Osgoode Hall Law School is delighted to welcome three outstanding scholars whose expertise and leadership will enrich our academic community and advance legal education and research.

Étienne Cossette-Lefebvre  joins as Assistant Professor in Property Law. A Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar and former Supreme Court of Canada law clerk, Professor Cossette-Lefebvre brings nationally recognized scholarship in property law, legal theory, and comparative law.

Martin Petrin  has been appointed the Jarislowsky Dimma Mooney Chair in Corporate Governance, a joint position with the Schulich School of Business. Professor Petrin is an internationally respected expert in corporate law and governance, with research interests that include the impacts of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Anthony Sangiuliano, Assistant Professor in Health Law, brings an interdisciplinary background in legal, moral, and political philosophy. Professor Sangiuliano’s research spans health law and bioethics, constitutional and administrative law, and equality and antidiscrimination law.

“These scholars bring a remarkable breadth of knowledge and experience to our faculty,” said Dean Trevor Farrow. “Their diverse perspectives and outstanding research will enrich our community and inspire our students as they prepare to lead in an evolving legal landscape.”

Osgoode Hall Law School is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Teaching and Faculty Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to student learning, legal scholarship, and service to the academic community.

These awards honour faculty members whose innovation, dedication, and leadership continue to advance the quality of legal education at Osgoode and beyond. Congratulations to the following recipients:

Osgoode Hall Law School Full-time Senior Faculty Award

• Dan Priel
• Dayna Scott

Osgoode Hall Law School Full-time Faculty Award

• Kate Glover Berger

Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Faculty Award

• Howard Black
• Robin Flumerfelt

Osgoode Professional LLM Teaching Award

• Saptarishi Bandopadhyay

Osgoode Professional Development CLE Contribution Award

• David Goodis

Osgoode Hall Law School Faculty Service Award

• Sean Rehaag

Harry Arthurs Award for Research Excellence (New in 2025)

• Barnali Choudhury

This new award recognizes faculty whose research leadership and scholarly contributions deepen Osgoode’s intellectual community and strengthen its impact across York University and the global academic landscape. Named in honour of former Dean Harry Arthurs, one of Canada’s most distinguished legal scholars, the award highlights the transformative role of research in legal education.

Reflecting on this year’s honourees, Dean Trevor Farrow remarked:
“We are proud to celebrate these faculty members whose exceptional commitment to teaching, research, and service exemplifies the highest standards of academic leadership. Their contributions not only enrich the Osgoode community but also reinforce the Law School’s place as a leader in legal education, research and innovation.”

On May 14, Osgoode Hall Law School proudly welcomed alumni, faculty, and friends to its annual Alumni Awards Reception at Osgoode Professional Development. The evening celebrated those whose leadership and impact continue to shape the legal profession and society.

The awards recognized recipients across three categories: Mentor of the Year, the Gold Key Awards, and the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law.

Mentor of the Year: Shanice Prendergast ’19

Shanice Prendergast was recognized for her exceptional mentorship, offering thoughtful guidance and unwavering support to help JD students navigate their legal journeys with confidence.

Gold Key Award Recipients

Trevor J. Fairlie ’19 – One-to-Watch
A leader in securities law and a passionate advocate for LGBTQ2S+ inclusion, Trevor has already made a national impact through his legal work, community leadership, and teaching.

Laura Wilson-Lewis ’15 – One-to-Watch
A rising force in entertainment law, Laura is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for Black students, helping to build a more inclusive legal profession.

Jonathan Davey ’08 – Service
A long-time member of Osgoode’s Alumni Association, Jonathan has shown exceptional service through mentorship, Board leadership, and public service.

Giuseppe Ferraro ’01 – Public Sector
With over two decades in Ontario’s public service, Giuseppe has led major legislative and policy initiatives, including key contributions to pandemic response and human trafficking legislation.

Andrew Monkhouse ’12 – Distinction
Founder of Monkhouse Law, Andrew has built one of Canada’s fastest-growing employment law firms while championing access to justice and mentoring future legal professionals.

The Honourable William Hourigan ’90 – Lifetime Achievement
A respected jurist on the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Justice Hourigan was honoured for his distinguished career, commitment to public service, and mentorship of young lawyers.

Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice: Professor Janet Mosher

Professor Janet Mosher received the Dianne Martin Medal for her decades-long dedication to social justice, poverty law, and clinical legal education. Her influential scholarship and advocacy have shaped national policy and inspired generations of students.

Reflecting on the evening, Dean Farrow remarked:

“Osgoode is so proud of our remarkable alumni community. These award recipients, recognized by their peers, remind us of what it means to be lawyers, leaders, and community builders. Their contributions—whether through mentoring, advocacy, or championing new ideas—are truly inspiring.”

The 2025 Alumni Awards highlighted not only individual accomplishments but also the collective strength of Osgoode’s alumni community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the honourees for their remarkable contributions.

Osgoode’s 2025 Research Celebration recognized a standout year of scholarly achievement, renewed collaboration, and global impact.

“This year has truly been about rebuilding and revitalizing our research culture,” said Associate Dean Research & Institutional Relations Carys Craig. “We’ve seen an incredible level of engagement, which speaks to the strength of Osgoode’s scholarly community.”

A highlight of the celebration was the Faculty Research Panel, which featured recently promoted faculty members reflecting on their work in connection with the day’s theme, Legal Research in Changing Times.

• Associate Professor Emily Kidd White spoke about her work on law and emotion, including themes from her upcoming book.
• Professor Dayna Scott addressed sustainable infrastructure and Indigenous jurisdiction.
• Professor Sara Slinn discussed labour law and access to justice, particularly for gig workers.
• Professor Valerio De Stefano explored the digital transformation of work and its impact on workers’ rights.
• Professor Carys Craig reflected on her work on copyright law and technology, feminist legal theory, and gender justice.

Chief Law Librarian Yemisi Dina highlighted Osgoode’s growing international presence, with the school now placed 15^th in the SSRN International Law Schools rankings, 63^rd in the Times Higher Education 2025 World University Rankings for Law, and with the Osgoode Digital Commons boasting over three-quarters of a million downloads over the past year alone.  Graduate Program Director Susan Drummond emphasized the significance of graduate research to Osgoode’s research culture, noting the impressive range of high-impact projects, prestigious scholarships, and global academic placements achieved by Osgoode’s research-stream graduate students.

Looking ahead, the Research Celebration reaffirmed Osgoode’s commitment to innovative research that advances legal understanding, informs public policy, and addresses critical challenges both locally and globally.

On April 4, 2025, Osgoode Hall Law School hosted the 28^th Annual Constitutional Cases Conference, a leading forum for legal scholars, practitioners, and students to analyse the Supreme Court of Canada’s most impactful constitutional decisions of the past year.

A highlight of this year’s conference was the Laskin Keynote Lecture, delivered by The Honourable Mary T. Moreau, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Drawing on her extensive background in criminal and constitutional law, including her time as Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, Justice Moreau’s lecture explored themes of continuity and transformation in Charter jurisprudence. She also used the opportunity to introduce herself more personally to the legal community, weaving in reflections on change and stability within her own career and life’s journey.

The 2025 program examined:

• The Supreme Court’s 2024 constitutional jurisprudence: A review of key constitutional rulings and doctrinal trends from the past year.
• Indigenous governance and the Canadian Constitution: Analysis of Dickson and the Indigenous child welfare reference, focusing on sections 15 and 25 of the Charter and federalism.
• The constitutional structure of criminal justice: Cases explored Charter remedies, military justice, standing, and privacy rights in the criminal law context.
• Reasonableness, rights, and review in administrative law: Discussions on standard of review and how administrative bodies address rights, through recent Supreme Court decisions.
• Courts, politics, and public trust: Reflections on judicial legitimacy, democratic institutions, and comparative insights.

Chaired by Professors Benjamin L. Berger, Emily Kidd White, and Sonia Lawrence, the conference brought together leading voices in Canadian constitutional law to reflect on the future of constitutional jurisprudence and the Court’s crucial role in shaping governance, rights, and justice.

Acknowledgements:

The 2025 Laskin Lecture was made possible with the support of the York Centre for Public Policy and Law, and the conference papers are generously sponsored by LexisNexis Canada.