The Honourable Colin McKinnon, K.C. LLB ’68

The Honourable Colin McKinnon, K.C. LLB ’68 was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 1996. During his almost 23 years as a trial judge, he presided over thousands of cases, both jury and non-jury, including corporate and commercial matters, professional liability, construction, critical injury and insurance, employment, product liability, wrongful dismissal, boundary disputes, medical malpractice, interpretation of wills and estates. 

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Mr. McKinnon practiced law as a trial lawyer and was certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in both Civil Litigation and Criminal Law.  

President of the Common Law Students Society in 1968, he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. He served as President of the County of Carleton Law Association, was chair of the County and District Law Presidents Association and was a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario for eight years. For eight years he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Faculty, teaching Trial Advocacy, Ethics and Evidence.

The Honorable Jodie-Lynn Waddilove LLB ’03

The Honorable Jodie-Lynn Waddilove LLB ’03 is an Anishnabe (Ojibway) and Lenape (Delaware) lawyer who was born and raised on the Munsee-Delaware Nation in southwestern Ontario. Jodie-Lynn’s traditional name is “Giim-Mah-Myengun-Kwe” which translates to “Head Chief Wolf Woman.”

Jodie-Lynn began her role as Assistant Commission Counsel for the Ipperwash Inquiry in 2004.

 Three years later, Jodie-Lynn joined the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario) Crown Law Office – Civil.  She later joined the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, where she served as in-house counsel and leading prosecutor for the Ontario Provincial Police.  In 2015, she was seconded to MAG’s newest division, the newly created Indigenous (then Aboriginal) Justice Division, where she served as Executive Advisor and Legal Counsel to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General. 

In 2018, Jodie-Lynn was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice and presides in criminal courts in Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Bradford, Huntsville and Bracebridge.

Jesse McCormick LLB ’06

Jesse McCormick LLB ’06is the Senior VP, Research, Innovation and Legal Affairs for the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, a non-political and business focussed coalition of over 140 First Nations organizations working to advance the capacity needs of member First Nations in the broad areas of economic participation and environmental stewardship.

Jesse has previously served as the Director of Policy and Indigenous Relations for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Director of Rights Implementation for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. 

Jesse has also served at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as a Senior Indigenous Fellow and clerked at the Federal Court of Canada. 

As a proud citizen of Canada, the Anishinabek Nation and the Oneida Nation (Wolf Clan), Jesse is committed to the achievement of reconciliation through the implementation of rights, treaties and responsibilities. 

Katherine Cooligan, LL.B. 1989

Ms. Katherine Cooligan received her LL.B. from uOttawa Faculty of Law in 1989 and has been practising Family Law in Ottawa since her Call to the Bar in 1991. She is a certified specialist (by LSO) in Family Law, and appears before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Currently, she is completing her second term as the Regional Managing Partner of the Ottawa office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where she was the litigation department manager before then.  She is the first woman to hold these positions in the Ottawa office.

Ms. Cooligan’s contributions to the legal profession extend far beyond the walls of BLG. She is an annual speaker at uOttawa Family Law classes, the new FLiP program, and has been an assistant coach for the uOttawa Walsh Negotiation Competition team for several years.  She has spoken at several continuing legal education programs, including the National Family Law Conference, was the Canadian Panelist on the International Family Law Panel at the International Association of Lawyers Conference in Toronto, and will be speaking for a second time at the National Judicial Institute this year.

Ms. Cooligan is also an active member within Ottawa’s larger charitable scene. She is a regular supporter at charitable events for local hospitals, community organizations, and larger national organizations.  She has been a long-time volunteer for Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation both at the Board level, and on the ground with families and donors, currently serving a second term on the Foundation Board, and as part of its Executive.  She was recently named the Chair of Women for Mental Health with The Royal, and is an annual captain at its Leaders for Mental Health Breakfast.  In recognition of her tireless contributions, she received the Spark Ignite Award from the United Way, The Good Bear Award from CHEO, and was named to the Order of Ottawa in 2019, the same year she was named Businesswoman of the Year in the Professional Category by the Women’s Business Network. 

As she has become more senior in her career, Ms. Cooligan’s focus has turned towards topics of leadership and specifically, women in leadership. She regularly speaks on these issues, including twice at the Women in Leadership Conference in Toronto.  She also delivered a Tedx Kanata Talk on the subject.  Her election to the International Women`s Forum, will enhance her opportunity to share her passion for the support of women in law, and in business at large.

Marc Jolicoeur, LL.B. 1978

Mr. Marc Jolicoeur earned two degrees from the University of Ottawa: a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1975 and an LL.B. in 1978. He joined the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 1978 (formerly known as Scott & Aylen) as an articling student and returned as a lawyer after completing his Bar Admission Course in the spring of 1980. He became a partner in 1984 and is now Senior Counsel.

Mr. Jolicoeur practices in corporate-commercial law in BLG’s Ottawa office, serving his clients in both official languages. He focuses his practice on acting for Crown corporations, public institutions (hospitals, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, as well as charities and not-for-profit organizations. He is recognized by his peers as a leader in a number of practice areas including corporate-commercial law, corporate mid-market, infrastructure law, health care law, and charities/non-profit law.

He has played an active role in the management of BLG and has held many senior management positions, including Chair of the firm’s partnership board, Managing Partner of the Ottawa Regional Office, member of the National Management Committee, National Group Head of the Specialized Business Law Group, and Leader of the National Corporate Commercial Practice Group.

Past and present teaching includes senior instructor and seminar instructor in the Ottawa program of the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada for over ten years, as well as speaking at numerous conferences and continuing education programs on corporate and commercial law topics including the University of Ottawa’s Advanced Business Law course.

Mr. Jolicoeur was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa from 1995 to 2010 and, during that period, held several significant positions, including Chair of the Board from 2003 until 2010. In recognition of his many contributions to the University of Ottawa, he was appointed Emeritus Governor in June 2010. 

During his professional career, he has been actively involved in various roles with more than 25 organizations such as community, health, and post-secondary institutions. He has held chair positions at several organizations, including United Way/Centraide Canada, United Way Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Foundation, the Ottawa Civic Hospital Foundation and the Youth Services Bureau Foundation. He has also been a board member of Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO), Festival franco-ontarien, La Cité collégiale, Ottawa Civic Hospital, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Michaëlle Jean Foundation, the Community Foundation of Ottawa, and many others.

Throughout his career, his achievements and community contributions have been recognized through numerous awards including the Order of Ottawa (2012), the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2003), the University of Ottawa Meritas Tabaret award for alumni achievement (2016), the André Mailhot Award – United Way/Centraide Canada’s highest award of merit (2002), the Gordon F. Henderson Award from the County of Carleton Law Association (2001), the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award (2004) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Ottawa), the "Médaille d'excellence" for the outstanding businessperson of the year from le Regroupement des gens d'affaires d'Ottawa (1994), and the President's Award (1994) and Community Builder Award (2000) from the United Way of Ottawa.

Godyne N.L. Sibay, LL.B. 1983

With over 30 years of experience at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Ms. Godyne Sibay has made it her personal and professional priority to lead positive change within the firm for its lawyers, its clients and for the community. Now, as Regional Managing Partner for Ontario, she has been given the mandate to drive a series of initiatives that will ensure the firm continues to deliver platinum-level service to clients in Canada, New York City, London U.K. and beyond using the firm’s capacity, expertise, scale and the diversity of talent in an industry that is evolving at an unprecedented pace. She started her career with a BSc in 1980 from the University of Toronto and her LL.B. in 1983 from the University of Ottawa. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985.

Her extensive experience in project development, public-private partnerships, private and public procurement, commercial real estate, leasing, acquisition, disposition and construction has allowed her to take a leadership role in an array of challenging and rewarding projects that contribute to and strengthen our cities and communities. Significant landmark infrastructure and development projects across Canada include numerous public-private partnerships and other projects involving hospitals, power, transportation, universities, hotel, forensic facilities, police facilities, entertainment venues, condominium, commercial, mixed use and professional sports facilities.  Ms. Sibay is consistently recognized for her expertise and experience in leading legal directories including in the most recent editions of Chambers Global and Chambers Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, International Who’s Who Legal, The Legal 500-Canada, the Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law, and Martindale-Hubbell. 

These projects have given her the opportunity to see firsthand how great things can be achieved with leadership, collective commitment and expertise, effective and collaborative teamwork with diverse teams and remarkable drive.

In addition to championing unprecedented client service, innovation and progression at McCarthy Tétrault and beyond, Ms. Sibay has been leading a number of projects that permit her to play a significant role in the advancement of women and equity seeking groups in the Canadian workforce. Notably, she was a founding member and co-chair of the Toronto chapter of Women’s Infrastructure Network. She was a founding member and Co-Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Women’s Leadership Initiative in Toronto, as well as a member of their Advisory Board. Prior to this, she was the 2013 and 2014 Co-Chair of the United Way’s Women Gaining Ground (now Women United) Initiative, and a member of the driving force behind their annual fundraising campaign, the Campaign Cabinet. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, an invitation only membership of diverse and accomplished women from 33 nations on six continents with a goal to advance women’s leadership locally and globally. She is a recipient in 2011 of the WXN Most Powerful Women in Canada Award and is a judge for the Top 100 Most Powerful Women Awards.

She has been a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America since 2018.  She is also a longstanding member of the Canadian Council of Public-Private Partnerships and a judge for their National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s.  She is a member of the Ted Rogers School of Management Dean’s Advisory Council and a member of the Advisory Board for LEAP Pecaut for Social Impact Centre. She is also one of the co-chairs of Urban Land Institute’s 2020 Spring Meeting bringing over 4000 real estate professionals from around the world to Toronto. She also sits on the boards of both the Toronto Region Board of Trade and the CivicAction Leadership Foundation.  A true believer that a rising tide raises all boats, she has endowed a real estate scholarship for law students at the University of Ottawa.

Chief Justice Paul Crampton (LL.B. 1985) 

Chief Justice Paul Crampton graduated from the combined LL.B. / M.B.A program in 1985, and went on to receive an LL.M. from the University of Toronto in 1987 before being called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada that same year. He began his career as a Special Advisor to the Commissioner of Competition, and would go on to become Chief Justice of the Federal Court (2011) and a member of the Canadian Judicial
Council.

Justice Crampton is a Former Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Task Force on Competition Law; former Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Antitrust Committee (Section of International Law); and former Chair of the Mergers Committee of the National Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. He was also a core member of the Competition Principles Working Group of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and co-authored a report entitled PECC Principles for Guiding the Development of a Competition Driven Policy Framework for APEC Economies,which was endorsed by the APEC Ministers in September 2000.

Justice Crampton has been awarded a number of honours and distinctions throughout his career, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal (2002) and Lauréat, Arts et Sciences Humaines, l’Université du Québec à Trois Rivières (2013). He was ranked among the top 10 competition lawyers under the age of 45 worldwide in a 1998 survey by the Global Competition Review; was included in the 2006 Lexpert-Thomson Guide to the Leading 100 Creative Lawyers in Canada; the 2008 Lexpert American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada; Chambers Global’s 2008 Guide to The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business Law; Business Research’s 2007 International Who’s Who of Competition Lawyers, and the International Financial Law Review’s 2008 Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers. He was also rated in highest category (AV) of Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings (2008).

Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin (LL.B. 1998)

Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin graduated from the University of Ottawa’s French Common Law program with an LL.B. in 1998, and was called to the bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2000. She went on to earn a LL.M. from Osgoode Hall, and is in the process of completing her PhD in law at the University of Ottawa.Currently, Justice O’Bonsawin presides with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Eastern Region.

Justice O’Bonsawin is a former Member of the Executive Committee of the board of governors at the University of Ottawa, as well as of the Aboriginal Legal Services at the University of Ottawa Legal Aid Clinic.

She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including a nomination for the Laura Legge Award (January 2017); was profiled in Tête à tête: Improving Understanding in the Nation’s Courtrooms (September 2016); was the recipient of Lexpert magazine’s Rising Stars Award honouring Canada’s leading lawyers under 40 (2013), and was recognized as a leading businesswoman by Canada Post Corporation on International Women’s Day (2008). She has also been profiled as having significant leadership potential in the field of law by Laurentian University magazine (2006).

Throughout her career Justice O’Bonsawin has been active in community involvement, and is an Abenakis member of the Odanak First Nation.

Audrey P. Ramsay (LL.B. 1993)

Audrey Ramsay was called to the Ontario bar in 1995. She received a double Honours Bachelor of Arts degree (Political Science and French) from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1989 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from Ottawa University in 1993. She is currently an Associate at Blouin Dunn LLP.

Since her call to the Bar, she has handled a broad range of insurance defence work including commercial, professional negligence, property and casualty, and automobile insurance (both tort and accident benefits). Audrey is preferred counsel to the Lawyers
Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO).

Ms. Ramsay is a member of the Civil Rules Committee and is involved in a number of professional organizations. She is currently Chair of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Awards Committee and a member of the OBA Council. She has also held numerous positions within the OBA including: Past Chair of the Insurance Law Executive; Member of the Board of Directors; Chair of Professional Development, Chair of Sections; Chair of the Civil Litigation Section; Vice-Chair of both the Insurance Law Executive and the Civil Litigation Executive and Public Affairs Liaison on the Insurance Law Executive. Ms. Ramsay was also Chair of Counsel Forum at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

Ms. Ramsay was awarded the Linda Adlam Manning Award in 2010 for volunteerism by the OBA as she has been, and continues to be, heavily involved with advocacy and community groups. She is currently a member of the Advocates Society, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, the Canadian Defence Lawyers, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, the Toronto Lawyers Association, and the Women’s Law Association of Ontario. She is also Chair of the NourishHOPE Committee which supports the work of the International Justice Mission.

Katie Black (J.D. 2009)

Katie Black graduated magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa in 2009. She received numerous awards during her time at uOttawa and published in the areas of privacy and tort law. After graduation, Katie obtained the coveted articling position of clerking for the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Katie was called to the Bar in 2010, and began her legal career with Heenan Blaikie LLP before becoming a Partner with CazaSaikaley LLP. During her time at CazaSaikaley, she practiced in all areas of civil and appellate litigation, including commercial, administrative and constitutional law. In addition to her practice, Katie has truly enjoyed her role as an Adjunct Professor, teaching contract law to first year law students at the University of Ottawa.

In 2016, Katie was appointed to serve as the Judicial Affairs Advisor to the Honourable Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould. In this capacity, she helped reform the federal judicial appointment process to increase the openness, transparency, accountability, and diversity of Canada's judiciary. During Katie’s time as Judicial Affairs Advisor, Minister Wilson-Raybould made more judicial appointments than any other justice minister in decades, fifty percent of whom were women and 20 percent of whom were from traditionally underrepresented groups in Canada’s judiciary.

Katie has performed extensive work on behalf of her community, and has engaged other lawyers to do the same. She co-created and founded the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (SSP), a national organization of over 1,200 pro-bono lawyers and students across twelve cities in Canada. In 2016, the County of Carleton Law Association awarded her its prestigious Gordon F. Henderson Award in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of the community. And, in 2017, Katie was awarded the Ontario Bar Association’s inaugural David C. Scott Pro Bono Award for Pro Bono Law.

Peter Chiarelli (LL.B. 1991)

Peter Chiarelli is the General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. He oversees and manages all aspects of hockey operations, including the NHL team, its American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, scouting, and prospects.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Mr. Chiarelli has been involved in hockey since his minor hockey playing days in the Ottawa community. He was recruited to study and play hockey at Harvard College, where he served as team captain during his senior year in 1987. Mr. Chiarelli continued to play the sport as he completed his law degree at the University of Ottawa.

Upon obtaining his degree in 1991, Mr. Chiarelli practiced small and medium business law and worked as a player agent before joined the Ottawa Senators as their Director of Legal Relations in 1999. He eventually rose to the position of Assistant General Manager with the club, and in 2006, he became the General Manager of the Boston Bruins.

Mr. Chiarelli spent nine seasons with the Bruins. He was named NHL Executive of the Year in 2009, and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011. His team would again reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2013. Mr. Chiarelli also served as Assistant General Manager to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey Team, which won the gold medal in Sochi, Russia.

Mr. Chiarelli has maintained his pride as a Faculty of Law alumnus, returning on numerous occasions to speak to students, and assisting in Alumni functions.

Pierre de Neuville Richard, QC (LL.B. 1970)

Pierre de Neuville Richard graduated from the Faculty of Common Law in 1970, where he received the gold medal for highest standing in the Faculty. Mr. Richard then graduated from Harvard University with an LL.M. in 1971. After being called to the Bar of Ontario in 1973, Mr. Richard spent nearly 40 years practicing in Ottawa, primarily in business and corporate law. He was a Partner at Gowling and Henderson, and later a Senior Partner at Lang Michener. He retired from the profession in 2013.

Mr. Richard became well recognized for his strategic planning, alliance-building and relationship management abilities. A fluently bilingual and skilled communicator, he advised numerous private sector clients and governments on matters of governance, healthcare and francophone issues.

Mr. Richard played a tremendous role in shaping the Ottawa business community. He was the Founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ottawa General Hospital, and played a major role in the hospital’s oversight. He was also the Founding Chair of the Ottawa Eye Institute, and he served as Chair of the Ottawa General Hospital Foundation, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, La Cité Collégiale, the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario and Public Health Ontario.

Mr. Richard was the non-executive chair of the Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies from 2004-2013, guiding the company through continuous profitable years. He was also active on the boards of the National Capital Commission, the Ottawa Congress Centre and the Ottawa Housing Authority.

Kathleen Keller-Hobson (LL.B. 1979)

Kathleen Keller-Hobson graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1979 and, after being called to the Bar in 1981, went on to become a senior partner and business lawyer at three of Canada’s leading law firms: Torys (1979-2006), Bennett Jones (2006-2011), and Gowlings (2011-2014).

During her 35-year legal career, Ms. Keller-Hobson was a trusted advisor to multi-national corporations, global financial institutions, and Canadian and foreign governments on public and private mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions, and securities law and corporate governance matters.  She developed broad international experience, establishing the Torys’ London, England office in 1986 and serving as Managing Partner, resident in London for almost 10 years, and thereafter continuing to represent clients in Europe, the Middle East and the United States on cross-border transactions.

Since retiring from the legal profession, Ms. Keller-Hobson serves as the Lead Independent Director of CCL Industries Inc., and as a member of the Board of Directors of Premium Brands Holding Corporation, both TSX-listed issuers, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Ms. Keller-Hobson has been a strong supporter of the University and the Faculty of Law. She has assisted the Faculty in fundraising efforts, is a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the University’s “Defy the Conventional” Campaign, and together with her husband who is also an alumnus of the Faculty, endowed a scholarship at the Faculty of Law providing financial assistance to first- and second-year students.

Maxine Ethier (LL.B. 2006)

Maxine Ethier is a Partner in Baker McKenzie’s Global Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Group. Ms. Ethier represents public authorities, private sector proponents, infrastructure funds, construction contractors, service providers and lenders on the procurement, financing and implementation of major projects as well as in connection with any acquisition or sale of major projects.

Before joining Baker McKenzie, Ms. Ethier was an Associate with Heenan Blaikie LLP and was actively involved in the firm’s Energy, Infrastructure, Public-Private Partnerships, Financial Services Law and Business Law practice groups.

During her time at Heenan Blaikie and now at Baker McKenzie, Ms. Ethier developed a deep interest in the area of major projects and public-private partnerships (P3s). Her extensive experience representing clients in corporate and commercial law transactions, with emphasis on infrastructure, renewable energy projects and P3s has positioned her as one of Canada’s leading technical lawyers.

Ms. Ethier is an active participant in the Women’s Infrastructure Network, Women in Energy of Canada and Young Leaders in Infrastructure. She is a passionate advocate for women in law, and enthusiastically mentors junior associates in the Baker McKenzie Mentoring Program.

Ms. Ethier received her B. Com. from the University of Ottawa in 2003, and completed her law degree at the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section in 2006. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2007.

Craig Forcese (LL.B. 1997)

Craig Forcese obtained his B.A. from McGill University, his LL.B./M.A. from the uOttawa/Carleton joint program and his LL.M. from Yale University. He joined the Faculty of Law as an Assistant Professor in 2003, and was promoted to Full Professor in 2016. He is a member of the Bars of Ontario, State of New York and District of Columbia.

Professor Forcese is a leading scholar and academic in the fields of national security law, international law and public law. His work and analysis with University of Toronto Professor Kent Roach on Bill C-51 has helped to educate journalists, politicians, advocates and members of the public on Canadian anti-terror laws and policies. These efforts have led the Government of Canada to agree to modify portions of the Bill – a significant achievement that speaks to his hard work, dedication and brilliant analysis. 

Professor Forcese is equally committed to pedagogical excellence. He has developed and taught a wide-range of courses, led a variety of student programs, and has received multiple teaching awards during his time at the Faculty. He has supervised 30 graduate students since becoming professor, and served as Vice Dean of the English Program from 2011 to 2014.

Professionally, he currently serves as president of the Canadian Association of Law Teachers, and sits on the executive on the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society (TSAS) and the Canadian Council on International Law. He is also a Senior Associate at the Global Justice Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto.

A prolific writer, Professor Forcese has authored or co-authored eight books (including four textbooks), edited two more, and published over 45 journal articles and book chapters. He maintains three influential law blogs and is committed to making his expertise available in the broader community.

Jean Lash (LL.B. 2003)

Jean Lash completed her law degree at the University of Ottawa in 2003 and is currently a staff lawyer at the South Ottawa Community Legal Services Clinic, where she represents clients in the areas of Immigration and Refugee Law, and Landlord and Tenant Law.

Ms. Lash acquired a wealth of experience as a policy assistant for an M.P., and later the Minister of Labour, and as an international development worker before enrolling in law school later in her career. She has spent her legal career serving the most marginalized and vulnerable persons in our society, including those with mental illness and who have experienced gendered violence. Ms. Lash has worked to reunite families in Canada, and she collaborates with counselors, doctors, settlement workers and other lawyers to obtain the best possible outcome for her clients. She is described by her peers as an exemplary social justice lawyer who is tirelessly striving to create more access to justice.

Ms. Lash is also engaged in the community. She served on the Board of Directors of the South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre, and is a member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL). She has also led numerous workshops to educate the public about immigration and landlord tenant law. Ms. Lash was also a founding member of the committee that conceptualized and implemented the Monument to Canadian Aid Workers, which commemorates Canadian Aid Workers killed in the course of their work abroad. Her husband, Timothy Stone, died tragically while working abroad in 1998.

Perry Dellelce (LL.B. 1990)

Perry Dellelce is a founder and Managing Partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, one of Canada’s leading corporate finance law firms. He practises in the areas of securities, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Perry has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading practitioners in the areas of technology transactions in the 2012-2014 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directories.

Mr. Dellelce received his B.A. from Western University, his MBA from the University of Notre Dame and his L.L.B. from the University of Ottawa.  He was called to the Ontario bar in 1992.

Mr. Dellelce has served on the boards of directors of various corporations and various charitable and not-for-profit organizations, including:  Chair, Board of Directors of Sunnybrook Foundation; Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa; Business Advisory Council, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame; Board of Directors, Canadian Olympic Foundation; and Board of Directors of Canada newest stock exchange, the Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc. 

Mr. Dellelce has also received many awards and recognitions for his community service, including: The Albert Citation and Purple and White Award, Western University; Distinguished Alumni Award for the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame; and Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario Business Excellence Award, Community Building Award.

Alan D'Silva (J.D. 1987)

Alan D'Silva completed his law degree at the University of Ottawa in 1987 and is currently a senior partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto. Mr D'Silva has a diverse commercial litigation practice and is considered a leading litigation lawyer in Canada with expertise in a number of areas of law, including class actions, securities law and directors' and officers' liability.

Mr. D'Silva has extensive advocacy experience and has appeared before all levels of court, including appellate courts across Canada and ten cases in the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before various administrative tribunals and has acted as a mediator, arbitrator and an expert witness in Canadian courts.

Mr. D'Silva is listed and recognized for his expertise in many Canadian and international legal, professional and peer review publications including Chambers, Lexpert, Benchmark Canada and The Best Lawyers in Canada. He has served as an adjunct professor at three law schools (Ottawa, Toronto and Western). He also took time out of private practice to serve as Legal Counsel at the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Mr. D'Silva has been a board member, committee member and volunteer of various charitable or non-profit organizations. He is also founder and co-founder of several university scholarships. 

Vahan Kololian (LL.B. 1979)

After completing his LL.B. at the University of Ottawa in 1979, and being called to the Bar in Ontario in 1981, Mr. Kololian joined the Corporate Finance/Investment Banking Group of Burns Fry (today BMO Nesbitt Burns).  As a Partner and Director at Burns Fry and subsequently Gordon Capital, Vahan led transactions in public financing and M&A.  In the early 1990’s Vahan turned towards venture capital and private equity, the investment area in which he directs TerraNova Partners today.  He currently serves as TerraNova’s Managing Partner and also sits on various for-profit and not-for-profit boards of directors. 

Vahan is engaged in community projects in education, healthcare, and the promotion of diversity in business and government.  His interests include human rights and nation building projects in developing countries, in particular, Armenia.  A passion of Vahan’s is conflict resolution relating to geopolitical conflicts, which led him to co-found the Mosaic Institute. He and his family have also established a scholarship at the University of Ottawa Law School for two international LL.M. candidates to be recruited from conflicting regions of the world.

Anne Levesque (LL.B. 2007)

Anne graduated from the French Common Law Program in 2007 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008. She is currently co-director of the Law Practice Program at the University of Ottawa, where she helped create and implement an innovative experiential learning program for law school graduates aiming to help them develop practical skills, foster community involvement and promote access to justice in French.

Anne is also a human rights lawyer who has worked with a wide range of equality seeking groups, legal clinics and not-for-profit organisations on test case litigation, interventions, appeals and law reform initiatives. She has been involved in litigating many issues of national importance such as the cut of the long-form census, Canadian liability for extraterritorial torture, equality in reproductive health, and the intimidation of dissenters by government. She is a strong supporter of the I am a Witness Campaign and is particularly proud to be one of the lawyers representing the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada in its historic human rights complaint filed with the Assembly of First Nations against the Government of Canada for providing discriminatory child welfare services to over 163 000 First Nations children living on reserve and for its failure to implement Jordan’s Principle. Anne is currently the Co-Chair of the National Association of Women and the Law, Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and a member of the Board of Directors of the Court Challenges Program of Canada.

Anne taught Equality Law as a part-time professor for the University of Ottawa’s French Common Law Program and, as a Ricard Foundation Scholar, is currently completing her masters in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. 

Lise Maisonneuve (LL.B. 1989)

The Honourable Lise Maisonneuve was appointed Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice effective May 4, 2015. She was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2003 and presided over criminal matters in the Ottawa area for 12 years, rising to the role of Regional Senior Judge, East Region in 2011 and then Associate Chief Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in 2013, where she distinguished herself as a leader and innovator, responsible for court initiatives related to court modernization, judicial education, public legal education and addressing criminal court delay, among many others. 

Chief Justice Maisonneuve graduated from the University of Ottawa Law School and was called to the Bar in 1991.  Before joining the judiciary, she was a partner with the Ottawa firm of Carroll, Wallace and Maisonneuve, where she practiced criminal law. She was also a member of the Oversight Working Group for the Department of National Defence; Advisor to the Military Police and Investigative Services Reorganization Steering Committee and to the Military Police Services Review Group; Advisor to the Minister of National Defence’s Committee on Change in the Department of National Defence and Special Legal Advisor to the late Chief Justice of Canada Brian Dickson on various military investigations.

Karen Restoule is a graduate of the Juris Doctor program, and is a social innovator who has worked towards the advancement of the rights of Indigenous citizens and communities for over 10 years. She currently oversees the Justice sector at the Chiefs of Ontario, leading a breadth of initiatives and legal efforts to bring justice to the 133 First Nations in Ontario.

During her time at the Law School, Ms. Restoule served as President of the Aboriginal Law Students Association for two consecutive terms and partnered with other student groups to foster an environment of respect and reconciliation. Following graduation she volunteered with Canadian Lawyers abroad where she successfully developed and delivered the first pilot of Dare to Dream , a justice education and mentoring program that engages Aboriginal youth and lawyers and law students. 

More recently, Ms. Restoule has been working in her free time to establish Stronger Voices, a non-profit initiative to encourage civic engagement and open dialogue among First Nation communities on the role of the First Nation citizens in federal, provincial, and municipal politics.

May Cheng graduated from the French Common Law Program in 1991 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1993. She is currently a senior partner and Chair of the Intellectual Property Group at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP’s Toronto office.  She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Intellectual Property Journal published by Federated Press and is recognized as an “IP Star 2014” by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine.

Ms. Cheng has played a leadership and fundraising role in seeking to right injustices using the legal system and grass roots support.  As President and National Spokesperson for the Chinese Canadian National Council(CCNC) in 2000, she helped initiate a class action to seek redress for the Chinese Head Tax, raising awareness and public support for redress, that eventually culminated in an apology and redress from the Federal Government in 2006.  Ms. Cheng’s work for the Chinese community has extended beyond the CCNC, and includes fundraising for the Asian Community Aids Services and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care.  

In 2010, Ms. Cheng began working with “the equality effect”, which seeks to advance the equality rights of women and girls in Africa by bringing innovative legal challenges seeking to recognize and enforce their rights.  She has been instrumental in helping the equality effect raise much needed capital for its international legal work, through hosting fundraising events, networking and championing the “160 Girls” for multi-year sponsorship by law firms.

Hugh Verrier is the Chairman of White & Case LLP, where he directs the Firm’s strategy operations around the world.  He is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading international project finance lawyers, and has been described in Chambers Global Directory as “a wise man and a gifted manager.”

After completing his LL.B. with the University of Ottawa in 1981, Mr.Verrier earned his LL.M. at Harvard Law School in 1982. He then clerked with Justice Bertha Wilson at the Supreme Court of Canada from 1982-1983. He has been called to the New York State Bar, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Verrier became a partner at White & Case, one of the world’s leading global law firms, in 1994. He was elected to the Firm’s global management in 2004 and has been Chairman of the Firm since 2007. He has spent most of his career overseas in Indonesia, Turkey and Russia, where his practice was focused on the development of natural resources.

Under Mr. Verrier’s leadership, White & Case has expanded its global reach and increased its global revenues to more than $1 billion, ranking it in the first tier of global law firms.  The list of accolades earned by the firm under Mr. Verrier’s leadership includes American Lawyer’s Top US Law Firm in 2011, the Most Innovative US Firm in Europe in 2012, and a spot among the Top 5 Global Law Firms, also in 2012.

Myles Kirvan was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1981 after completing his legal studies at the University of Ottawa (LL.B. 1979). From 2010 to 2012 he served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada.  He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute on Governance.

Mr. Kirvan has had a long and distinguished career in public service, beginning in 1991 when he served as General Counsel in the Department of Justice, Federal-Provincial Relations Office. He went on to serve the Department of Justice in various other capacities including Senior Advisor to the Associate Deputy Minister, Public Law; General Counsel, Dispute Resolution Services; Senior General Counsel, Legal Services, Health Canada; and from 2003-2007, Assistant Deputy Minister, Business and Regulatory Law.  From 2007 to 2010 he served as Associate Deputy Minister of 
Public Safety. 

Prior to joining the Public Service of Canada, Mr. Kirvan served as an advisor to various Ministers. He served as Legislative Assistant to the Solicitor General of Canada; Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of National Revenue; Judicial Affairs Advisor and then Chief of Staff for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In 1993, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.

Josée Forest-Niesing was called to the Ontario Bar in 1990.  She initially pursued a career in family law before expanding to the areas of estate law, real estate law, insurance law, civil litigation, education law and employment law. 

She was approved by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to perform private adoptions, and appointed by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court to serve on the Family Rules Committee for the province.  She also served for 15 years as a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court.     

Her commitment towards access to justice in both official languages in Ontario and Canada has led to her active participation in a variety of organizations, including appointments as President of the Federation of Associations of French-Speaking Common Law Jurists  (FAJEF) from 2009 to 2011; President of the Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario (AJEFO) from 2002 to 2004; and Chair of the Official Languages Committee of the Ontario Bar Association from 2000 to 2002, among her many other appointments. 

Karin Galldin is a graduate of the combined LLB-MA in International Affairs program at the University of Ottawa, and is an established lawyer, advocate and feminist in professional and voluntary capacities. 

Ms. Galldin has been lucky to work with her friends in founding and growing a feminist-identified law firm in Ottawa, Galldin Robertson.  Her law firm has allowed her to work for the benefit of the community by supporting survivors of sexual violence and by partnering creatively with sex work advocates, women's groups, and the queer community in law reform activities.  

Ms. Galldin actively mentors young women entering the profession through her practice, and also teaches Rights and Freedoms to undergraduate students in the Civil Law Section of the uOttawa Faculty of Law.  She has participated on various community boards, including the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, Nelson House, Sexual Overtones and Canadians for Choice.  She is currently pleased to be Project Director of the Canadian Bar Association's Legal Futures Initiative.

Charles T. Hackland was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1978 after completing his legal studies at the University of Ottawa (LL.B 1975) and Oxford University (B.C.L. 1977) and articling at the Supreme Court of Canada.  He was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in October of 2003.  

Prior to his appointment, he was a senior partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson (Ottawa) specializing in employment and administrative law and the defence of negligence claims on behalf of physicians and other professionals.

Justice Hackland was appointed Regional Senior Judge of the Superior Court of Justice, East Region in May of 2008.  In that capacity he oversees the administration of the Ontario Superior Court and its 10 Court sites and 45 judges in Eastern Ontario.

A co-founder of the “Montebello Conference,” Justice Hackland is a dedicated promoter of continuing legal education.  He is also a frequent lecturer and friend of the law school.

Hon. Lee K. Ferrier, LL.B. 1962

The Honourable Lee K. Ferrier currently works as a mediation and arbitration specialist at Neeson Arbitration Chambers in Toronto. After graduating from the Faculty of Law in 1962, Mr. Ferrier became a partner in the firm of MacDonald and Ferrier from 1965 to 1986 and subsequently with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt when the two firms merged.  While in practice, he was certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Civil Litigation.  In 1991, he was appointed as a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, where he served for 20 years.

Mr. Ferrier was a founding member of the Advocates’ Society in 1965, and the first uOttawa law graduate elected Treasurer of Law Society of Upper Canada, in 1988.  He has also served as chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Ontario Family Law Section, the chair of the National Family Law Section and served on numerous committees, including for 10 years, as a member of the National Council of the CBA. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of his graduation from law school. 

Janice Payne, LL.B. 1974

Janice Payne is a partner at Nelligan O'Brien Payne, in Ottawa, where she has worked since her call to the Bar in 1976.
Ms. Payne is recognized across Canada as one of the leading employment law lawyers in the country, specializing in the non-unionized employment market.  Under her leadership, Nelligan O’Brien Payne has represented groups in a number of high-profile insolvency matters.  Throughout her career, she has also been at the forefront of the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution strategies.
In 2001, Ms. Payne was honoured for her pioneering role in the legal profession by the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, in recognition of her contributions to law, women in the profession, and to the community.  She was later selected by her peers in law for the 2006 to 2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada for Labour and Employment Law.  In 2008, she was awarded the Businesswoman of the Year award, Professional Category, by the Women’s Business Network.
Recently, Ms. Payne has been participating in initiatives to raise awareness of mental illness, joining Women for Mental Health, a program of the Royal Ottawa Foundation.

André Marin, LL.B. 1989

André Marin was first appointed Ombudsman of Ontario in 2005, and was reappointed for a second five-year term in 2010.  He is Ontario’s sixth Ombudsman. Mr. Marin graduated from the Common Law National Program in 1989 after earning his civil law degree at the Faculty of Law in 1988.  He worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Ottawa before becoming the Director of the Special Investigations Unit of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in 1996.  He subsequently served as Canada’s first Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, beginning in 1998.
As Ontario’s Ombudsman, Mr. Marin has focused his office’s resources on high-profile, systemic investigations into issues that affect millions of Ontarians, several of which have resulted in dramatic government reforms.  His reorganization of the Ombudsman’s office and its investigative teams has produced a model sought out by watchdog agencies from across Canada and around the world. 

In 2011, Mr. Marin received the Order of Merit from the University of Ottawa’s Civil Law Section, and earlier in 2012 he was honoured with the Ontario Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award and the Canadian Bar Association’s John Tait Award of Excellence for public service.

Karin Wells    LL.B. 1974

Iconoclastic documentary maker for CBC radio, broadcast worldwide; has worked in 35 countries, usually alone; recognized by UN for war crimes trial reporting, Sierra Leone; CBC national radio host; respected writer; outspoken social justice advocate.

Michael Edelson    LL.B. 1975

Respected defence counsel practising criminal and regulatory litigation; co-founder, uOttawa Summer Community Legal Clinic; past president, Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa; repeatedly voted by peers to “Best Lawyers” list; frequent lecturer.

Jean-Paul (J-P.) Bisnaire    LL.B. 1976

Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel at Manulife Financial; director of McCain Foods and the St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation Board; teacher of securities regulation at uOttawa, Common Law.

Terence P. Badour (LL.B. 1984)

Corporate counsel; a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law; recognized as a leader in the global hospitality industry and as one of Canada’s leading general counsels and deal makers.

Penny Hossack Collenette (LL.B. 1991)

Leader and innovator whose influential reach spans the worlds of public policy, business and academia; former Senior Director, Prime Minister's Office; Vice President, George Weston Ltd.; Senior Fellow, Kennedy School of Government; valued teacher, mentor and advocate. 

David Nahwegahbow (LL.B. 1980)

Anishinabe/Ojibway, Whitefish River First Nation; Indigenous rights lawyer; awarded “Indigenous Peoples Counsel” designation by Indigenous Bar Association (2003); National Aboriginal Achievement Award recipient for Law and Justice (2008); Lifetime Achievement Award from Anishinabek Nation (2008). 

Aissa Nauthoo (LL.B. 2002)

Legal Director of the only Francophone legal clinic in Toronto, practising immigration and poverty law; dedicated to defending linguistic rights of Francophones subject to trial; founding member of the first Francophone women’s shelter in Toronto.

T. Gregory Kane (LL.B. 1969)

First alumnus to volunteer with the Canadian University Service Overseas (Ghana); recognized domestically and internationally for expertise in telecommunications law; volunteer and philanthropist in support of the arts, education and medicine.

Hon. Monique Métivier (LL.B. 1977)

Teacher, broadcaster, lawyer, judge; coordinated the establishment of the Unified Family Court; first woman appointed as Regional Senior Justice of the Superior Court of Justice, East Region; visiting professor, dedicated friend of the Faculty.

Lawrence Greenspon (LL.B. 1978)

Human rights lawyer practicing criminal and civil litigation; past President Defence Counsel Association Ottawa, REACH, Snowsuit Fund, CAYFO; recipient CCLA Gordon Henderson Award; United Way Community Builder of the Year.

Claudette Commanda (LL.B. 1997)

Algonquin, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation; grandmother; orator, activist committed to advocating First Nations rights; Professor & Chair of Aboriginal Education Council uOttawa, promoting First Nation people, culture and education.

Rose-Marie Perry (LL.B. 1960)

Common Law Section’s first woman graduate, involved in all aspects of intellectual property, innovator in trade mark harmonization and legislation, active in many charitable and community projects.

Michael Chambers (LL.B. 1973)

Dedicated litigator, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, advocate of the Olympic Movement in Canada, key role securing for Canada the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Maureen McTeer (LL.B. 1977)

Founding member of the National Association Women & Law, international advocate for women’s equality & health as a human right, political candidate, medical law expert, successful author.

Shirley Heafey (LL.B. 1991)

Two-term Chair and CEO of the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP, respected internationally for expertise in civilian oversight of police forces, defender of human rights and civil liberties.

Michelle Flaherty (LL.B. 1998)

Socially-progressive litigator, expert in employment, labour, and human rights law, mentor to law students and young lawyers, valued contributor to the University of Ottawa French Common Law Program.

Bruce Carr-Harris (LL.B. 1975)

Ronald Caza (LL.B. 1987)

Howard Hampton (LL.B. 1983)

Susan Haslip (LL.B. 1998)

M. Bernard Syron (LL.B. 1966)

Murray Costello (LL.B. 1977)

Mary Gusella (LL.B. 1977)

Robert Pitfield (LL.B. 1981)

Nicole LaViolette (LL.B. 1996)

Allan R. O’Brien (LL.B. 1973)

Hon. Paul S. Rouleau (LL.B. 1977)

Dr. John R. Rudolph (LL.B. 1990)

Annamie Paul (LL.B. 1995)

Hon. Jean-Marc Labrosse (LL.B. 1960)

Margaret A. Ross (LL.B. 1974)

Hon. Dalton J.P. McGuinty (LL.B. 1981)

David W. Scott (LL.B. 1960, DU 2001)

Hon. James B. Chadwick (LL.B. 1962)

Hon. Allan Rock (LL.B. 1971)

Sheila R. Block (LL.B. 1972)

Gabriel Tsampalieros (décédé/deceased) (LL.B. 1973)

Hon. Louise V. Charron (LL.B. 1975)

Peggy Mason (LL.B. 1975)

Shirley Greenberg (LL.B. 1976, DU 2003)

Hon. John Manley (LL.B. 1976, DU 1998)

Margaret Bloodworth (LL.B. 1977)

Hon. Michel Bastarache (LL.B. 1978, DU 98)

Hon. Alban Garon (décédé/deceased) (LL.B. 1980)

Jay S. Hennick (LL.B. 1981)

Camille Nelson (LL.B. 1994)

Hon. Paul Okalik (LL.B. 1997)