Professor Dagne’s research focuses on intellectual property in a development context and addresses societal impacts of artificial intelligence in the context of data and intellectual property governance. His most recent work examines the intersections between Canadian intellectual property law and emerging technologies, exploring governance challenges that the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and related technologies brings in different sectors.

Samantha Craig-Curnow is Anishinaabe-Kwe from the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. She is from the Marten clan and is a mother, an auntie, a sister, a daughter, and a wife.

Samantha graduated from Seneca College in 2012 with a Law Clerk diploma, from York University in 2014 with an Honours Bachelor of Art in political science and in 2019 from Osgoode Hall Law School with her juris doctorate. She was called to the bar in November of 2020 and has practiced since as Associate General Counsel for her First Nation.  Samantha is passionate about her work which involves the opportunity not only to guide her community toward sound legal decisions, but also allows her to be involved in the reinvigoration of Anishinaabe law, governance and justice. As in-house counsel for a First Nation, Samantha’s practice includes a wide range of subjects from contract law to employment, environmental, health, education, and even estates law.

In addition to her work in her community, Samantha has strong ties with her alma mater as Co-Chair of Seneca Polytechnic’s Indigenous Education Council, she serves as a member of the Polytechnic’s Board of Governors, and with the youth in her community though her facilitation of the Indigenous Youth Justice Program.

Rebecca is a partner at Wildeboer Dellelce LLP practising corporate and securities law with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital. Rebecca works with a number of start-ups, and has helped clients grow from pre-seed financing rounds through to IPOs and M&A exits. Rebecca also works with institutional clients, including seasoned publicly-listed issuers and venture capital funds.

Stuart Clark is a Partner at Hull & Hull LLP, where he practices exclusively in estate and trust litigation. He has appeared on estate and trust matters at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Divisional Court, and the Superior Court of Justice. A prior member of the executive of the Estate Litigation Practice Group of the Advocates Society, he frequently blogs and podcasts on all matters estate and trust.

Chris Albinati is matrilineally Isinay (Bambangueño) and Tagalog (Pampangangueño) and patrilineally Irish and French-Canadian. Called to the Bars of British Columbia and Ontario in 2015, he is currently an Associate with Nahwegahbow Corbiere Genoodmagejig Barristers and Solicitors. He advocates exclusively for First Nations clients, practicing Aboriginal law and specializing in Aboriginal Title and Treaty rights litigation. He has appeared before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

With a background in journalism and a lifelong passion for architecture and design, Chris approaches law and litigation through a unique blend of storytelling and structural analysis which provides a vehicle for deconstructing and understanding highly complex legal problems and communicating them in readily understandable language.

For the past 6 years, Chris’ practice has been primarily dedicated to his role as counsel for the Lake Huron Anishinaabek, the lead plaintiffs in the Robinson Treaties Annuities Litigation (Restoule et al v Canada et al), one of the most complex and ground-breaking Treaty rights litigation matters to be advanced in Canadian law which recently resulted in an historic and unprecedented settlement.

Chris received his JD from Thompson Rivers University in 2014 as part of the inaugural class, graduating in the top 5% of the class. He articled under Rod Holloway, QC with the Appeals Department of the Legal Services Society of BC where he was involved in numerous cases before the SCC, Federal Court of Appeal and BC Court of Appeal. In 2017, Chris successfully defended his LLM thesis titled, Indigenous Blockades and the Power to Speak the Law: From Settler Colonialism to Indigenous Resurgence at Osgoode. Chris then began working on a PhD dissertation at Osgoode which involved novel research into the assertion and performance of Indigenous laws and jurisdiction. In July of 2018 he withdrew from the PhD program in good standing to focus on the Restoule litigation full-time. In 2023/24, he was readmitted to the PhD program on a part-time basis to finish what he started.

George Ellinidis is Vice-President and General Counsel, Canada & International, for Smucker Foods of Canada Corp. and has been with the company since 2009. His work there covers several areas of the law including advertising and marketing law, litigation, cross-border issues, and competition and trademark law.

Mr. Ellinidis was called to the Ontario Bar in 1997 and received his B.A. from the University of Toronto (University College), his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School, and his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center. He began his career as an associate at Blake, Cassels & Graydon in Toronto where he specialized in corporate/commercial law before moving on to become General Counsel for Toyota/Lexus Financial Services.

Mr. Ellinidis also enjoys lecturing and has been teaching various Business Law related courses at Toronto Metropolitan University since 2004. In the fall of 2021, he taught Business Law at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law.  Mr. Ellinidis is very excited to be returning to his alma mater, Osgoode Hall Law School, to teach Business Associations and Commercial Law.

Areas of expertise include public international law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law (law of armed conflict), and international human rights law. Legal adviser and former trial and appeals counsel with international criminal tribunals and international accountability mechanisms, including postings in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

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.

Andrew Porter is the principal of Porter Litigation, a Toronto-based trial and appeals litigation firm providing strategic advice and representation in complex civil, regulatory and public law matters. Prior to founding his own firm, Andrew was a partner at Lenczner Slaght LLP.

JD (Osgoode), Law Society of Ontario

Karen Lau-Po-Hung is a Criminal Defence Lawyer who practices in the Greater Toronto Area. She is a partner at Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross, Gorham & Angelini, LLP, Canada’s largest criminal defence firm.

Ms. Lau-Po-Hung has focused her entire academic and professional career in Criminal Law. In university, she studied criminology and graduated with highest distinction. She continued in criminal law at Osgoode Hall Law School. During law school she worked closely with Toronto judges on a number of criminal court cases. She has a strong interest in cases where police have violated an individual’s rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.

Ms. Lau-Po-Hung has been counsel for all type of cases in the Ontario Court of Justice & Superior Court of Justice including charges of First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, Attempt Murder, Narcotic cases – Trafficking & Possessing for the Purpose, Firearms, Robbery, Sexual Assault, Domestic Assault, Dangerous Driving, Break and enter, etc.

Ms. Lau-Po-Hung has successfully negotiated withdrawals for all types of offences and has secured jury acquittals for various offences including First and Second Degree Murder.