Cathy Guirguis

Education
Bachelor of Journalism (Carleton), LLB (Osgoode), MA (York), Bar of Ontario

Cathy serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a partner at OKT. Her practice is focused on advancing Aboriginal and treaty rights through litigation and negotiation.

Cathy has represented clients in applications and actions in Ontario and Manitoba, as well as in federal court and at the Supreme Court of Canada. She’s also represented Indigenous clients in proceedings and tribunals regarding election processes, labour and employment, and environmental assessment. Cathy provides negotiation advice regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights, land claims, consultation, and she advises clients on day-to-day employment matters and governance administration.

During law school, Cathy was a senior editor of the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, volunteered at Osgoode’s Community Legal Aid Services Program and Downsview Legal Aid Clinic. She also contributed to environmental projects at the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), working on projects dealing with the duty to consult and accommodate, and indigenous environmental laws. Before law, Cathy worked in international development and has a background in journalism.

Cathy is a member of the Ontario bar and is listed as a “consistently recommended” lawyer in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She’s also a member of The Advocates Society, and currently serves as a member of the Mid-Career Advocates Standing Committee and the Standing Committee on Advocacy and Practice. Since 2022, Cathy has been an adjunct instructor at Osgoode Hall Law School.