Women in Litigation Forum
Toronto 2020

Laurie Jessome

partner, Cassels

Laurie Jessome is a partner in the Employment & Labour Group at Cassels and serves as Chair of the firm’s Advocacy Group. Laurie provides advice to, and advocates on behalf of, employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, including drafting employment agreements, drafting and enforcing restrictive covenants, discipline and dismissal issues, employment standards compliance, and human rights complaints. She also advises on and conducts workplace investigations into allegations of discrimination, harassment and other forms of employee misconduct. Laurie has represented clients before provincial and federal human rights tribunals, the Superior Court of Ontario, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Employment Standards Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, and in mediations and grievance arbitrations. She is ranked as a leader in her field by Chambers Canada, where clients commend her “unbelievable thoroughness” and “calm and methodical” approach.

 Speaking session 

Latest updates on labour and employment laws

October 27 - 9.00 EDT

Jennifer Black

senior counsel - labour & employment, Air Canada

Jennifer began her career in private practice, and in 2004, her firm seconded her to Air Canada to assist with resolving hundreds of grievances prior to the company’s emergence from bankruptcy protection. In 2007, she joined the legal department of Air Canada full time and initially was responsible for all privacy and human rights legal matters (employee and customer).

Jennifer is presently Senior Counsel, Labour & Employment and is responsible for the numerous mediations/arbitrations with the union representing Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge’s approximately 9000 flight attendants. Jennifer is also responsible for legal matters relating to all of Air Canada’s U.S. based employees and continues to provide advice on non-union employee and human rights issues. Jennifer has also represented the company through several rounds of collective bargaining, including negotiations that lead to historic ten and twelve year collective agreements.

Jennifer graduated from the Faculty of Law of McGill University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and a Bachelor of Common Law (LLB). Prior to law school, Jennifer did an Honours degree in English Literature, also at McGill University.

 Speaking session 

Latest updates on labour and employment laws

October 27 - 9.00 EDT

Lauren Chang MacLean

acting director, legal services - Privacy, Human Rights & Labour/Employment, Metrolinx

Lauren Chang MacLean is an Acting Director in the Legal Services Department at Metrolinx, where she leads the Privacy, Human Rights, and Labour and Employment teams. Much of the work that Lauren is involved in pertains to the rights of, and issues related to individuals (employees, customers, members of the public).

Since January 2020, Lauren has been involved in planning and managing the COVID-19 response within Metrolinx, and has brought her lens of privacy, labour and employment, and human rights to that work. Given that Metrolinx is a public transit agency, and has had front-line workers out on-the-job throughout the pandemic, this has been an engaging, fast-paced and quickly-developing area of practice. It has been gratifying for Lauren to be involved in this interesting work.

Prior to joining Metrolinx in 2016, Lauren worked in private practice at a labour and employment boutique in Toronto upon being called to the bar in 2010.

 Speaking session 

Latest updates on labour and employment laws

October 27 - 9.00 EDT

Barbara Silverberg

head of legal, Dell Canada

Barbara Silverberg is Head of Legal for Dell Canada, where she is a member of the Senior Management Team, Pension and Ethics Committees, and Executive Sponsor for the Company’s Community Involvement program for eight years. She is the lead for Dell’s Global Competition Steering Committee which determines global risk and strategy for competition law issues. She is responsible for providing advice and guidance on all legal matters, and for managing and coaching the Canada legal team. She also coaches and mentors colleagues at Dell and members of the external legal community.

Ms. Silverberg joined Dell from First Capital Realty, a TSX listed real estate development company, where she was Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to that, Ms. Silverberg was Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Labatt USA (now Anheuser Busch Inbev). She started her career in the corporate/commercial group of Torys law firm in Toronto. Ms. Silverberg is a past Board Member of Skylark Youth and Families, and past Chair of the Board of Directors of Oolagen Community Services (now Skylark) and past chair of the Oolagen CEO Search Committee. She is a member of Legal Leaders for Diversity and speaks French and some Spanish.

 Speaking session 

Latest updates on labour and employment laws

October 27 - 9.00 EDT

Rebecca Bush

partner, BLG

Rebecca’s practice focuses on public authority litigation and complex tort litigation for large institutional clients. She has specialized expertise in crisis management and defending institutional sexual abuse and harassment claims. Rebecca has expertise defending claims seeking damages for psychological injury and mental distress in the employment, personal injury and human rights context. She advocates for her clients in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Human Rights Tribunal.

Rebecca frequently provides advice on sensitive matters that are the subject of public and media scrutiny. She defends the reputational interests of her clients in policy and precedent setting cases.

 Speaking session 

Building your brand: credibility, confidence, and resilience

October 27 - 10.05 EDT

Anne Feehely

associate general counsel, BMO Financial Group

Anne Feehely is Associate General Counsel, Technology & Operations Legal at BMO Financial Group where she leads a team of lawyers supporting technology transactions, third party risk, enterprise brand, marketing and social media, cybersecurity and intellectual property.

Prior to joining BMO, Anne was in-house counsel at TELUS and Metrolinx advising on technology transactions and privacy matters. She began her legal career in private practice with the corporate group at McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Anne obtained her law degree from Queen’s University, her B.Ed from the University of Western Ontario and an Honours B.Sc in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto.

 Speaking session 

Building your brand: credibility, confidence, and resilience

October 27 - 10.05 EDT

Ratika Gandhi

head of legal and compliance, Alcon Canada

Ratika is the Head of Legal and Compliance, Corporate Secretary and local Privacy Officer at Alcon Canada. She is also a member of Alcon’s Senior Leadership Team. Ratika manages and oversees all legal and compliance matters for Alcon Canada. She works with the legal teams within the U.S. and in other jurisdictions where the Alcon Global organization operates. Ratika advises both the Surgical and Vision Care business units on corporate and commercial issues as well as health, regulatory, marketing and privacy matters.

Ratika provides input on Alcon Canada’s mandate and strategy, and other organizational matters. Ratika advises the Surgical and Vision care business units on risk management, including personnel issues, grey market concerns, competition issues, compliance matters, corporate and commercial matters, and promotional policies and processes.

Ratika joined Alcon from McMillan LLP, where she was an Associate and obtained a depth of experience in Health Law, Regulatory Law, and General Corporate Commercial Law. Ratika also assisted clients with privacy and general business issues.

Ratika received an Honours B. Arts Sc. Degree from McMaster University and a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Ratika has obtained Osgoode’s Certificate in Health Law.

 Speaking session 

Building your brand: credibility, confidence, and resilience

October 27 - 10.05 EDT

Melanie Baird

Partner, Blakes

Melanie Baird is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Her diverse commercial and intellectual property litigation practice encompasses patent, trademark, complex commercial, class actions, product liability, cannabis and technology disputes. Melanie excels at litigating cases in emerging fields. She was counsel in the first biologic and biosimilar drug patent cases in Canada in addition to numerous precedent-setting trials, applications and appeals. She works extensively with life sciences companies on complex litigation of all sorts and is intimately familiar with the business of pharma and biotech. Melanie also has broad experience in the software, tech and social media spaces, dealing with commercial, patent, trademark, copyright and licensing disputes. She leverages her eclectic experience to handle a wide variety of complex commercial disputes, adeptly devising strategic options and navigating cross-border issues. Melanie is sought after for her advice on litigation strategy, and is consistently recognized as a leading litigator, including by Benchmark Litigation as one of the Top 50 Women in Litigation for Canada.

 Speaking session 

Successfully managing complex litigation

October 27 - 11.10 EDT

Rebecca Burrows

general counsel, KPMG

Rebecca Burrows is General Counsel at KPMG in Canada. She leads a talented team of legal professionals responsible for the firm’s legal matters (contracting, litigation, regulatory and compliance, governance and operations), and sits on the Global General Counsel Steering Group of KPMG International. Previously, Rebecca was a litigation partner at Goodmans LLP, practicing corporate, commercial and securities litigation. She is committed to community, and is presently the Vice-Chair of Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, having served on non-profit boards for the past 15 years.

 Speaking session 

Successfully managing complex litigation

October 27 - 11.10 EDT

Jill Schmidt

assistant general counsel, Genentech

Jill Schmidt is Assistant General Counsel at Genentech, Inc., where she has managed high-stakes patent infringement cases and other commercial litigation since 2016. She has overseen dozens of IPR proceedings, multiple district court cases filed under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, and related patent litigation in other jurisdictions concerning foreign counterparts. Prior to joining Genentech, Ms. Schmidt was an attorney at the Palo Alto office of Sidley Austin LLP and, before that, at the Silicon Valley office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where her practice focused on patent litigation. Ms. Schmidt clerked for the Honorable William H. Alsup at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the Honorable Paul R. Michel at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

 Speaking session 

Successfully managing complex litigation

October 27 - 11.10 EDT

Linda Van den Brink

VP, counsel, Travelers

Linda Van Den Brink is 2VP of the Bond & Specialty Insurance Claim Unit at Travelers Canada. She oversees the team of claim professionals handling all Specialty Claims including Directors & Officers Liability, Errors & Omissions, Crime, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary, Cyber Liability and Kidnap & Ransom. Before joining Travelers in June 2017, Linda worked as Senior Claims Counsel handling complex claims in all specialty lines. Linda’s claims experience includes managing large cross-border securities class actions and claims in foreign jurisdictions against large private and public Canadian companies. Linda has also been handling Cyber claims for over 7 years.

Linda holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University, an MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from University of Western Ontario. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario (2009) and she did her articles at a large Toronto Law firm, with a focus on Commercial Litigation and Labour & Employment Law.

 Speaking session 

Successfully managing complex litigation

October 27 - 11.10 EDT

Ruth Promislow

partner, Bennett Jones

Ruth has over 20 years of experience in litigating complex commercial disputes in a wide variety of areas (including privacy, cybersecurity, fraud, reinsurance and professional negligence), with an impressive track record of success. Ruth has extensive experience with data protection, privacy and cybersecurity matters including regulatory compliance, cyber preparedness, breach response and related litigation.

Ruth works with clients to assess their risks and vulnerabilities, as well as their legal obligations with respect to management of personal or confidential information. Ruth assists clients in developing comprehensive policies, guidelines and procedures to minimize exposure from potential attacks, and to ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations. Ruth also works with clients to develop and implement effective incident response plans enabling clients to respond quickly to a data breach or other event without creating further liability from incident mismanagement.

Following a cyber-attack or privacy incident, Ruth oversees forensic investigations, and assists clients with regulatory investigations, reporting to regulators and providing notification to impacted individuals. Ruth is also involved in all aspects of litigation that may arise as a result of a cyber-attack or privacy incident.

 Speaking session 

Dealing with privacy compliance

October 27 - 12.15 EDT

Paula Amy Hewitt

general counsel, corporate secretary, Field Trip Health

Paula Amy Hewitt has broad legal, regulatory and privacy experience. Since July 2020, Paula has been the General Counsel of Field Trip Health Ltd., a healthcare company focussed on medical treatment and research into psychedelic medicines for mental health and wellness. Prior to joining Field Trip, Paula held various executive roles within Canadian and Multinational financial services companies, including Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Chief Privacy Officer and General Counsel. Paula started her career in private practice at Bay Street law firms.

In addition to law degree, Paula holds a BA in Psychology from McGill University and a Graduate Certificate in Risk Management from the University of Toronto as well as the CIPPC, CIPM, CIPT Privacy designations.

Paula has served as Vice Chair of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada’s Ontario District Council and the Canadian Advisory Board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

 Speaking session 

Dealing with privacy compliance

October 27 - 12.15 EDT

Oxana Iatsyk

privacy officer, Walmart Canada

Oxana Iatsyk is a legal counsel with 20 years of domestic and international private practice and in-house counsel experience in IP, technology, corporate, advertising, privacy and consumer protection laws across the CPG, gaming, e-commerce, technology, social media, retail, and health industries. She is CIPP/C, CIPP/E and CIPM certified by the International Association of Privacy Professional and holds an LL.M. degree in International Trade and Competition Law.

At the present time, Oxana serves as the Privacy Officer for Walmart Canada Corp., responsible for the development, implementation and ongoing monitoring of a comprehensive Privacy Risk Management program and crisis management leadership with respect to privacy, CASL compliance and data governance, in support of Walmart's evolution to a dynamic e-commerce organization. Aside from leading the in-market program, she oversees global privacy centers of improvement across Walmart markets on privacy program development and management, compliance monitoring, risk assessments, knowledge sharing and data breach management.

 Speaking session 

Dealing with privacy compliance

October 27 - 12.15 EDT

Mona Zarifian

senior privacy consultant and privacy counsel, Euronet Worldwide

Mona has extensive privacy experience in the financial services and banking sector. As an in-house counsel, Mona provides privacy counsel, enterprise-wide, to advise business teams on global data protection and privacy issues and ensure the company’s compliance with global privacy standards.

In her current role, Mona is a privacy counsel and senior privacy consultant for Euronet Worldwide, an electronic financial services company operating in over 38 countries globally. Mona advises on international and domestic privacy law requirements including the implementation of the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA).

Prior to her role at Euronet, Mona worked as a Privacy Officer for a major Canadian bank, where she supported the enterprise in complying with global privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Mona has obtained three certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) demonstrating privacy expertise in the EU (CIPP/E), US (CIPP/US) and Canada (CIPP/C). Mona is a Canadian lawyer, admitted to the Ontario bar.

 Speaking session 

Dealing with privacy compliance

October 27 - 12.15 EDT

Erica Zarkovich

VP, general counsel, chief privacy officer & corporate secretary, LifeLabs

Erica Zarkovich is the Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary at LifeLabs. In this role, she is responsible for the management of all legal, privacy, risk, and corporate governance matters on behalf of the organization.

Erica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to LifeLabs. Most recently, Erica led a team responsible for all legal, privacy, risk, breach management and regulatory requirements at Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), and played a critical role in the transition of CCO into Ontario Health, the super agency responsible for health system transformation in Ontario. Erica also worked on many of the legal and privacy requirements surrounding Ontario Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has a strong track record of developing meaningful and transparent enterprise-wide risk, privacy and compliance programs. Prior to this, Erica practiced corporate law at Stikeman Elliott LLP.

Erica is a Loran Scholar and holds a HBSc in human biology/bioethics from University of Toronto (Trinity College), an LLB from Queen’s University, and an LLM in Health Law from Osgoode Hall School. She is passionate about volunteering and volunteers her time to sit on multiple not-for-profit boards and initiatives.

 Speaking session 

Dealing with privacy compliance

October 27 - 12.15 EDT

Yael Bienenstock

partner, Torys

Yael’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation, intellectual property cases, and public law matters. She has experience in a variety of industries, including life sciences, media, oil and gas and consumer products. She has experience in patent litigation under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, and related regulatory proceedings concerning leading drug products for international and North American pharmaceutical companies. She has appeared as counsel in various levels of courts.

Yael received her JD from University of Toronto, her MSc (Atmospheric Chemistry from York University and her BSc from McGill University. Yael is a member of the Forums and Seminars Committee of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. She is also a member of the Advocates' Society and the Intellectual Property Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

 Speaking session 

Trends in IP litigation

October 28 - 9.30 EDT

Lorraine Fleck

senior legal counsel, KIK Custom Products

Lorraine Fleck is a lawyer and trademark agent. She practices both in-house as Senior Legal Counsel KIK Custom Products, and as principal, lawyer and trademark agent at Fleck Innovation Law, a Toronto firm that has been recognized by Canadian Lawyer magazine as one of the top 10 intellectual property boutiques in Canada. Lorraine is a recommended expert in the 2016 through 2020 editions of World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000, has been repeatedly recommended as one of the world’s leading intellectual property strategists in Intellectual Asset Magazine’s IAM 300 ranking (2017 to 2019), and also in the 2017 through 2021 editions of Best Lawyers® in Canada. Lorraine earned her Hons. B.Sc. and M.Sc.F. from the University of Toronto, and her law degree from Queen’s University. She is a past chair of the OBA’s Information Technology and Intellectual Property Section Executive and the Licensing Executives Society (LES) Toronto Chapter, and has served on numerous International Trademark Association committees since 2006. Lorraine is a frequent invited speaker and writer on her areas of practice.

 Speaking session 

Trends in IP litigation

October 28 - 9.30 EDT

Nancy Gettel

executive director - IP Litigation, FibroGen

Nancy is Executive Director of IP litigation at FibroGen, a biopharmaceutical company located in San Francisco, where she is responsible for leading the company’s global IP litigation efforts. She is an experienced patent litigator with a background that includes practicing in both law firm and in-house environments. Prior to joining FibroGen, Nancy was Senior Patent Litigation Counsel at Amgen. She earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in biochemistry.

 Speaking session 

Trends in IP litigation

October 28 - 9.30 EDT

Jeanette Lee

deputy GC, Arterra Wines

Jeanette is Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Arterra Wines Canada, Canada’s leading producer and marketer of award-winning Canadian and imported wines (including Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Robert Mondavi, Ruffino, and Kim Crawford). Jeanette is responsible for the Legal team and for legal contractual, M&A, IP, marketing, regulatory, employment, privacy, litigation and governance matters, and serves on the crisis management team.

Jeanette has practised at leading IP, entertainment and national full-service law firms, and in-house at a national broadcast and media company. Through her career she gained expertise in IP, marketing and regulatory law, privacy, entertainment law, and licensing. Prior to joining Arterra, Jeanette was Senior Director, Marketing & IP (Canada & International) at Restaurant Brands International.

Jeanette holds LLB and BCL degrees from McGill University. She is a past Co-Chair of the Entertainment Law Committees of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association.

 Speaking session 

Trends in IP litigation

October 28 - 9.30 EDT

Jennifer Manning

VP, GC, NRStor

As General Counsel of NRStor Inc., an energy storage developer, Jennifer leads all legal, human resources and compliance-related matters. Her role spans a number of areas of the business, including leading the negotiation and drafting of key agreements, serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors and working with the business team to oversee the day-to-day operations for NRStor’s projects across Canada. Prior to joining NRStor Jennifer was a Senior Legal Counsel at Infrastructure Ontario and an associate at Torys LLP. Jennifer is a member of the Women’s Infrastructure Network, Women in Energy Canada and Energy Storage Canada.

 Speaking session 

Tactics to become a powerful champion and supporter of other women

October 28 - 10.35 EDT

Pinar Ozyetis

general counsel, LoyaltyOne

Pinar Ozyetis is General Counsel at LoyaltyOne, and advises on all legal matters including issues related to business/commerce, marketing/advertising, employment, human rights and privacy for LoyaltyOne’s business in Canada, including the AIR MILES® Reward Program. Prior to joining LoyaltyOne in 2016, Pinar spent 12 years in private practice.

Pinar serves as the Executive sponsor for the Women’s Leadership Initiative at LoyaltyOne and is a mentor in a mentorship circle. She also mentors students within the Ryerson Top 200 Program. She serves on the Board of Directors of Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Pinar holds a Hons. Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the University of Western Ontario.

 Speaking session 

Tactics to become a powerful champion and supporter of other women

October 28 - 10.35 EDT

Melissa Reiter

director of legal and privacy officer, G Adventures

Melissa Reiter is the Director of Legal and Privacy Officer for G Adventures. Prior to joining the team at G Adventures almost five and a half years ago, Melissa worked at full service firms in Toronto and New York and served as in-house counsel at a private equity firm. Melissa provides practical, business-focused guidance and support in all areas of law including corporate/commercial, privacy, governance, regulatory compliance, litigation, marine law, insurance, real estate, intellectual property, marketing and M&A in Canada and internationally. Melissa's work has been recognized by the legal and travel industry and she is the recipient of the Association of Corporate Counsel's Top Ten 30-Somethings award, Canadian Lawyer Magazine's Innovatio Award for Tomorrow's Leader and she was selected as one of Canadian Traveller Magazine's inaugural Top 40 Under 40 group.

 Speaking session 

Tactics to become a powerful champion and supporter of other women

October 28 - 10.35 EDT

Tina Taeput

counsel, Equifax

Tina works in-house at Equifax Canada Co., a registered credit reporting agency and data analytics company. Her varied practice encompasses credit reporting and other consumer protection legislation, privacy, regulatory and compliance affairs, intellectual property, and marketing and advertising law. A normal day involves navigating the inevitable intersection between business priorities, law, privacy, and data. She is part of a diverse in-house team with a strong female leader and membership. Tina has previously worked in-house at an international financial institution, in government, and as a volunteer at a public policy and advocacy organization. Tina has a LL.M. from the University of Toronto, received her LL.B. with French from the University of Westminster, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Relations from Glendon College, York University.

 Speaking session 

Tactics to become a powerful champion and supporter of other women

October 28 - 10.35 EDT

Kathryn Daniels

managing director, head of compliance, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Katie Daniels built CPPIB’s compliance function and is responsible for its global multi-discipline team of professionals. She is engaged in enterprise-wide strategic efforts focused on culture and risk. Since finishing a short-term assignment in CPPIB’s Hong Kong office, she has played a lead role in CPPIB’s global operational response to the pandemic.

Before joining CPPIB, Katie was a member of Ontario Securities Commission, as Deputy Director in the Corporate Finance and Enforcement branches, beginning her career there as Litigation Counsel. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Securities Administrators Association. She has taught Ethics at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, where she also graduated, earning both her LLB and a Global Professional Masters of Law. Before leaving private practice, she was a litigator in Toronto with Fasken.

 Speaking session 

Compliance and anti-corruption

October 28 - 2.50 EDT

Yusra Khan

manager market conduct/legal counsel, Coast Capital Savings

Yusra is a trial and regulatory lawyer, currently acting as the Director of Market Conduct for one of Canada’s largest credit unions. She has acted as defense counsel on regulatory proceedings, supported a successful application to OSFI for a Schedule 1 Bank license, has implemented in-house whistleblower & dispute resolution programs, and is well versed on federal and provincial banking compliance requirements. Yusra graduated from UBC Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from McGill, and is in the process of obtaining her Certified In-House Counsel (CIC.C) designation from the Rotman School of Management. She co-authored and published a comprehensive review of corporate liability for labour abuse in supply chains, and drafted model legislation for the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Affairs (A Call to Action: Ending the Use of All Forms of Child Labour in Supply Chains, 42nd Parliament 1st Session).

 Speaking session 

Compliance and anti-corruption

October 28 - 2.50 EDT

Amy Provvisionato

assistant general counsel, Deloitte

Amy Provvisionato is Assistant General Counsel of Deloitte LLP, Canada’s largest professional services firm.

At Deloitte, Amy provides strategic and legal advice to the firm on key regulatory and risk issues including professional disputes, regulatory investigations, independence, conflicts, confidentiality, securities matters, and professional standards. Amy is the legal liaison for the American, European, Asian and Canadian market, securities and professional regulators. Further, Amy advises firm leaders on risk, mediation, arbitration and litigation issues and specializes in audit-related legal matters for the firm. Amy also provides advice on the firm’s innovation initiatives and the intersection of new technology, legal provisions and regulatory issues.

While at Deloitte, Amy was seconded to the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. In that capacity, Amy advised CPA Ontario on the significant legal issues involved in unifying the three accounting regulators and 80,000 professionals in Ontario.

 Speaking session 

Compliance and anti-corruption

October 28 - 2.50 EDT

Julie Blazevski

general counsel, UBS Bank (Canada)

Julie is the General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of UBS Bank (Canada) and UBS Investment Management Canada, an investment firm providing wealth management services to clients across Canada and globally. She is part of the Executive Committee of the Bank and reports to both the CEO and to the Global General Counsel, Wealth Management division, as well as having reporting obligations to the Board of Directors. She has been with UBS for six years and in addition to her legal guidance and strategic advice on banking and securities matters, she is engaged on all key initiatives, and her role has expanded to include privacy, data protection, corporate governance, and cybersecurity planning and oversight.

Julie provides mentorship to colleagues both within UBS and to those in the financial industry. She is a firm supporter of empowering female colleagues and encouraging diversity and more opportunities for leadership roles for women.

Julie graduated from the University of Toronto and attended law school at the University of Windsor. Prior to going to law school Julie worked in the financial industry in various roles from internal audit, compliance, AML, risk and portfolio management.

 Speaking session 

Best practices on creating a successful in-house legal department

October 28 - 1.45 EDT

Cinda Serianni

associate general counsel, Gilead Sciences Canada

Cinda Serianni is Associate General Counsel, Legal Affairs for Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. and member of the Canadian Leadership Team. Working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 18 years, Cinda is used to wearing multiple hats. She oversees Gilead Canada’s legal activities and policies, as well as ethics and compliance. She provides strategic and tactical legal advice to senior management, global colleagues and business clients, in a manner that furthers the company’s strategic objectives, and meets the company’s legal and compliance obligations. Cinda is the executive sponsor for employee resource groups, Women at Gilead, and the Recognition and Celebration Committee.

Cinda joined Gilead in 2008, leaving GlaxoSmithKline Inc. where she was legal counsel. Prior to her move in-house, Cinda was a litigator in Toronto. Cinda has also been an instructor and course developer for Niagara College with a focus on adult learners. She has a passion for training and making compliance fun! She has written numerous legal articles and spoken at various programs throughout the country and abroad.

Cinda received a LL.B degree from the University of Windsor and a B.A. from the University of Toronto.

 Speaking session 

Best practices on creating a successful in-house legal department

October 28 - 1.45 EDT

Naomi Loewith

investment manager and legal counsel, Omni Bridgeway

To be confirmed.

 Speaking session 

Best practices on creating a successful in-house legal department

October 28 - 1.45 EDT

Darlene Tonelli

founder, Inter Alia Law

Darlene Tonelli is the founder of Inter Alia Law and co-host of the Lawyer Life Podcast. Inter Alia is an association of lawyers who specialize in providing in-house counsel services to companies in the entertainment, media and technology space.

Inter Alia lawyers work flexibly, with a focus on designing careers for themselves that align with their interests, values, and lifestyle goals. All Inter Alia lawyers previously spent time in private practice and in-house at some of Canada’s top media, tech and entertainment companies (e.g. Microsoft, Live Nation, Universal Music, Shaw). Our clients are prominent emerging and established technology companies, concert promoters, new media producers, and creators.

Prior to founding Inter Alia, Darlene spent 8 years at Universal Music Canada, where she was most recently Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Affairs. Before that, Darlene was a lawyer at Goodmans LLP in Toronto.

 Speaking session 

Best practices on creating a successful in-house legal department

October 28 - 1.45 EDT

Ewa Krajewska

partner, BLG

Ewa Krajewska is co-chair of the Appellate Advocacy Group and a partner in the Disputes Group at BLG. Ewa is focused on solving her clients’ most complex and sensitive problems. She provides strategic advice to businesses, institutions and individuals who are facing or are trying to avoid litigation. Ewa has a diverse practice, working with clients across a broad range of industries, in areas such as corporate commercial litigation, estates litigation, energy litigation, appellate advocacy, judicial review and public law. She has argued appeals at the Ontario Court of Appeal and appeared numerous times for interveners before the Supreme Court of Canada. She has been recognized as a leader in her field by The Best Lawyers Canada (Appellate Practice) and The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Estate & Personal Tax Planning). Ewa is fluent in French and Polish.

 Speaking session 

The new business of litigation

October 28 - 11.40 EDT

Jennifer Drake

VP - legal consultant, financial services group, Aon

Jennifer Drake is a senior vice president on Aon’s Transaction Solutions team. In her role, Jennifer acts as an advocate for clients, facilitating the resolution of transaction liability insurance claims. Previously, Jennifer held a legal consulting role in Aon’s Financial Services Group providing guidance on executive risk and risk transfer solutions to corporate executives and boards, as well as claims advocacy on directors and officers liability insurance and cyber liability insurance matters. Prior to working at Aon, Jennifer was an associate at Goodmans LLP where her practice covered a range of areas including contractual disputes, municipal and land planning litigation and other commercial litigation matters. Jennifer received her law degree from the University of Western Ontario and was called to the Ontario Bar.

 Speaking session 

The new business of litigation

October 28 - 11.40 EDT

Emilie Maxwell

investment manager, Augusta Ventures

Emilie is an Investment Manager with the litigation finance company, Augusta Ventures Canada Ltd. Augusta Ventures is an established UK-based funder which opened its first Canadian office in early 2019.; Emilie was pleased to join the company soon after. As an investment manager, Emilie evaluates the legal and commercial merits of cases to help connect litigants with funds to enforce their rights.

Before joining Augusta, Emilie was a class actions lawyer with Siskinds LLP. Her notable work includes the Volkswagen emissions settlements, the UPS “brokerage fees” litigation, and the appeals concerning misrepresentations in take-over bid circulars, jurisdiction over foreign class members/global class actions, and the application of discoverability to the civil liability provisions of the Competition Act.

 Speaking session 

The new business of litigation

October 28 - 11.40 EDT

Louise-Hélène Sénécal

assistant general counsel, Air Canada

Louise-Hélène graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal in 1981, where she obtained an L.L.L in Civil Law. She was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1982 and began her career in private practice. In 1989, she joined the legal department of Air Canada, where she is presently Assistant General Counsel-Litigation, responsible for litigation, insured or not, against Air Canada, worldwidend where she and her team argues cases before the various levels of Court in Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada. She is a key member of the Emergency Response Team and provides legal services for all aspects of security in the airline. She also oversees the Global Claims department. In May of 1999, she was part of the Canadian Delegation to the ICAO Diplomatic Conference, which resulted in the adoption of the new Montreal Convention (MC99). She was part of the Canadian Delegation to the ICAO Diplomatic Conference in Montreal, held in April of 2009 and which lead to the adoption of the two successor conventions to the Rome Convention (the “Unlawful Interference Convention” and the “General Risk Convention”). She has been a member of the IATA Legal Advisory Council (formerly the Legal Committee) since 2009 and its Chair since 2015. In 2014, she successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, a landmark case on the exclusivity provisions of MC99.

 Speaking session 

The new business of litigation

October 28 - 11.40 EDT

Alena Thouin

corporate secretary & deputy GC, FSRA

Alena Thouin, Corporate Secretary & Deputy General Counsel, is an experienced, award-winning lawyer with a strong background in corporate governance and the regulatory, financial services and government sectors. Prior to joining FSRA, she served as the Deputy Director, Legal Services Branch at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) where she provided legal and strategic advice to senior government officials in multiple ministries on various high profile issues relating to energy sector policy, draft legislation, corporate governance and transactional matters. In previous roles in the banking and credit union sectors, she provided legal and strategic advice on matters related to regulatory, risk, compliance, corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and capital markets.

Alena is active on various legal industry and practice groups, sits on a number of voluntary Boards, and is passionate about supporting initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion and women in leadership positions. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association and its Mentorship Program, the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (past Chair), and the Women General Counsel Canada.

 Speaking session 

Best practices on creating a successful in-house legal department

October 28 - 1.45 EDT

Amee Sandhu

founder, Lex Integra

To be confirmed.

 Speaking session 

Compliance and anti-corruption

October 28 - 2.50 EDT

Nadia Campion

partner, Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb

Nadia Campion's practice focuses on commercial litigation including shareholder oppression applications, D&O liability, securities litigation, class actions and professional liability. Nadia also has an active land development and real estate litigation practice.

Nadia has extensive trial experience and appears regularly before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal and various regulatory and administration tribunals. She also has expertise in Toronto Commercial List proceedings. She has both US and Canadian law degrees, and is fluent and practices in French.

Nadia regularly presents at the LSO, OBA, the Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association, the CBA, and the Business Women’s Network of York Region, as well as the International Association of Defense Counsel and l’Association des juristes d’expression francais. Nadia is recognized by Best Lawyers for securities law and by Chambers Canada 2020 as "Up and Coming" for Commercial Litigation. Nadia has also been recognized in the Benchmark Litigation's 2020 Canada's "Top 50 Women in Litigation".

 Speaking session 

Tactics to become a powerful champion and supporter of other women

October 28 - 10.35 EDT