and outcomes

  

  Leila Rafi

  Partner
  McMillan LLP

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  Leila Rafi

  Partner
  McMillan LLP

  Leila Rafi is a partner in the Capital Markets and M&A Group at McMillan LLP. Practicing in Toronto, Leila advises on a broad range of securities law matters and has a highly transactional practice with a focus on corporate finance. Leila has worked for clients operating in a variety of industries. She is a prolific speaker at various industry events, on topics including continuous disclosure, corporate governance, diversity, equality and inclusion, and leadership and regularly writes bulletins on various securities law topics. Over recent years, Leila has been the co-author to a couple of lengthy white papers as well, including on the topic of short selling in 2019. In 2022, Leila was recognized as one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers. Leila won the Lexpert Rising Stars Award for top Canadian lawyers under 40 in 2018, was Lexpert Ranked in 2021 as a Leading Lawyer for Capital Markets and was awarded Best Lawyers for corporate law between 2019-2022. In the past, Ms. Rafi acted as a member of the Securities Advisory Committee at the Ontario Securities Commission and also teaches an introductory course annually on securities laws at the University of Queens, Faculty of Law. In the past, Leila has been Adjunct Faculty at three other universities in Canada. As well, Leila is a mentor with the University of Toronto Student Women’s Association Program. 

    

   

• 11:40 AM

  Panel: Taking action – Pushing forward gender parity, diversity, and inclusion in law

  Firms have stated the importance of women and diversity for over twenty years, but very little has changed to advance inclusivity. Women in equity partnerships remains low, with women disproportionally populating the bottom third of compensation lists. How can we push forward positive inclusive change – and what will it take to finally achieve gender equality in law? 

  • How firms can demonstrate their commitment to DE&I by providing equal work opportunities 
  • Considering restructured compensation packages to recognize areas of practice beyond the traditional billable hours structure  
  • How to engage more men to help – strategies that male allies can deploy to support women in law  
  • Does reframing the gender pay gap as the gender pay deficit help? 
  • How can we overcome unconscious bias to elevate more women into senior leadership roles? 

  Moderator

  

  Sandeep Tatla

  Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
  Fasken

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  Sandeep Tatla

  Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer
  Fasken

  Sandeep Tatla is the Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the global law firm Fasken.  As a member of the Firm’s executive leadership team, she is responsible for designing and leading the Firm’s equity, diversity, and inclusion transformation.  

  A catalyst for change, is a forward-thinking executive leader with demonstrated experience successfully leading diversity, equity and inclusion change and sustainability strategies across different and complex industries.  Her focus is on systemic and sustainable change.  

  Before her role at Fasken, Sandeep held senior roles in the field, including, as Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at a global financial services firm, Manulife / John Hancock, and Vice-President, and Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability at a leading healthcare technology company.    

  In 2021, she was recognized by the National Diversity Council as Top 100 Diversity Officer. Sandeep’s work and views on diversity and inclusion have been published in the Harvard Business Review and HR Professional as well as through interviews with journalists from several major news outlets. 

  Before specializing in diversity and inclusion, Sandeep practiced labour and employment law focusing on employment, human rights law and equity legislation. 

  Panelists

  

  Shara Roy

  Chief Legal Counsel
  Ernst & Young LLP

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  Shara Roy

  Chief Legal Counsel
  Ernst & Young LLP

  Shara’s expertise as a powerful advocate resides in her ability to distill complex problems by getting to the heart of the issue and focusing on creative but practical solutions.

  As EY Canada’s Chief Legal Counsel, Shara is responsible for all legal matters for the firm including litigation, regulatory compliance, governance, contracts, commercial agreements and transactions and employment-related matters.

  Recognized as a thought leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, Shara has received accolades for her work, including the award-winning ReferToHer.com website, where she helped to level the playing field on referrals in the legal profession. Shara brings that passion to the business world as the Chair of 50-50 Women on Boards in Toronto and the 30% Club. Shara’s community involvement includes being a cabinet member of the United Way Major Giving Cabinet and a steering committee member for Malachy’s Soiree benefitting the St. Michael’s Hospital NICU.

  Shara holds a Juris Doctorate (Honours) from the University of Toronto and a BA in English (High Honours) from McGill University.

  

  Thomas Kim

  Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary
  Thomson Reuters

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  Thomas Kim

  Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary
  Thomson Reuters

  Thomas joined Thomson Reuters in 1999 as compliance and legal counsel. Since then, he has held a number of legal executive roles including as chief counsel for Reuters News, a business unit general counsel and as the company’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to assuming his current role as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, Thomas led the overall separation of the $6 billion financial and risk data business (now known as Refinitiv) from Thomson Reuters. Prior to that, Thomas was the Managing Director of Thomson Reuters businesses in China, with P&L responsibility for a circa $130 million business. Before joining Thomson Reuters, Thomas was in private practice in San Francisco with the law firms Baker & McKenzie and Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft (now Duane Morris).  

  Throughout his career, Thomas has led diversity initiatives, having helped launch a reverse mentoring program and a global diversity advisory council at Thomson Reuters and the ASCEND Executive Network in New York to aid Asian Pacific Americans rise to the C-suite. Thomas sits on the Advisory Council of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance and the Board of Directors of the National GC Network: BIPOC Lawyers Leading the Way. Thomas received the Justice in Action Award from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and was a keynote honoree of the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York. In addition, Thomas was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer magazine. Previously, Thomas was named one of the “Best Lawyers under 40” by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. As a leader, Thomas believes that purpose drives people and people drive profit. 

  Thomas obtained undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University. 

  

  Jennifer Mathers McHenry

  Founding Partner
  Mathers McHenry & Co

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  Jennifer Mathers McHenry

  Founding Partner
  Mathers McHenry & Co

  Jennifer Mathers McHenry is the founding partner of Mathers McHenry & Co, a boutique employment firm focused on providing legal and strategic advice to executives and senior employees, and to employers. 

  The team at MMc&Co regularly acts for senior employees, employers, partners, shareholders and businesses with respect to offers of employment, human rights obligations, investigations, changes of control, mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, resignations, termination of employment, constructive dismissals, and post-employment fiduciary and contractual obligations.  

  Jennifer also acts as a workplace investigator and offers mediation and arbitration services in select employment cases.  

• 12:20 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:20 PM

  Panel: Navigating mentoring and sponsorship as the workplace evolves

  Leveraging the support of different mentors throughout your career is widely acknowledged as pivotal to success, but how have approaches to mentorship changed in the hybrid workplace? Sponsorship is equally important for career progression, but how can remote working lawyers overcome proximity bias to remain visible for opportunities? This panel will navigate traditional and alternative routes to mentoring and sponsorship in a hybrid workplace.   

  • Best practices to maximize the benefits of mentoring relationships 
  • Mentoring vs sponsorship – how to know which type of support you need or should offer  
  • Optimizing mentoring relationships in a hybrid workplace – how has mentoring changed since the pandemic?  
  • How to find the best fit in mentoring relationships  

  Moderator

  

  Mana Khami

  Partner
  Harrison Pensa

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  Mana Khami

  Partner
  Harrison Pensa

  Mana Khami is a partner at Harrison Pensa LLP in the General Litigation, Employment and Labour Law, and Dispute Resolution groups. She is also the Practice Group Leader for the General Litigation Department. Mana represents individuals, corporations and municipalities on a wide range of legal topics including employment and labour issues, commercial litigation, and professional discipline (defence) matters. Mana practices in both Toronto, Ontario and London, Ontario.  

   In her spare time, Mana likes to volunteer in the community. Mana previously served as an Executive Board Member of the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, was the President of the Regional HIV/Aids Connection, and a Board Member of the Research Ethics Board at Fanshawe College. Mana is currently a Board Member of the London Lawyers Feed the Hungry and its “Court House Rocks” Committee, a Board Member of the 20 Under 40 Foundation, she is the Past-Chair of the OBA ADR Executive Board, and the Regional Director for SouthWest Region on the OBA Board of Directors. Mana also currently sits on the 10+ Standing Committee for The Advoates’ Society, as well as a on a number of other committees at the OBA, and The Avocates’ Society.  

  For many years, Mana helped teach the Litigation Practice Course at Community Legal Services at Western Law, has helped judge student moots, and participated in the Brescia Professional Mentoring Program at Western University. Mana was also one of the lawyers involved with the Western Law Small Claims Court Project. In 2018, Mana was an adjunct professor for the Civil Procedure course at Western Law. Mana is currently a Mentor and an Assessor for the LPP program at Toronto Metropolitan University.   

  In 2015, Mana was the recipient of London’s Top 20 Under 40 award, and in 2017, she received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award. In 2022, Mana received the Middlesex Law Association Philantropy Award. 

  Family, friends and the welfare of animals are especially important to Mana. She is a devoted horse owner and rider. She also enjoys photography, writing, and playing music. 

  Panelists

  

  Sandra Perri

  Senior Vice President and General Counsel
  Sun Life Canada

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  Sandra Perri

  Senior Vice President and General Counsel
  Sun Life Canada

  Sandra Perri is Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, Sun Life Canada.  In this role, she leads the Sun Life Canada Legal Team and provides strategic advice and counsel to the Canadian business.  Sandra is a member of Sun Life’s Canadian Executive Team and the Senior Legal Leadership Team for Sun Life’s global operations.   

  Since joining Sun Life in 2011, Sandra has held various leadership roles spanning the company’s protection, wealth, and health businesses.  Her past roles include Head of Canadian Litigation, Chief Counsel for Sun Life’s Group Benefits and Digital Health businesses, and a secondment to the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.  Prior to joining Sun Life, Sandra practiced as a commercial litigator at Torys LLP in Toronto.       

  Sandra is a past recipient of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 Awards and an alumnus of The Judy Project, University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, Initiative for Women in Business.  She has also served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Humewood House – a not for profit, accredited children’s mental health agency in Toronto serving pregnant and parenting youth and their families.  

  

  Catherine Meade

  Vice President – Community, Sustainability & Social Responsibility
  Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation

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  Catherine Meade

  Vice President – Community, Sustainability & Social Responsibility
  Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation

  Catherine Meade is the Vice President – Community, Sustainability & Responsibility withthe Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG). As such, she leads OLG’s globally recognized, award-winning Social Responsibility branch along with Sustainability and Community Sponsorships teams. Since joining OLG in 2015, she has held roles as Director of Policy, Research & Strategy (Social Responsibility), Director of Compliance (Land Based and Charitable Gaming) and Director of Governance & Relationship Management (Lottery). Prior to that she was Director, Pan Am Games Capital Projects & Legacy for the City of Toronto. As such, she oversaw the more than $350 million worth of the City’s Pan/Parapan Am Games related capital projects.

  Catherine was named one of Canada’s 2022 Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the WXN (Women’s Executive Network) for her Community Impact. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from McMaster University; an M.A. from the University of Alberta; an LL.B., cum laude, from the University of Ottawa; and an M.B.A. from St. Mary’s University in Halifax.

  Catherine practiced primarily Labour & Employment Law (both privately and in-house) for seven years in Nova Scotia and in Ontario. She began her legal career at McMillan Binch (now McMillans) in Toronto and finished the pure practice of Law as Employment Counsel at Bell Aliant (Bell Canada) in Halifax. Before commencing her Law degree, Catherine worked as an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion professional for eight years with organizations such as: the Canadian Human Rights Commission (Alberta/NWT), Acadia University and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.

  Catherine has a long history of community service. While practicing Law, she served on the board of the National Association of Women & Law for five years. She also served on the executives of the Canadian Bar Association’s National and Nova Scotia Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Conferences and on the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s Gender Equity Committee.

  More recently, Catherine’s community contribution highlights include: Vice President of OutSport Toronto (2012-2017); Co-Chair of PrideHouse for the 2015 Pan Am Games; and Board Member for Toronto Botanical Gardens (2018-2021). She is currently the Board Secretary for Friends of Ruby (Canada’s first custom-built transitional housing facility for 2SLGBTQ+ youth) and is on the Human Resources Committee for Rainbow Faith & Freedom (a global movement to confront religious-based 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination).

  

  Sylvie Rodrigue, Ad.E.

  Partner
  Torys

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  Sylvie Rodrigue, Ad.E.

  Partner
  Torys

  Sylvie is one of Canada’s top litigators, recognized for her versatility representing clients across jurisdictions and industries, in all manner of disputes. She is known nationwide for her strong class action, product liability and commercial disputes experience, and she is one of the few counsel in Canada who defends cases in both Québec and common law provinces.  

  With a broad litigation practice and extensive experience defending cases in all provinces across Canada, including class actions both pre-certification and at trial, Sylvie has a formidable track record supporting clients in their highest-profile disputes. 

  Sylvie has been involved in a wide range of litigation matters, including multi-jurisdictional class actions, relating to product liability, drugs and medical devices, banking, privacy, constitutional law, competition law, consumer complaints, civil liability, employment matters, securities, large tort and negligence. She regularly represents clients in the banking, retail, technology, manufacturing, communication, real estate, railway, aviation and pharmaceutical industries in a variety of commercial disputes. Sylvie has appeared before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. 

  In 2021, she successfully represented the Canadian Olympic Committee and Olympian Mandy Bujold against the International Olympic Committee before the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Switzerland on a pro bono basis. The legal challenge, which led to Ms. Bujold’s participation at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, raised human rights and discrimination issues on the basis of pregnancy and resulted in a landmark decision for the benefit of female athletes worldwide. 

  Sylvie was awarded the designation of Advocatus Emeritus by the Québec Bar, a distinction awarded to a limited number of lawyers to honour an outstanding legal career, remarkable contribution to the profession and dedicated efforts to social or community services. She was also recognized by the WXN in 2016 and 2019 as one of Canada’s Top 100 Women and was named 2021 Litigator of the Year by Canadian Law Awards. She is consistently recognized by Benchmark as one of Canada’s top female litigators and by Chambers and other ranking publications for her work in product liability and class action matters. 

  Sylvie leads our Montréal office, as well as Torys’ national Class Action practice. 

• 2:05 PM

  Fireside Chat: A woman’s path to the judiciary

  Representation of women on the judiciary is improving, but certain groups continue to be underrepresented. How do we encourage more women and other underrepresented groups to apply to the bench? What is the job of a judge really like? Join us for an interactive session with Justice Renée Pomerance, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since 2006. In dialogue with Teresa Donnelly, Ministry of the Attorney General, Justice Pomerance will speak about the challenges and rewards of the judicial role.

  • how judges approach their tasks
  • the elements of impartiality and objectivity
  • the importance of diversity
  • the role of civility in litigation
  • why it is a such a humbling and extraordinary privilege to serve the public in a judicial capacity

  This session is a valuable opportunity to ask questions about these issues, and others.

  

  Justice Renée M. Pomerance

  
  Ontario Superior Court of Justice

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  Justice Renée M. Pomerance

  
  Ontario Superior Court of Justice

  Justice Pomerance has been a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice since November 22, 2006. She is currently the Local Administrative Judge of the Windsor court. Prior to her appointment, she was counsel with the Crown Law Office–Criminal in Toronto, where she appeared at all levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada. During a two-year leave of absence in 2002 – 2003, Justice Pomerance served as Counsel to the Honourable Peter Cory on “The Collusion Inquiry”, an inquiry that took place in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and examined allegations of state collusion in six cases of paramilitary murder. From December 2003 to September 2004, she worked as Senior Advisor with the National Judicial Institute.  She was awarded the Milvain Chair in Advocacy (University of Calgary) in 2005.  Throughout her career, Justice Pomerance has been actively involved in legal education programs for the bar and bench. She is presently co-chair of several programs offered by the National Judicial Institute. On the international side, Justice Pomerance has participated in the Judicial Education for Economic Growth (JEEG) project in Ukraine. Justice Pomerance is a sessional instructor at the University of Windsor law school. Since 2020, she has presented annual guest lectures at Fordham University School of Law and Cardozo School of Law (New York). She is a member of the CJC Jury Instruction Committee. She has written numerous articles and publications dealing with constitutional and criminal law issues. 

  Moderator

  

  Teresa Donnelly

  West Region Sexual Violence Crown, Sexual Violence Advisory Group
  Ministry of the Attorney General

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  Teresa Donnelly

  West Region Sexual Violence Crown, Sexual Violence Advisory Group
  Ministry of the Attorney General

  Teresa Donnelly has been a lawyer with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General since 1994. During that time, she has been an Assistant Crown Attorney in the Region of Waterloo and the County of Huron (1994-2011), the Crown Attorney for the County of Huron (2011-2015), the West Region Sexual Violence Crown, Sexual Violence Advisory Group (2015-2020, 2022) and Counsel conducting a review of the Direct Accountability Program (DAP) at the Ministry (2022). As West Region Sexual Violence Crown she is one of 7 full-time prosecutors in Ontario dedicated to enhancing the quality of sexual violence prosecutions. As a Crown, Teresa has been dedicated to prosecutions involving violence against women and children – both domestic violence and sexual violence. Teresa was the Treasurer or President of the Law Society of Ontario from June 2020-June 2022 where her focus included the mental health of legal practitioners, EDI, reconciliation, the competence and ethical responsibilities of lawyers and paralegals, and the important role that paralegals play in access to justice in Ontario.  She is on the Council of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and is on the faculty of the National Criminal Law Program. 

• 2:35 PM

  Networking & coffee break

• 3:05 PM

  Panel: Attracting the next generation of legal talent – How can law firms change to meet new demands?

  With the challenging recruitment landscape and competition to acquire new talent, there is a need for the legal profession to make cultural changes. It has become clear that millennials and Gen Z do not share the traditional values of working all the hours for large compensation packages – many of their priorities are more nuanced and based on culture, increased flexibility and work/life balance. This panel will explore how to meet the demands of younger generations.  

  • Embracing the new norm: strategies to attract the next generations of legal talent 
  • A look at the priorities of emerging leaders and the benefits law firms can offer in response 
  • Should more law firms implement partnership agreements that specify when a partner will retire? 
  • Learn from the insights of young emerging lawyers and law students starting to plan their careers 

  Moderator

  

  Jocelyn Tatebe

  President
  Women’s Law Association of Ontario (WLAO)

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  Jocelyn Tatebe

  President
  Women’s Law Association of Ontario (WLAO)

  Jocelyn is the current President of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario (WLAO) which is an organization dedicated to empowering women in the legal profession by providing a collective voice and advocating for equality, diversity, and change.  Since 1919, WLAO has been providing leadership and support to advance the status of women in the legal profession. 

  Jocelyn currently works as in-house counsel at Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to her current role, Jocelyn worked for 10 years as a civil litigator in the insurance defence bar where she had a particular interest in insurance coverage issues. During her time in private practice, Jocelyn appeared before the Superior Court, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the License Appeal Tribunal and was counsel for judicial reviews before the Divisional Court. 

  Panelists

  

  Tenisha Younge Wint

  Manager of Diversity and Inclusion
  Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP

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  Tenisha Younge Wint

  Manager of Diversity and Inclusion
  Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP

  Tenisha Younge Wint serves as the national Manager of Equity Diversity & Inclusion at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP in Toronto. Beginning her EDI career as the National Chair of the Black Professionals Inclusion Network at a Big 4 financial firm, she is a disrupter of racial bias, systemic power structures and microaggressions in the workplace.  

  Tenisha provides thought leadership on Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, competencies, policies, and best practices. She also manages the outreach and collaboration initiatives with external organizations for engagement and the progression of EDI education.  

  In addition to her work at Cassels, Tenisha also serves as a Co-Chair and Board Director on a team of BIPOC women building pathways to enable growth in diverse women founded businesses.  

  

  Tara Vasdani

  Managing Partner
  Remote Law Canada

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  Tara Vasdani

  Managing Partner
  Remote Law Canada

  Tara Vasdani is the Principal Lawyer and Founder of Remote Law Canada, a law firm specializing in civil litigation, employment law, real estate, and remote work. In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, Tara has been nominated for Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Tara has been awarded the Employment Law Firm of the Year Award, by Canada’s Prestige Awards.  

  Tara has led the remote legal landscape since 2019, and excelled in advising corporations, law firms, and law schools on remote work and remote advocacy in the COVID-19 pandemic. Tara primarily assists businesses and organizations with developing functional remote work policies, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and meeting legislative and common law requirements when operating hybrid workforces. In 2022, Tara was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Remote Work, and in 2021, she was recognized as one of the Top 10 Remote Work Advocates and Leaders across North America.  

  In 2021, Tara spoke to the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Property Tax Association, Microsoft, RBC, ShieldGEO, Torre, the Law Firm Summit, Oyster Hour, CBC, and appeared on 4 podcasts, including Darin Thompson’s riveted continuing professional development podcast, Law Actually, about remote advocacy and legal tech. Tara also spoke to 9 law schools about career development and tech leadership, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, Osgoode Hall, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, Thompson Rivers University, Western University, and McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business. In February 2021, Tara joined Barbara Kincaid, General Counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada, to speak to New Brunswick lawyers at the CBA Mid-Winter Series on legal tech and remote trials. Finally, Tara volunteered as a mentor to both the Civil Resolution Tribunal in British Columbia, and the Legal Innovation Hackathon in Ottawa, Ontario.  

  

  Gail Henderson

  Associate Professor
  Queen’s University Faculty of Law

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  Gail Henderson

  Associate Professor
  Queen’s University Faculty of Law

  Gail Henderson is Associate Professor at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She recently completed a two-year term as Associate Dean (Faculty Relations and Academic Policy). Her areas of research and teaching include financial consumer protection, securities regulation, corporate law, corporate governance and contracts. Prior to pursuing graduate studies at the University of Toronto, she served as law clerk to The Honourable Louise Charron of the Supreme Court of Canada and practiced commercial litigation and environmental and municipal law at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto. Gail is also a board member and treasurer of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network and sits on the Consumer Protection Advisory Committee of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. 

  

  Heather Fisher

  Associate
  Gowling WLG

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  Heather Fisher

  Associate
  Gowling WLG

  Heather Fisher is an associate in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office, practising in the firm’s Advocacy department. Her practise focuses on commercial litigation, including class actions, product liability and municipal liability, as well as insolvency and restructuring law.  

  She currently co-chairs GROW, Gowling WLG’s national women’s network and has been actively involved in the DEI and Associates’ Committees. She also sits on The Advocates’ Society’s Insolvency Litigation Subgroup.  

  Heather regularly provides pro bono legal services, including intervening on behalf of the CCLA in 2021 in a freedom of speech case before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. She volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline and the Commercial List Amicus Pro Bono Program. 

  In addition to her work at Gowling WLG, Heather also serves as a Board Director on the board of Action Against Hunger (Canada).  

• 3:50 PM

  Fireside Chat: The future of law and legaltech – The latest insights you need to know

  Developments in legaltech in recent years have reshaped the way that lawyers communicate and deliver their services. What are the latest legaltech trends shaping the profession post-pandemic, and how can lawyers leverage these trends to build their practice? In this session, hear from a key industry leader on some of the most pressing trends that are currently reshaping legal practice – and what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader today.  

  • Legaltech trends and opportunities, such as digital transformation, AI, and integrated services, and how they impact women in law 
  • The influence of legaltech on the profession’s gender diversity and inclusion priorities 
  • What’s next? – Anticipating developments in legaltech in 2023 and beyond 

  

  Natalie Worsfold

  Partner, Tax Litigation & Service Innovation
  Counter Tax Litigators

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  Natalie Worsfold

  Partner, Tax Litigation & Service Innovation
  Counter Tax Litigators

  Natalie is a partner at Counter Tax Litigators LLP. She has over 15 years of experience helping private corporations and high-net-worth taxpayers in disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency. She uses her unique tax expertise and decision science background to design litigation strategies that lead to better tax results for clients. 

  In addition to her tax work, Natalie is the co-creator and driving force behind many of Counter’s process workflows, decision trees, and client communication systems. She leads the design and development of Counter’s early case assessment and strategy software, CounterMeasure.  

  Natalie was named one of the ABA’s Women in Legal Tech in 2019. Natalie’s work with CounterMeasure won the 2022 Precedent Innovation Award, and was recognized in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards in 2018. Lexpert added Natalie as a Leading Lawyer under 40 in their 2022 Rising Star awards. 

  To learn more about Natalie and Counter, visit countertax.ca 

  

  Monica Goyal

  Lawyer and Director of Legal Innovation
  Caravel Law

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  Monica Goyal

  Lawyer and Director of Legal Innovation
  Caravel Law

  Monica Goyal is the Director of Legal Innovation for Caravel Law. She is also a lecturer at TMU Lincoln Alexander Law School where she teaches Access to Justice and Technology. She founded My Legal Briefcase, an innovative platform that provides efficient and democratic legal solutions for small businesses, and Aluvion Law, a flat-fee law firm that provides accessible and affordable legal solutions. Monica has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. She began her career working for major telecommunications companies such as Toshiba, Nokia, and Nortel, before earning her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Monica is a former Adjunct Professor and Visiting at Osgoode Hall Law School, where she taught law and technology courses. Currently, she teaches with the Institute of Future Law Practice. Monica has spoken at many conferences on law and technology, and has written extensively on law and technology for national and international press. She has been named as one of the 10 Women to Watch in Tech in the Journal of the American Bar Association and has won a 2017 Fastcase 50 Award.  

• 4:15 PM

  Closing remarks from chairperson

  

  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi

  Partner
  Pallett Valo

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  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi

  Partner
  Pallett Valo

  Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi is a partner at Pallett Valo LLP and the head of the Insurance Defence Group. She has a thriving civil litigation practice, representing insurance companies, companies with self-insured retention, health professionals and corporations.  

   She regularly appears before the various levels of court in Ontario, including the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, and various administrative tribunals. She has conducted both jury and judge alone trials. 

  Sudevi’s practice focuses on occupiers’ liability, motor vehicle liability and the defence of professional liability (pharmacists, veterinarians, lawyers and independent adjusters). She also has experience in large environmental contamination cases, product liability cases, property damage claims and providing coverage opinions.  

  She chairs Pallett Valo’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is active with the Advocates’ Society and the Ontario Bar Association’s Insurance Executive. 

  She is the past president of the Toronto Chapter of the South Asian Bar Association and was previously a member of the Law Society’s Equity Advisory Group. 

  Mentorship is very important to Sudevi and in addition to mentoring at her firm, she mentors through the Black Law Student Association at Osgoode and has been a past mentor through the Western Law BIPOC Mentorship Program. 

  She is a proud military wife and mother of three.  She also enjoys writing, both legal articles and for pleasure.