2024 AGENDA

All times in ET

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from Chairperson  

  

  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. 

   

• 9:10 AM

  Opening Keynote: Pathways to purpose – Redefining success in work and life

  This engaging keynote will inspire you to embrace change courageously and find fulfillment both personally and professionally. Pauline Chan shares her remarkable journey across the legal landscape and explores the essence of a purposeful career. From her days in big law to becoming a barre studio owner, a Fractional GC, a mother of two, and a pioneer in legal tech, Pauline’s story is a testament to venturing beyond conventional boundaries and using purpose as your north star. She’ll provide insights on non-traditional legal career paths and aligning professional endeavors with personal values. Join her as she outlines how to redefine success on your own terms and forge the life you want through purpose, passion, and resilience.

   

  

  Pauline Chan

  Head of Lawyer Experience
  Goodlawyer

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  Pauline Chan

  Head of Lawyer Experience
  Goodlawyer

  Pauline Chan is the Head of Lawyer Experience and Lawyer-in-Residence at Goodlawyer, a technology company that is transforming how lawyers and businesses work together. Pauline brings 14+ years of experience as a corporate lawyer to a role that perfectly aligns with her passion for innovation in the legal sector and social justice. She is deeply committed to expanding access to legal services, particularly for founders from marginalized groups. She is also an entrepreneur, having run her own barre and yoga studio, giving her first-hand experience of what it takes to help a small business succeed. 

  Pauline’s role at Goodlawyer is more than leading our community of 140+ lawyers – it’s about redefining the experience of law for clients and legal professionals, ensuring a more accessible, diverse, and responsive legal environment. Pauline is leading the charge towards a more inclusive and forward-thinking legal future and is a frequent speaker at industry events. 

   

• 9:50 AM

  Speed networking  

  Expand your network, make new connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session. An energizing opportunity to reflect on the keynote themes in two short rounds of speed networking. 

  

  Karima Kanani 

  Partner 
  Miller Thomson LLP 

  ×

  

  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. 

   

• 10:10 AM

  Panel: Strategies to empower women in law – Taking charge of your own career path  

  In a profession that has traditionally been male-dominated, how can women overcome traditional barriers, bias, and the eternal struggle of balancing work and family responsibilities to achieve their goals? How do you best determine and steer your career path to get to where you want to be, no matter where you are in your career? How can you shape the trajectory of your career? What are the key skills to consider to drive your career forward? Join this engaging conversation to learn from the experiences of successful senior women lawyers who have charted their own paths as they discuss their career wins, pivotal moments, and the challenges they overcame.  

  • Hear from women leading in law who have successfully navigated self-designed careers  
  • Getting comfortable with self-advocacy and building the confidence to ask for what you want 
  • Define your own goals – or have them defined for you 
  • The importance of sponsorship, mentorship, and relationship-building   
  • How to leverage your network for the benefit of your career  

  Moderator

  

  Hina Latif

  Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
  Mercedez Benz Canada

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  Hina Latif

  Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
  Mercedez Benz Canada

  Panelists

  

  Amanda Fowler

  The Athlete’s Lawyer, Amanda Fowler Sports Law
  Corporate Counsel, Aviva Canada

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  Amanda Fowler

  The Athlete’s Lawyer, Amanda Fowler Sports Law
  Corporate Counsel, Aviva Canada

  Toronto-based Sports Lawyer Amanda Fowler plays hardball and knocks it out of the park! Aside from owning a sole proprietorship called “Amanda Fowler Sports Law,” Amanda is currently the award-winning Supervising Lawyer of the Sport Solution Clinic at Western’s Faculty of Law, with a moniker of “The Athlete’s Lawyer” for good reason. At the start of her career, she stepped up to the plate and represented a college baseball player who was drafted to a major league team. Shortly after, she began practicing sports law by representing Olympic, high-performance and amateur athletes in various sport disputes, including team nonselections, improper carding nominations, human rights and doping infractions. Amanda has successfully represented Canadian and international athletes at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Fun fact: one of her most memorable cases was being involved in the landmark Caster Semenya appeal.  

  In 2017, Amanda was the legal MVP, serving as a pro bono lawyer for the Invictus Games in Toronto. In 2022, she clinched her second consecutive title as one of Canada’s leading sports and entertainment lawyers by Who’s Who Legal. On top of that, she proudly took home the Lexology Client Choice Award in Sports & Entertainment Law, scoring points within the United States and Canada, as well as the international stage.  

  As well as her role as Corporate Counsel at Aviva Canada, Amanda continues to be the go-to counsel for professional athletes, sport organizations and teams across Canada. That’s right, Amanda Fowler is not just a lawyer; she’s the home run hitter in your legal lineup, always ready to slam dunk the toughest cases for her clients. 

  

  Ashlee Froese

  Founder
  Froese Law

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  Ashlee Froese

  Founder
  Froese Law

  Ashlee Froese is a branding, fashion and entertainment lawyer and trademark agent. She has been practicing law since 2007. She is recognized by the Law Society of Ontario as a Certified Specialist in Trademarks Law; 1 of 6 female lawyers to carry that designation. Since 2017, Ashlee has been consistently listed in the World Trademark Review as one of the top 1000 trademark lawyers in the world. In 2019, Ashlee was one of 39 lawyers across Canada to be granted the Lexpert Zenith Award, which recognizes her as a change maker in law. In 2021, Ashlee was granted the World Intellectual Property Review’s Diversity award as an Influential Woman in IP, one of only 69 lawyers worldwide. In 2022, Ashlee was an awardee with the Canadian Law Awards in the Female Trailblazer of the Year category. Prior to launching her own law firm, Ashlee was a partner on Bay Street. She fast tracked to partnership within 6 years.  Froese Law is a boutique law firm that focuses on the intersection of pop culture and the law. Her clients span start ups to multi-national corporations.    
   
  Ashlee’s scope of practice includes trademarks, copyright, contract, licensing, domain name, social media, marketing/advertising, packaging/labeling and start up corporate laws. 
   
  Ashlee holds numerous leadership and mentorship positions including, executive committee member (Ontario Bar Association), brand strategy council member (Canadian Marketing Association), advisor (Ryerson Fashion Zone), committee member (Intellectual Property Institute of Canada), committee member (International Trademarks Association), past co-chair (Fashion Group International), past-chair (Toronto Intellectual Property Group), chair (City of Toronto’s Fashion Industry Advisory Panel) and program advisor for TMU’s creative industries. 

  

  Ewa Krajewska

  Partner
  Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP

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  Ewa Krajewska

  Partner
  Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP

  Ewa is a civil litigator, Co-Chair of the Civil Litigation Practice Group and a partner at Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP. She practices in civil litigation, public and administrative law, appellate advocacy, and estates disputes. As a skilled advocate with excellent judgment, Ewa knows how to handle sensitive and high stakes matters. She has appeared on leading cases at all levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Federal Court. Ewa was a Partner at a national law firm where she represented both institutions and individuals in difficult and sensitive disputes and was the Co-Chair of the Appellate Advocacy Group. She also served as a law clerk to the Honourable Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella of the Supreme Court of Canada. Ewa is respected by her peers and her clients for her ability to resolve issues and get to the heart of a matter. 

  She has received numerous awards and recognitions. Ewa is recognized in 2023 Chambers edition in Public and Administrative Law and in 2022 edition (since 2020) of Best Lawyers Canada (Appellate Practice) and in 2022 (Admin & Public Law), she is also recognized in 2021 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation and in 2021 as a Lexpert Rising Star: Leading Lawyer Under 40. Ewa also received recognition in 2021 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Estate & Personal Tax Planning). 

  Ewa is extremely committed to contributing to the legal profession. She sits on the board of directors of the Ontario Bar Association and acts as Chair of Professional Development. Ewa is also an active member of The Advocates’ Society and is a member of the Education and 10+ Standing Committees. She enjoys speaking and teaching on current legal issues and advocacy related topics. As an adjunct professor at the Osgoode Faculty of Law, Ewa relates her practical experience on constitutional litigation. She is also dedicated to mentoring lawyers and articling students. 

  Ewa believes in the importance of using her legal skills to advance legal issues for those with less economic means. She has acted as pro bono counsel both for public interest groups and individuals on issues of importance, including on the interpretation of Henson Trusts for persons with disabilities and how sealing orders affect those who are vulnerable.  

  Called to the Ontario bar in 2009. 

  

  Kristin Taylor

  Managing Partner
  Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

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  Kristin Taylor

  Managing Partner
  Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

  Kristin Taylor (she/her/hers) serves as Cassels Brock & Blackwell’s Managing Partner and is a partner in the Employment & Labour Group. Kristin provides practical and strategic advice to employers on a wide range of employment matters including employee hiring, discipline and termination; severance packages; corporate restructuring; employment agreements and personnel policies; certification applications; privacy and AODA compliance; mergers & acquisitions and employment standards and human rights issues. Kristin regularly represents employers in court in wrongful dismissal actions, severance pay class actions, restrictive covenant disputes and injunctions; in grievance arbitrations, in collective bargaining and before various administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and labour relations boards. She also conducts supervisory development and harassment prevention training to proactively prevent workplace disputes.  

• 10:55 AM

  Networking coffee break 

• 11:25 AM

  Idea generator: Support system – Best practices for supporting women lawyers’ health and well-being  

  With women facing a host of unique health issues and challenges throughout their lives, introducing a practical, holistic women’s health strategy can help enable better gender balance across the workforce. How can we create an open culture in which women feel supported, confident, and safe in talking about mental health issues? How can you take control of your own health and well-being in the workplace? Learn how you can benefit from a culture that prioritizes women’s health, and the strategies you can implement in your own team. Among the issues to be discussed in this interactive session:  

  • How to support women’s health issues, both mental and physical 
  • How small adjustments can have a significant impact  
  • A breakdown of common taboos in the workplace  
  • Strategies to fight fatigue, boost resilience, navigate work-life balance, recognize and prevent burnout, and perform at the top of your game 

  

  Annie Gaudreault

  Founder
  VEEV Health & Wellness

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  Annie Gaudreault

  Founder
  VEEV Health & Wellness

   As a nutritionist and women’s health coach, Annie founded VEEV Health & Wellness to support the needs of smart and successful women, giving them the confidence to do what they want to do, with the energy that they need. An endurance athlete with 12 marathons and 3 Ironman® triathlons under her belt, Annie lives what she preaches. 

  A prior 25+ year career as a brand consultant working with executives of Fortune 500 companies gave her a solid background to serve the wellness needs of those living busy lives. 

  She is a regular speaker to the media, corporations, and lifestyle organizations on various topics of health. 

• 11:55 AM

  Panel: No woman left behind – Examine intersectionality for the benefit of your team 

  Embracing different perspectives and ideas creates more effective, productive, and sustainable organizations. As a profession, we’ve come a long way, but we still are growing. It is vital that we evolve current thinking on diversity, equity, and inclusion to include considerations of intersectionality, an academic term that recognises how different aspects of a person combine to create overlapping areas of privilege and oppression (Kimberlé W. Crenshaw, 1989). What does it take to build a supportive environment that is both welcoming and empowering? Examining the challenges faced by women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities in the legal profession, our panel will explore how to build on current DEI programs to understand women in law’s experiences of intersectionality in the workplace. By highlighting these nuances, we can advance opportunities for all and enable each other to succeed.  

  • Learn about intersectionality in law and why it is important to overcoming inequality in our workplaces 
  • Effective and innovative strategies for creating a workplace that is both welcoming and empowering 
  • How to examine issues in the workplace through an intersectional lens with practical tips and actionable takeaways. Encourage active participation with communication that fosters openness and creates space for everyone   

  Moderator

  

  Ashley Butts

  Senior Counsel
  BASF Canada

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  Ashley Butts

  Senior Counsel
  BASF Canada

  Ashley Butts is Senior Counsel at BASF Canada Inc., the Canadian affiliate of a large global chemicals manufacturing company. She has been the first point of contact and Canadian legal lead counsel for commercial matters pertaining to over 10 businesses, manufacturing sites and functional units. Ashley routinely advises senior leadership on complex litigation, environmental, regulatory, reputational risk, and inclusion topics. She has led key aspects of large merger and acquisitions. Ashley has been instrumental in various inaugural and ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion teams nationally and at the global level. Prior to her legal career, Ashley worked for the Ontario Government developing policy and advocating for the needs of indigenous youth in, or at risk for, conflict with the law. Ashley has spoken in various forums and contributed to writings on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics.  

  Panelists

  

  Milly Chow

  Partner
  Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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  Milly Chow

  Partner
  Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

  Milly is a partner in the Restructuring and Insolvency Group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Toronto office).  She has extensive expertise in complex and multi-jurisdictional financial restructurings and distressed mergers and acquisitions involving restructuring matters across Canada and abroad. Milly has held senior leadership positions in leading insolvency associations including Global President and Global Chair of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), an organization of 10,000 turnaround and corporate renewal professionals worldwide, and Chair of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the Insolvency Institute of Canada (IIC). Currently, Milly serves as a Director on IIC’s board of directors and as National Co-Chair of the IIC Regional Networking & Development Committee. 

  Her contributions to restructuring and insolvency law have been recognized by leading publications including Chambers, Who’s Who Legal,  Lexpert, IFLR, The Best Lawyers and Lawdragon.  Most recently, in 2023, Milly received an honorary induction into the TMA Turnaround, Restructuring and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame. In 2022, Milly was recognized by the TMA Toronto Chapter for founding the Spring Gala, and for her dedication and commitment to TMA and her contributions to women in restructuring.  The gala honours the contributions of women in the Toronto turnaround community and raises funds for local women’s charities that demonstrate a strong commitment to turning around women’s lives. Since 2011, the gala has raised over C$500,000 for local women’s charities. 

  

  Radha D. Curpen

  Vancouver Managing Partner
  Bennett Jones LLP

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  Radha D. Curpen

  Vancouver Managing Partner
  Bennett Jones LLP

  Radha Curpen is Vice Chair, National Leader of ESG Strategy and Solutions, and Co-Head of the firm’s Environmental Law practice. Radha was the managing partner of the Vancouver office from July 2016 to March 2024. She is a proven business builder and grew Bennett Jones office in Vancouver during that time from 10 lawyers to more than 125 lawyers and staff.

  Radha is renowned as a preeminent legal expert on environment, regulatory, climate change, Indigenous relations and governance. She frequently acts on high-profile matters in these areas for some of the firm’s most significant clients, including in the energy, infrastructure, natural resources, agribusiness, industrial, consumer goods and mining sectors. Her clients include corporations, boards of directors, special committees, Indigenous communities, and governmental and regulatory agencies globally. Fluent in both French and English, Radha practises across Canada and advises on cross-border issues, including those relating to the United States.

  

  Stéphanie Jules

  LinkedIn Top Voice on Career Development
  

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  Stéphanie Jules

  LinkedIn Top Voice on Career Development
  

  Stéphanie Jules is a Senior Counsel in Bank of Montreal’s Technology & Operations Legal Group. Prior to this role, she has held several legal positions within the bank notably supporting BMO Capital Markets and BMO Wealth Management. She also led BMO’s Legal Operations Team and was Co-Chair of BMO Legal’s DE&I Council. In 2023, her dedication and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in Corporate Canada was recognized by the Globe & Mail Changemaker Award. She recently was recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Voice.

  

  Barbara Sheng

  Partner
  Stikeman Elliott LLP

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  Barbara Sheng

  Partner
  Stikeman Elliott LLP

  Barbara Sheng is a partner in the Corporate Group at Stikeman Elliott LLP. She started her career at Stikeman in 2010 as a student, completed her stage to become an associate in 2012 and was named a partner in 2020. Her practice is focused on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financing. Barbara regularly accompanies clients on corporate reorganizations and restructurings, navigating the legal landscape in Quebec and Canada, as well as day-to-day corporate and commercial matters. With a background in international development that had her working in Asia researching renewable energies prior to pursuing a career in law, and as a former member of the board of Action Against Hunger Canada, she is passionate about impact investment and sustainable development. You can find her commuting to work on her bike all year round, in the rain and in the snow!  

  In addition to being the Co-Chair of the Stikeman’s National Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, she is the Chair of the Montreal DEI committee, and is also a member of the Knowledge Management and Legal Innovations Committee. Perfectly fluent in both English and French, Barbara is called to the Quebec bar and is listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 as a leading lawyer in Corporate Mid-Market and Private Equity, Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2023 as a leading lawyer and in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 in Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions. 

   

• 12:35 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:35 PM

  Panel: Knowledge exchange – Enabling growth through sponsorship and mentoring 

  Taking a 360 approach to mentoring and sponsorship in our organizations can enable us not only to prevent the potential brain drain from the older generation of lawyers set to retire, but also to enable growth opportunities for younger lawyers to learn, train, and practice their craft. This panel discusses the crucial importance of mentorship and sponsorship for women in law, and how to create networking opportunities for women lawyers. The panel will discuss the importance of mentoring at different career levels, and the need for women to be mentored by men as well as other women. Speakers will share tips on how women lawyers can find good mentors and sponsors and harness exposure to different career paths in law. Learn:  

  • Different approaches to mentoring across the legal landscape  
  • The importance of harnessing a variety of mentoring relationships to grow, learn, and connect in different ways  
  • How to harness the power of your network to find your next opportunity  
  • The latest best practices to maximize the benefits of mentoring and sponsorship relationships  
  • Leveraging mentoring and sponsorship to prevent the ‘brain drain’ and inform future leaders  

   

  Moderator

  

  Erin Kleisinger, KC

  Partner, McDougall Gauley LLP
  President, Federation of Law Societies of Canada

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  Erin Kleisinger, KC

  Partner, McDougall Gauley LLP
  President, Federation of Law Societies of Canada

  Erin Kleisinger is a partner at McDougall Gauley LLP in Regina. Her areas of practice include civil litigation, privacy law, education law, banking and financing, and insolvency and restructuring. Erin has been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada in the areas of Education Law, Banking and Finance Law, and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2015.   

  Erin is currently the President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (having served on Federation Council since 2018). The Federation is the national association of the 14 provincial and territorial law societies, mandated to regulate Canada’s legal profession in the public interest. She is also the Chair of the Federation / CBA National Wellness Study Steering Committee, and was the Federation’s representative to the Independent Judicial Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments in 2023.  

  Erin is a former Bencher and Past-President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. Her past leadership roles include the Chair of the Board of Directors of Group Medical Services and GMS Insurance Inc., the President of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors and the Program Chair of the Saskatchewan Trial Advocacy Workshop.  

   

  Panelists

  

  Lia Bruschetta

  Partner, Litigation
  Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

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  Lia Bruschetta

  Partner, Litigation
  Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

  Lia practices complex construction and commercial litigation. She is a dedicated advocate who is committed to client service, and to identifying and obtaining practical results that meet her clients’ objectives – whether in court, or out. Her practice primarily involves disputes arising out of construction and infrastructure projects. This covers all aspects of construction law, including disputes involving contracts and specifications, construction liens, trusts, bond and insurance claims, delay claims, bidding and tendering matters, and negligence claims. Lia also has significant experience with complex commercial litigation, including having litigated a number of high-profile commercial disputes in the infrastructure industry. 

  Highlights of Lia’s most recent work include: representing the City of Toronto in complex multi-party litigation arising out of the Union Station Redevelopment Project; twice striking claims brought against Dundee Kilmer Development in relation to the development of the 2015 Pan/Parapan AM Games Athletes’ Village; representing Cintra in respect of a dispute involving the $3.25 billion sale of a stake in Ontario’s Highway 407 toll road; defending Bondfield Construction Company against bond, lien and trust claims arising out of the Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus expansion; and successfully obtaining relief under the oppression remedy for Estee Lauder in respect of its minority-shareholder interest in Deciem Beauty Group Inc. 

  In addition to the above, Lia coordinates Osler’s Pro Bono Ontario volunteer program and is a passionate supporter of pro bono initiatives in Ontario. She is also an executive member of the Construction and Infrastructure section of the Ontario Bar Association, and an avid cyclist who coordinates Team Osler’s participation in the Ride to Conquer Cancer each year. 

  She is recognized as a leading construction and infrastructure litigation practitioner by The Best Lawyers in Canada. 

   

  

  Breanna Needham

  Founder, Lawyer
  Luceo Legal

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  Breanna Needham

  Founder, Lawyer
  Luceo Legal

  Breanna Needham is a commercial litigation lawyer with a focus on matters where misconduct is an element. She has been consistently recognized for her work in the commercial litigation space, and has extensive experience working on cases involving investigations and injunctions, as well as strategic analysis, legal research, written submissions, and opinions in confidential, high-profile, and high-stakes matters. Part of Breanna’s approach to practice includes preventing problems before they happen, including through offering risk management services to clients so that issues can be addressed before they become emergencies.

   Breanna founded Luceo Legal after practicing law at two of the largest law firms in Canada, one of the leading litigation boutiques, and the Toronto office of an international law firm. She has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer to Watch by Lexpert in corporate commercial litigation, One to Watch by Best Lawyers in corporate and commercial litigation, and in 2022 was recognized as one of the Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40. Breanna can be reached at [email protected].

   

  

  Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy

  Partner, Intellectual Property
  DLA Piper

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  Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy

  Partner, Intellectual Property
  DLA Piper

  Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy is a partner at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP and chair of the Canadian Intellectual Property & Technology group. She specializes in intellectual property litigation, and also provides strategic advice in the procurement and enforcement of intellectual property rights. She has appeared as counsel in two appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as in matters before the Federal Court, the Ontario Courts, the Trademark Opposition Board, and the Competition Tribunal.  

  Sangeetha is past Chair of the IP-IT Section Executive of the Ontario Bar Association, serves on committees with the International Trademarks Association, and is a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. She has been recognized for her intellectual property work by Chambers, Legal 500, Best Lawyers, World Trademark Review, LMG Life Sciences, and Expert Guides: Guide to World’s Leading Women in Business Law‎. Prior to obtaining her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2003, Sangeetha obtained a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto, and did research in psychosomatic medicine at the Toronto General Hospital. 

  

  Jennifer Zdriluk

  Partner
  Ross & McBride LLP

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  Jennifer Zdriluk

  Partner
  Ross & McBride LLP

  Jennifer Zdriluk is a partner in Ross & McBride’s Labour, Employment & Human Rights Group, where she advises both employers and employees on a range of issues. 

  Jennifer believes strongly in enhancing access to legal services, and she has dedicated her career to ensuring all people are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their identity or personal circumstances.  

  Working with employers, Jennifer is well-equipped to deal with matters relating to employment relations, discipline, employment contracts, workplace policies, privacy issues, termination, human rights, fiduciary issues, and statutory requirements. 

  Representing employees, Jennifer is highly experienced in situations such as wrongful dismissal, defamation, intentional infliction of mental suffering, discrimination, short-term and long-term disability, medical accommodations, and more. She also represents individuals facing human rights issues in the areas of education and housing.  

  Jennifer is a skilled mediator, who is adept at creating alignment between parties and identifying practical solutions for complex problems. She takes a personalized, results-oriented approach to her work, giving actionable advice that best suits her clients’ personal and fundamental issues.  

  Her clients benefit from her compassionate and collaborative approach, and the assurance that she will fight vigorously on their behalf in the event of litigation. She regularly appears before the Courts, the Human Rights Tribunal, arbitrators, the Labour Board, and other administrative tribunals.  

  Jennifer is an avid lifelong learner, who has enhanced her practice by achieving several advanced certifications in areas such as mental health in the workplace, human rights theory, workplace investigations, and administrative adjudication. 

  Her outstanding work has earned her recognition from both her clients and her peers in the legal community. She has most recently been recognized with a Reader’s Choice Award and has been named among Best Lawyers in Canada for multiple years. 

  Outside of her practice, Jennifer is the Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Audit Committee and a member of its Recognition & Leadership Development Committee. Currently, she is the elected representative for the Ontario Bar Association’s Central South chapter. 

  In her personal time, Jennifer is active in the local arts community and volunteers with a local theatre school teaching drama and music to children.   

• 2:25 PM

  Candid conversation: Artificial intelligence and its evolving impacts on law – the future is here?  

  Join the women at the leading edge of AI as they explore how the disruptive rise of generative artificial intelligence has played a transformative role in legal services in recent years. When used well it is a game-changer for improving efficiency – but emerging AI legal risks and pitfalls require vigilance. How will the role of AI in our profession evolve, and what does this mean for our approach to training junior lawyers? What are the challenges and opportunities for lawyers? How can firms embrace AI to attract the next generation of legal talent? Learn crucial updates from women leading AI in law as they guide you through the latest AI use-cases and anticipate future developments in 2024 and beyond. 

  • Exploring innovative and successful use cases of generative AI in legal services – and the pitfalls to avoid
  • Why should lawyers embrace the use of AI?
  • How will AI adoption impact the traditional law firm model?
  • Discover emerging trends with the future forecast – the latest insights you need to consider

  Moderator

  

  Laurie David-Henric

  Global Legal Operations & Strategy Executive, International NGO Board Member, Strategic Leadership
  

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  Laurie David-Henric

  Global Legal Operations & Strategy Executive, International NGO Board Member, Strategic Leadership
  

  As a dual citizen, Laurie David-Henric has been immersed in the legal, regulatory and corporate international ecosystems, both in Europe and in North America, for almost two decades. 

  With substantial expertise in strategic thinking and management of complex global operations and projects, Laurie’s multifaceted experience spans numerous international roles from lawyer, to managing director, to program manager, to business process optimizer, to legal COO. 

  As a thought leader in her discipline, recognized for her keen insights on innovation and her proficiency in building optimized functions from the ground up, Laurie is regularly invited to share her experience, published, and interviewed by professional associations and magazines. 

  Additionally, Laurie collaborates with prestigious academic institutions, and actively engages in several distinguished professional networks, including as an Advisory Council Member for LINK, the Legal Innovators Network. 

  Most recently, Laurie joined the Strategic Leadership of the Board of Trustees of an international Non-Governmental Organization – The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation – that holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council, and whose mission is to reduce global risks by accelerating public participation in research, policymaking, and development programs, with a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. 

   Recent Thought Leadership  

  • Co-organizer of the International Legal Technology Symposium with Harvard Law School, 2024
    • Panelist for the Association of Corporate Counsel on “The State of Collaboration in Corporate Legal Departments” survey results, 2023
    • Panelist with KPMG Law at the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium CGI conference on the crossroad of Law and ESG, 2023 

  Panelists

  

  Monica Goyal

  Director of Legal Innovation
  Caravel Law

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  Monica Goyal

  Director of Legal Innovation
  Caravel Law

  Monica Goyal is a Lawyer and also the Director of Legal Innovation for Caravel Law. In her role as Director of Legal Innovation, she evaluates new technologies and implementation within the firm. She has overseen the implementation of their internal contract and document automation system, design and implementation of their client onboarding process, and the implementation of our corporate services solutions.  She is a part-time lecturer at the TMU Lincoln Alexander Law School where she teaches Critical Approaches to Data, Algorithm, and Science in the Law. Monica was formerly an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, and the Institute of Future of Law Practice. 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. 

    

  In 2023 Caravel Law was Excellence Awardee for LexisNexis Canada Award for Best Use of Technology In a Law Firm, and this year Monica was nominated for Canadian Lawyer most influential lawyer in the changemaker category. 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. 

  

  Christina Porretta

  Chief Legal Officer
  BDO Canada LLP

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  Christina Porretta

  Chief Legal Officer
  BDO Canada LLP

  Christina Porretta is the Chief Legal Officer at BDO Canada LLP. In this role, Christina is responsible for leading the legal function across Canada, including litigation and dispute resolution, regulatory matters, governance, commercial agreements, transactions, privacy and employment-related issues. As a member of the National Leadership team, she has oversight over all legal affairs and provides strategic legal advice to the executive leadership team and other senior leaders on a full range of matters. Christina also acts as Board Secretary. 

   

• 2:55 PM

  Networking coffee break  

• 3:25 PM

  Fireside chat: Innovations in accountability – the role of senior leadership in advancing diversity in law 

  A diverse workforce is good for business, how can senior law leaders drive forward DEI goals through innovative business models? With more law firms willing to disclose gender pay gap information, some are taking this a step further with pay transparency. Join managing partners discussing changing pathways, flexible working, innovative approaches to pay transparency, and accountability for driving forward equality in law. Learn how your organization can benefit from new workplace practices that enable psychological freedom and resilience for your team. Gain unique insights into the priorities, objectives, and goals of leading managing partners and senior in-house counsel in this lively panel on DEI impact and accountability. 

  • What are managing partners doing to drive accountability in their firms? 
  • The difference between transparency and uniformity 
  • The business case for a four-day-week – how does this impact billable hours targets? 
  • Innovative ways to recruit and retain diverse legal talent – and the dangers of not prioritizing DEI 
  • Discover the positive impacts of the latest business model innovations and flexible working practices  

  Moderator

  

  Inga Masjule

  Chief Talent Officer
  Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

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  Inga Masjule

  Chief Talent Officer
  Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

  Inga is responsible for the development and implementation of BLG’s talent strategy in order to attract, develop, retain and engage high quality talent. She leads a team of professionals in the Firm’s professional resources, recruitment, professional development, equity, diversity & inclusion, and human resources departments and is committed to
  delivering the Firm’s vision and building the culture that is team-oriented, one-firm, collegial and committed to professional excellence.

  A recognized senior talent management executive with over 25 years of global experience, Inga acts as a key advisor to the national leadership team and provides strategic guidance on all talent management and human resources matters.
  Throughout her career Inga has worked for a variety of leading law firms and professional services firms in Canada, Europe, the U.K., the Caribbean and the U.S. Prior to joining BLG, Inga was the U.S. Chief Talent Officer for a large global law firm in New York, where she led and guided a full range of recruitment, development, human resource, talent innovation, engagement, and diversity and inclusion and strategy initiatives.

  Inga is passionate about technology, community and entrepreneurship and is a frequent speaker, contributor and a mentor.

  Panelists

  

  Linda Beairsto

  Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
  President, MT>Align  

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  Linda Beairsto

  Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
  President, MT>Align  

  Linda Beairsto is a partner of McCarthy Tétrault and President of MT>Align, a division of the firm where she leads over 180 independent contract lawyers across Canada. In 2018, Linda launched her “dream initiative” to advance the legal services industry by delivering cost-effective, alternative legal services to clients through the engagement of top tier contract lawyers, deployment of innovative solutions and utilization of technology. Drawing on her extensive legal and C-Suite experiences, Linda successful pairs high calibre MT>Align lawyers with clients to meet their needs. Previously, Linda was Chief General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. In 2017, Linda was a finalist in two categories of National Post and ZSA Recruitment’s awards: General Counsel of the Year Finalist-Deal Maker of the Year; and General Counsel of the Year-General Counsel Finalist. 

  Linda holds a Chartered Director designation. She serves on the Executive Committee and Chair, Nominations Committee, Board of Directors of Food Banks Canada. 

  

  Lai-King Hum  

  Founder 
  Hum Law

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  Lai-King Hum  

  Founder 
  Hum Law

  Founder of Hum Law, Lai-King Hum is known for expertise in all areas of workplace law. Her practice encompasses employment law, human rights, professional regulation, mediation and litigation. Lai opened her Toronto-based employment law and human rights firm in 2014, having established herself as a leading employment law practitioner at top-tier national firms in Ontario and Quebec. 

  Lai advises and represents Canadian and U.S.- and International -based businesses, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs and individuals in a range of matters in jurisdictions across Canada. She offers legal services in English and French to clients in manufacturing, education, healthcare and financial / banking services. Licensed by both the Ontario Bar and the Quebec Bar, Lai has appeared before various levels of court and tribunals. She is a member of ADR Institute of Ontario and conducts workplace investigations as well as mediations. 

  Before embarking on a full-scale investigation, Lai first ensures that the client has explored and exhausted all avenues for resolution. She is experienced in resolving internal workplace matters relating to harassment or discrimination, either through investigations or as a workplace mediator. 

  As a mediator in workplace matters, Lai tailors her approach to the circumstances at-hand, but leans towards an evaluative mediation practice model, rooted in her knowledge of the law. 

  In addition to her practice, Lai is a Deputy Judge in the Small Claims Court of the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. She is also one of three Discrimination and Harassment Counsel in the Discrimination and Harassment Counsel Program, a service funded by the Law Society of Ontario. 

   

  

  Leena Yousefi

  Founder & CEO
  YLaw

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  Leena Yousefi

  Founder & CEO
  YLaw

• 4:10 PM

  Closing remarks from Chairperson 

  

  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.