In his inaugural year as Osgoode’s 20th dean, Trevor Farrow was delighted to host the annual reception celebrating the remarkable contributions and achievements of some of the school’s most talented and successful alumni.

Dean Farrow began the event by saying, “Having served as the Associate Dean for the JD program three times and as Associate Dean of Research once, I thought I understood the Osgoode community well and knew what to expect in this new role. However, since becoming dean in September, I have discovered what previous deans told me is the best part of the job: meeting alumni.”

MENTOR AWARD:  ALEXANDRA MONKHOUSE ‘15

Alexandra, a partner at Monkhouse Law, specializes in employment law and litigation, focusing on major claims and class actions. She is adept at mediations, serving on Ontario’s government-appointed mediator roster. Alexandra has presented cases up to the Supreme Court of Canada and mentors young lawyers, inspiring them with her balanced approach to professional and family life.

DIANNE MARTIN MEDAL:  JOHN MCKINNON ‘81

John McKinnon has been a staunch advocate for injured workers since joining the Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic in 1989. Sparked by his time at Parkdale Community Legal Services as an Osgoode student, John has spent nearly four decades championing workers’ rights, notably aiding the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups in securing intervenor status at the Supreme Court of Canada. His work emphasizes community engagement and active participation in legal reforms.

ONE-TO-WATCH:  DOUGLAS W. JUDSON ‘15

Douglas W. Judson was honoured for his exceptional promise since graduating. After articling and practicing litigation at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, he founded Judson Howie LLP in Fort Frances, securing a landmark victory in Rainbow Alliance Dryden v. Webster. Active locally, he chairs the Federation of Ontario Law Associations and co-founded Borderland Pride.

ONE-TO-WATCH:  JONATHAN SILVER ‘15

Jon, a senior associate at Torys LLP specializing in public and regulatory litigation, has a rich legal career. Clerking for Chief Justice Wagner, Jon has argued significant cases at all court levels, including the Supreme Court of Canada. His efforts in Kandaharian v. York Catholic District School Board led to more inclusive policies for student trustees. Jon also mentors, publishes scholarly articles, and serves on various legal board.

SERVICE:  JONATHAN ROSENTHAL ‘87

Jonathan, a criminal defense attorney in Toronto specializing in white-collar and regulatory offenses, holds key roles at Osgoode, including Adjunct Professor and Director of the Trial Advocacy Program. A fervent advocate for legal education, he influences curriculum development and delivers lectures across notable legal associations. Jonathan’s dedication extends through his participation in faculty councils and his past role as the McMurtry Visiting Clinical Fellow.

PUBLIC SECTOR:  KIRSTEN MANLEY-CASIMIR ’01, ’05 (LLM)

Since graduating with her JD, Kirsten has pursued advanced degrees, focusing on Indigenous governance and law. Her PhD research at UBC reconceived the “duty to consult and accommodate” Indigenous peoples. Kirsten has taken prominent roles in public service, including as an adjunct professor and co-director at Osgoode, and in various capacities within the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, where she developed crucial anti-colonial and anti-racism training. Most recently, she was appointed Director, Legal and Research for the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves at Indian Residential Schools, furthering her dedication to policy reform and justice for Indigenous communities.

DISTINCTION:  RENÉE PELLETIER ‘01

Renée, a partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, specializes in Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation, and specific claims. She guides Indigenous clients on various legal matters including environmental issues and land management. Renée serves as lead counsel in Canada’s first Aboriginal title to water trial and an Aboriginal title claim for the Wolastoqey Nation. Her contributions extend to the Federal Environmental Assessment Expert Review Panel, and she has led her firm to become Canada’s largest specialized Aboriginal law practice. She co-chairs Osgoode’s Certificate Program in the Fundamentals of Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:  ALEXANDRA HOY ‘78

Justice Alexandra Hoy dedicated 44 years to law, initially as a lawyer at Lang Michener and then as a judge. She began her legal career handling corporate transactions and mentoring at the firm. Appointed to the Superior Court in 2002, she dealt with diverse legal matters and was designated for class action cases. In 2011, Hoy was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario, making history in 2013 as the first woman Associate Chief Justice of Ontario. She chaired the Civil Rules Committee and was involved in key legal reforms and decisions, including the carbon tax appeal. Retiring in 2023, Hoy left a legacy of judicial excellence and commitment to legal education.

At the 2024 Dean’s Annual Alumni Reception, Dean Trevor Farrow proudly presented Patricia Olasker ’77 with the prestigious Osgoode Award of Excellence. Established in 1983, this esteemed award is bestowed upon exceptional alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and brought honour to Osgoode Hall Law School. Notable recipients include J.J. Robinette ‘29, G. Arthur Martin ‘38, Laura Legge ‘48, Peter Cory ‘50, and Lincoln Alexander ‘53.

The event also marked Patricia’s retirement as President of the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association. Under her exemplary leadership, the Association has flourished, making her a deserving recipient of this high honour.

A partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Patricia embarked on her legal journey at Osgoode at the age of 19. She graduated from the Law School in 1977, clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and studied in the LLM program at UC Berkeley. Overcoming the challenges of women practicing law in the late 70s and 80s, she emerged as a leading expert in mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, and cross-border corporate finance.

Since joining Osgoode’s Alumni Association as a director in 2015 and becoming president in 2020, Patricia has demonstrated a strong commitment to alumni engagement, participating in the school’s annual convocation ceremonies. Her contributions extend beyond the board, serving as an adjunct professor at Osgoode and teaching courses on mergers and acquisitions and the regulation of the Canadian cannabis industry for over 20 years.

A generous donor, Patricia recently led a campaign at Davies to establish the $1.2 million Davies Fellows Award, providing financial support to first-year students with exceptional promise. Her legacy at Osgoode continues to the next generation with her son Max Ledger, a JD/MBA alum from the class of 2020.

The Osgoode Hall Law School community proudly recognizes Patricia Olasker’s unwavering dedication and outstanding service with the Osgoode Award of Excellence, celebrating her enduring impact on the institution and its alumni.

Dr. Inbar Peled ’24 (PhD) has been awarded the prestigious York University Dissertation Prize, recognizing her exemplary research. Her thesis, entitled Professionalizing Discrimination has been lauded by the Faculty of Graduate Studies for making a “major contribution” to addressing systemic issues in criminal justice. Each year, the university honours up to three exceptional dissertations defended within that period.

Peled’s dissertation examines why multicultural societies have struggled to prevent discriminatory policing practices, despite the widespread impact of social movements such as the Black Lives Matter. By investigating patterns of racialized policing and the shortcomings in legal responses, Peled’s work provides new insights into entrenched systemic problems. Her research includes in-depth interviews, observations in courtrooms, and doctrinal analysis.

“My research begins with a fundamental question: Why do diverse criminal justice systems consistently fail to address racialized policing?” said Peled. She aims to redefine understanding of the role of criminal justice systems in perpetuating racial bias and envisions new strategies for transformative change.

Peled expressed deep appreciation for her mentors and the examination committee at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Janet (Jay Jay) Johnson, a proactive and inspiring second-year student at Osgoode Hall Law School, has recently been elected as the national president of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA Canada) for the 2024-2025 term.

BLSA Canada, which was established in 1991, plays a crucial role in supporting and advocating for Black law students across the country. Johnson, who previously served as the National Director of Professional Development at BLSA, has been instrumental in orchestrating key initiatives, including a national firm hop and a bilingual clerkship open house, which significantly boosted engagement and support for Black law students nationwide.

Prior to her law studies, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Human Justice from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. Her commitment to community building was evident even then, as she took on various leadership roles such as student ambassador, teaching assistant, and residence assistant. Her initiatives often focused on creating culturally relevant events aimed at empowering her peers.

At Osgoode Hall Law School, Johnson has continued her commendable efforts in community engagement. She has served as the Mentorship Coordinator for BLSA Osgoode and the Residence Fellow, among other roles. Johnson has played a critical role in integrating first-year students into the academic community as a Dean’s Fellow.

Johnson has completed an internship at Blakes LLP and is set to join Torys LLP as a summer student, further advancing her promising career in law.

Dean Trevor Farrow expressed his admiration and support for Johnson’s new role, stating, “Jay Jay Johnson exemplifies the spirit and dedication we strive to cultivate here at Osgoode. Her election as the president of BLSA Canada not only reflects her exceptional leadership and commitment to service but also underscores the impact our students can have on the broader legal community. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and confident that she will continue to excel in this prestigious position.”

PhD candidate Olaoluwa Oni was selected to attend this year’s Global Scholars Academy in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The Global Scholars Academy, convened by Harvard Law School and partners, is an intensive residential experience designed to enable junior scholars to engage in sustained, interdisciplinary, peer-to-peer collaboration under the close mentorship of research faculty drawn from the world’s top universities.

Building on the Institute For Global Law and Policy decade of successful workshops and Stellenbosch’s dedication to high-level interdisciplinary research, the Global Scholars Academy will engage a growing community of scholars developing new thinking about the world’s most pressing policy challenges. While in residence, participants will workshop their ongoing research, review current scholarship developments, reconsider canonical texts, and network with colleagues from across the world.

Learn more about the Global Scholars Academy.

In a remarkable tale of dedication and discipline, Sam Skinner has achieved what many might consider the pinnacle of dual careers in both law and sport. Beginning their journey into Muay Thai kickboxing in September 2016, the same month they embarked on JD program at Osgoode Hall Law School, they have now been invited to join Team Canada at the prestigious IFMA World Championship tournament in Greece, running from May 31 to June 10, 2024.

While navigating the rigorous demands of law school, Sam, alongside a group of fellow Section B students, practiced Muay Thai throughout their first term. Their passion for the sport led them to York Muay Thai where they continued to refine their skills. Upon graduating in 2019, Samantha moved downtown, simultaneously launching their legal career through articling and stepping into the ring for their first amateur fight before being called to the Bar of Ontario.

Since then, Sam has amassed an impressive record in amateur fighting, a testament to their dedication and skill. This hard-earned record and their unwavering commitment to the sport have now earned them a place on Team Canada, marking a significant milestone in their Muay Thai career.

“It’s an absolute dream and honour to be called to represent Team Canada,” said Sam.

Currently enrolled in a PhD program in law at Osgoode, they manage to maintain a rigorous training schedule alongside their academic responsibilities. This balance exemplifies an extraordinary level of discipline and time management, allowing them to pursue excellence in both the legal field and the competitive world of Muay Thai.

CLASP is celebrating their success in establishing a ground-breaking precedent in residential tenancies law which is featured in the 2024 edition of the Ontario Landlord & Tenant Law Practice textbook.

CLASP students worked with the administrative law division’s review counsel to bring an appeal of a Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) case to the Ontario Divisional Court. Beginning in the summer of 2022, students helped set the precedent that the LTB can reinstate a tenant to their unit after being unlawfully evicted.

This precedent pushes back against the harmful practice of landlords unlawfully evicting tenants and immediately re-renting the unit at a much higher rate. To see the entire decision, please see Schram v. Thompson, 2022 ONSC 6922.

Osgoode had the privilege of hosting two distinguished alumni from the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Chief Justice Michael Tulloch ‘89 and former dean Justice Lorne Sossin ’92 actively engaged with students at two separate events at the Law School.

Chief Justice Michael Tulloch addressed students on the complexities of court administration. His insightful remarks provided a unique perspective on the challenges and responsibilities that come with overseeing the judicial system. His wealth of experience and his commitment to justice were inspiring the next generation of legal minds.

Justice Sossin judged the final round of the 3rd annual Con Law Moot, which was hosted by Osgoode Constitutional Law Society and Henein Hutchinson Robitaille LLP. The moot helps students develop their advocacy skills while at the same time meet like-minded peers and legal professionals.

The opportunity to connect with such accomplished alumni is inspiring to students and gives them a unique opportunity to interact with and learn from leaders in the judiciary. It also reminds them that they are part of a larger Osgoode community that extends far beyond the classroom.