13th Annual Conference and Gala

Join Us!

Our conference is once again merged with the Asian Canadian Law Students Conference! The conference theme is Realities in Law and Practice and will include a Luncheon fireside chat with Justice Goodwin Liu (Associate Justice, California Supreme Court) and Justice Shaun Nakatsuru (Ontario Superior Court of Justice).

When?

Saturday, February 8, 2020

8:00am – 9:00pm

Where?

Toronto Region Board of Trade

First Canadian Place

77 Adelaide Street West

Toronto, ON M5X 1C1

February 8, 2020 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Ticketing

Member prices will be reflected after you log in. (Become a FACL Ontario member here: https://on.facl.ca/register/.) For difficulties logging in, or if you have forgotten your password, please email facl.ontario@facl.ca for assistance.

Member Prices

Private Practice:

Conference Only: 230
Gala Only: 230
Combined Conference: 400

Government / Not-for-Profit / Sole Practitioner:

Conference Only: 160
Gala Only: 155
Combined Conference: 265

Articling Students:

Conference Only: 90
Gala Only: 75
Combined Conference: 150

Students:

Conference Only: 70
Gala Only: 75
Combined Conference: 120

Non-Member Prices

Private Practice:

Conference Only: 280
Gala Only: 280
Combined Conference: 450

Government / Not-for-Profit / Sole Practitioner:

Conference Only: 210
Gala Only: 205
Combined Conference: 315

Articling Students:

Conference Only: 95
Gala Only: 80
Combined Conference: 160

Students:

Conference Only: 75
Gala Only: 80
Combined: 130

Law school students: Should the subsidized law school student pricing be sold out but you would still like to attend the conference, you may feel free to purchase a ticket under the articling student category.

All Combined Tickets and Gala Only Tickets are SOLD OUT! If you would still like to attend the Gala portion, either as part of the conference or otherwise, please add your name to the wait list here: https://forms.gle/5w8T3yzewEpB47Yq7

Please note that the conference schedule below is subject to change.

Ticket Type	Price	Cart
Private Practice (Non-Sole Practitioner) - Conference Only	$280	Add to Cart
Private Practice (Non-Sole Practitioner) - Gala Only [SPONSOR CODES ONLY]	$280	Add to Cart
Government / Not-for-Profit / Sole Practitioner - Conference Only	$210	Add to Cart
Articling Student - Conference Only	$95	Add to Cart
Student - Conference Only	$75	Add to Cart

Event Schedule

8:00 - 9:00

Registration

9:00-9:20

Welcome Remarks

9:20-10:25

Voices of Change: How to be an Ally to Racialized Women in Law

Master P. Tamara Sugunasiri, Superior Court of Justice
Mabel Lai, Crown Law Office - Criminal/Ministry of the Attorney General
Naveen Mehta, MESH/diversity
Hilda Wong, First National Financial LP
Moderated by: Sundeep Sandhu, Blaney McMurtry LLP

Women in law face barriers. How do we overcome them as a profession? Our panelists will discuss how racialized women practicing law can make their voices heard, get access to meaningful work and opportunities, have their contributions recognized, and network with senior lawyers. In addition to describing how allies can help, support and empower, the panelists will reinforce the overall benefits of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and profession.

10:25-10:35

Break

10:35-11:40

Asian Canadians in the Supreme Court OR An Open Dialogue with HR Professionals in the Legal Career Field

Asian Canadians in the Supreme Court

Rahool Agarwal, Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
Nader Hasan, Stockwoods LLP
Emily Lam, Kastner Law
Sandy Tse, Crown Law Office - Criminal
James Yap
Moderated by: Shantona Chaudhury, Pape Chaudhury LLP

For many lawyers, arguing in the Supreme Court of Canada is the crowning achievement of their career. In 2018-2019, several members of the Asian Canadian bar had this honour, litigating cases ranging from criminal law to copyright to international human rights. They acted for parties and interveners, and they will share their insights on advocacy at the highest level of court. The discussion will be moderated by one of the leading appellate lawyers in the country and co-Executive Director of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute.

An Open Dialogue with HR Professionals in the Legal Career Field

Ari Blicker, Aird & Berlis LLP
Janice Chung, Ministry of the Attorney General
Amanda Fiorelli, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Safia Ho, Ontario Securities Commission
Moderated by: Tiffany Guo (Osgoode 2L) and Ryan Chan (UofT 2L)

This panel will offer law students and new lawyers insights into the recruitment process with HR professionals and student recruitment members in the legal field. Panelists will discuss best practices, strategies and tips for succeeding in the legal recruitment process. After the panel discussion, the audience will have the opportunity to have an in-depth discussion with HR professionals in a more intimate Q and A setting.

11:40-1:15

Lunch - Fireside Chat with Justice Goodwin Liu and Justice Shaun Nakatsuru

1:15-2:20

Breakout Panels

Session A: Building Your Book of Business and Finding Mentors – Solo/Small Style

Sue Chen, Sue Chen Law Professional Corporation
Eduardo Lam, Poon & Ho LLP
Felix Tang, Open LLP
Rinku Deswal, RD Law Professional Corporation
Moderated by: Ronald Trac, Ronald Trac Law Professional Corporation

The prospect of starting your own practice or joining a smaller practice may seem like a daunting task for many lawyers, especially young lawyers or those leaving large, established firms. Learning how to network, get clients, and deepen your practice areas may be intimidating without formal structures and programs in place to teach and guide you. In this session, our panelists, who come from various practice backgrounds and are at different points in their careers, will be discussing their experiences in building their book of business and finding mentors outside of the typical structure of large, established firms.

Session B: Indigenous Peoples in Canadian Law – The Path Forward in Pursuit of Truth and Reconciliation

Assoc. Professor Amar Bhatia, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Katherine Hensel, Hensel Barristers
Senwung Luk, Olthuis Kleer Townshend
Jessica A. Wolfe, Crown Counsel, MAG - North
Moderated by: The Honourable Harry S. LaForme (former Justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal), Olthuis Kleer Townshend

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission into the historical legacy of Canada’s Residential School system was the first step in recognizing the injustice and abuse that was imposed upon Canada’s Indigenous peoples for decades. Despite the passage of time, those historical harms inflicted upon Canada’s Indigenous people continue to exist today. Today, lawyers continue to seek justice in treaty rights, the duty to consult and actively oppose the systemic discrimination and structural racism of justice proceedings against Indigenous peoples. Our panel of diverse practitioners will discuss what their reality looks like in their respective areas of the profession.

Session C: Career Paths Beyond Bay Street

Fathima Cader, Cader Law
Rosel Kim, Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
Rashmi Kumar, Hicks Adams LLP
Vincent Wong, University of Toronto Faculty of Law, International Human Rights Program
Moderated by: Gabby Aquino (Osgoode 2L) and Tiffany Dang (Osgoode 1L)

Beyond Bay Street aspires to bring together a diverse group of voices from different parts of the legal space to interrogate our understandings of the law, whose interests are at play, what goals it envisions, and how those goals can and/or should be achieved. The objective of this discussion is to expand law students and legal practitioners’ notions of "doing law" in ways that are not limited to the Bay Streets of the world, and to connect them to legal academics, practitioners, and other leaders in this work whose stories and experiences can help them carve their own paths. Ultimately, the panel aims to signal to audiences that "doing law" does not have one single meaning, but requires creative and innovative responses to address often complex and complicated issues.

2:20-2:35

Break

2:35-3:40

Breakout Panels

Session D: Privacy Law

Daanish Samadmoten, Fasken
Kristin Ali, Osler
Fazila Nurani, Privatech
Moderated by: Imran Ahmad, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

This session will examine the most recent developments, trends, and strategies in the cutting-edge world of privacy law. With the exponential growth in cyber capabilities, "Big Data", and the information economy comes no shortage of opportunities and challenges for businesses, lawyers, and everyday people. Our experienced panelists will address the different regulatory regimes and anticipated reforms, strategies for dealing with cyber threats and privacy-related litigation, and practical approaches for handling cyber and privacy risks in the business context.

Session E: Breaking the Invisible Barrier – Reaching Success as ESL / Foreign-trained Lawyers

Junyi Chen, Blaney McMurtry LLP
Sabina Han, Fasken
Cathy Qi, AIG
Nozomi (Zoe) Smith, Pallett Valo LLP
Moderated by: Jack Yu, Fasken

In addition to race, colour, and other diversity barriers, language is a salient barrier. Many legal professionals face language-related challenges, as the number of English-as-second language lawyers and internationally trained lawyers in Canada has significantly increased in the past decade.
After FACL Ontario's successful event "The Invisible Barrier: Working as a lawyer in Canada with English as a Second Language" in September, 2019, we are continuing this necessary dialogue. We will share experiences and ideas on how to overcome barriers for this group of lawyers, leverage the unique skillsets that can be brought to the table, and reach success in the legal profession.

Session F: Lawyers at the Intersection of Access to Justice and Private Practice

Victor Kim, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Marie Jihee Park, Park Family Law
Karen Phung, Miller Thomson
Breana Vandebeek, Gorham Vandebeek LLP
Moderated by: Andrew Gong (UofT 2L) and Vernon Lin (UofT 2L)

The meaning of access to justice varies from who you speak with and has evolved with technological advances. This panel of lawyers will discuss what access to justice means currently and what it should mean moving forward in creating a more equitable and just society. Equally important, how should we achieve our conception of what access to justice means? The panel will ask what roles law students, lawyers, and law firms should play in achieving our ideal conception of access to justice, and what some of our obligations are to achieving that end. Moreover, what makes serving under-represented communities and citizens of disadvantaged backgrounds different from serving sophisticated commercial entities?

3:40-3:50

Break

3:50-4:50

The Business of Law: Powering It Up on the Tech Side

Jonathan Chen, Lenczner Slaght
Sanjay Kutty, Spark LLP
Peter Nguyen, Resolver
Parna Sabet-Stephenson, Gowling WLG
Tara Vasdani, Remote Law Canada
Moderated by: Janice Kim, Sullivan Festeryga LLP

Where Business, Tech, and Law collide! Is this your first time hearing about tech and law? Are you interested in learning about how everyone else is managing their practice with tech? We're here to give you a better sense of how the practice of law is affected by technology and how to embrace improving your practice with technology. This session includes:

A crash course on blockchain and smart contracts in plain English;
Identifying challenges and integrating technological solutions for internal firm benefits and external client value;
Moving towards a paperless practice resulting in a more efficient law practice; and
Utilizing artificial intelligence and tech in your practice.

4:50-5:00

Closing Remarks

5:00-6:30

Cocktail Reception

Cash Bar

6:30-9:00

Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Business Attire