Hugh Verrier is a Chairman of White & Case LLP. He manages the firm's strategy as well as its operations worldwide. In this episode, we follow his career path from a graduate of the University of Ottawa's law program to his current role as the Chairman of White & Case LLP. Tune in to learn more about his challenges and advice!
Joel Miller has over forty years of family law experience. He was a partner and the family law chair of Ricketts Harris LLP. He still acts as counsel there but is also the lawyer behind the Family Law Coach. Over the years he noticed the significant growth of self-reps in family court who had good cases but lost 73% of the time when facing a lawyer on the other side. He helps to level the playing field by providing self-reps with cost-effective, accessible and transparent family law help in the form of legal coaching.
Gillian Akai is Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Postmedia Network Inc. Yes, all of those things at once! Obviously, Gillian is quite talented but from experience I can tell you she is also honest and humble. I had the pleasure of talking with Gillian about the ins and outs of her current role, the path she took to get there and who she is both as a person and a professional. This episode is chock-full of useful insights and tailored advice for the law student looking to shape a career that fits their skills and interests.
Anthony Daimsis has been teaching at the University of Ottawa since 2003. He is the current Director of the National Program, a program that leads to a dual JD/LL.L degree. He is also the Director of the common law's mooting program.
Prof. Daimsis teaches Contracts and Torts law, International Sales law, International Commercial Arbitration, ADR and legal writing. He also supervises the common law Jessup, Vis and FDI moot teams and serves as the faculty's moot program director. He has advised South Asian countries in the area of Foreign investment and investment treaties. Prof. Daimsis is called to the Ontario Bar (Barrister and Solicitor). He has recently joined Littleton Chambers (London, England) as an associate door tenant. He works with the National Judicial Institute, a not-for-profit institution committed to building better justice through leadership in the education of judges in Canada and internationally.
Before teaching at the university, he worked at an international law firm located in Austria, as an associate. His work focused on foreign investment disputes, telecommunications and underground resources, in addition to a number of international commercial contract and construction disputes resolved under the auspices of the World Bank (ICSID) and various international commercial arbitration institutions.
As a leading authority in his field, Prof. Daimsis is frequently approached to serve as an arbitrator in domestic and international commercial disputes and is a sought after speaker on the topics of international arbitration and international sales law, most recently travelling to Myanmar to advise its government entities on investment into Myanmar. He is on the ICDR panel of international arbitrators.
He is co-authoring the forthcoming International Commercial Arbitration and NAFTA Ch 11 Disputes from a Canadian Perspective. He is a contributing author for Dispute Resolution: Readings and Case Studies, 4th Edition, as well as International Business Transactions: Standard Forms and Documents and has edited a number of Business Law books used in business schools and MBA programs throughout North America.
In 2008 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Association of Fellows and Legal Scholars of the Center for International Legal Studies for his contributions to its scholarly activities and publications and in 2011 was awarded the National Capital Award for teaching.
Prof. Daimsis is the lead instructor for the Professional Certificate in International Arbitration. This certificate aims to introduce senior lawyers to the world of International Arbitration, by covering the process from start to finish. For more information on the Professional Certificate, please follow:http://www.continue.uottawa.ca/program_EN.cfm?courseID=495&groupID=19&catID=4
Prof. Daimsis has recently delivered keynote addresses and lectures in cities, including London, New York, Naypyidaw, Stockholm, Tehran, to name only a few.
Adolfo Morais is an immigration lawyer living in Ottawa. He has a unique background as a foreign trained lawyer and also a Canadian lawyer. He came to Canada from Brazil with is family in 2008; as a newcomer, he had to face many challenges in life. Adolfo decided to continue pursuing the path as a legal professional. He spent five years in law schools and obtained two law degrees in Quebec and Ontario. He worked extremely hard to self-study French. Adolfo also took good care of his two young daughters during the education. Thanks to his positive attitude and efforts, Adolfo has become a successful immigration lawyer after he graduated from uOttawa in 2012. His story is inspiring for all law students.
Based in Ottawa, Stephen Dam is a sole practitioner in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Civil Litigation, and Family Law. In this interview, Stephen shares with us his experience from being a law student to starting his own practice. He also talks about the pros and cons of being a sole practitioner. If you are interested in becoming a sole practitioner, this episode is for you!
Marco sits down with litigator and arts & entertainment professional Roselyn Kelada-Sedra to discuss her web-series in development, Fail Better. They explore the fear of failure that's part and parcel with striving for perfection in imperfect professional environments; ones where racism and misogyny still rear their ugly heads.
Precedent Magazine and its student offshoot Precedent JD are the brainchild of Melissa Kluger, a graduate of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law. Melissa started out articling at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP, spent two months on a secondment at the criminal law office of Edward L. Greenspan, and after being called to the bar practiced media law in Toronto. During her time as a lawyer, she saw a need for a publication that spoke to the lifestyle of the young lawyer, and the idea for Precedent was born. Today, every single law firm in Toronto gets an issue of Precedent magazine. Listen in to this interview to hear her story, to learn more about Precedent, and to hear Melissa's thoughts on the state of law today. And stay tuned for Part II, coming out soon!
In this episode, we interview two senior lawyers at a legal aid clinic, and discuss the role poverty plays in exacerbating individuals legal problems and opportunities for students to get involved in legal aid work.
Mike Laliberte
Mike is a senior staff lawyer at Neighbourhood Legal Services (London & Middlesex) and has worked at the clinic for over 25 years. He concentrates his work on social assistance issues and has engaged in many law reform efforts and enjoys participating in community development. Mike has chaired the OW & ODSP Advocates Group since 1995.
Although born and raised in the lovely town of Sarnia, Mike attended undergraduate studies at King’s College in London and completed his law degree at the University of Western Ontario Law School. He also has a teaching degree. Mike articled at a large law firm in London but much prefers practicing law at a legal clinic.
In 2017, Mike received a Canada 150 medal recognizing him for his contributions to our nation in all his years of service!
Kristie Pagniello
Kristie Pagniello has worked as a staff lawyer at Neighbourhood Legal Services (London & Middlesex) since 2001, having previously articled and practiced at Seabrook Epstein St. Marie & Miller in London. She has a Masters Degree in Sociology, with a Specialization in Criminology, and a Law Degree from the University of Windsor.
Kristie works on the social assistance side of NLSLM representing clients before administrative tribunals regarding Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Canada Pension Plan Disability, and Criminal Injuries Compensation. She has a particular interest in student development work and as such coordinates and supervises the student placements from King’s College School of Social Work, Fanshawe Paralegal Studies, and Ryerson’s Law Practice Program. Kristie is also a part-time professor at Fanshawe College in the Post Graduate Paralegal Studies program, teaching Tribunal Practice and Procedure.
