Episode 14 - Alyssa Tomkins and Andrew Ferguson discuss Partnership
Alyssa Tomkins and Andrew Ferguson both practice civil litigation in Ottawa: Alyssa at Caza Saikaley LLP and Andrew at MBC Law Professional Corp.
Both lawyers are recent partners at their respective litigation boutique firms. Both are early members of the Advocacy Club and leaders of the Ottawa Bar. This 50 minute discussion deals with how and why they became partners, and how partnership has impacted their practices and careers. Listen to the podcast at: soundcloud.com/john-hollander-257337649 |
Episode 15 - Eugene Meehan Q.C. on factum writing
Eugene Meehan Q.C. is the founding partner of Supreme Advocacy LLP, a boutique law firm focusing on Supreme Court of Canada advocacy and agency; Court of Appeal factums; and complex legal opinions.
Listen to the podcast at: soundcloud.com/john-hollander-257337649 |
Episode 16 - Jaye Hooper on starting a law firm
Jaye Hooper recently created Hooper Litigation, a civil litigation boutique in Westboro, near Ottawa's downtown. She discusses lessons learned from this process.
Listen to the podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/john-hollander-257337649/starting-a-law-firm |
EPISODE 17 - Beverley Johnston & Adrienne Curran ON maternity leave
Beverley Johnston and Adrienne Curran founded Johnston Family Law, a boutique in Westboro, near Ottawa's downtown. Adrienne is just back from maternity leave. Together, they discuss lessons learned.
Listen to the podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/john-hollander-257337649/maternity-leave |
EPISODE 18 - Peter Cronyn & Frances Shapiro Munn Discuss Class Actions
Peter Cronyn and Frances Shapiro Munn have undertaken tort class actions at Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP. In this podcast, they discuss how they started this endeavour, some of the class management issues presented in the unusual class action against Ottawa fertility specialist, Dr. Norman Barwin, and lessons learned for junior lawyers considering a career in class actions practice.
Listen to the podcast here. Nelligan O'Brien Payne Contact Information |
EPISODE 19 - Trina Fraser & Mario Torres Discuss creating a new practice group within a firm
Trina Fraser and Mario Torres discuss the creation of a new practice group, Canna Law, within the framework of an established law firm, Brazeau Seller LLP.
Brazeau Seller Law Contact Information Listen to the podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/john-hollander-257337649/setting-up-a-new-practice-group-in-a-firm |
EPISODE 20 - KATIE BLACK AND THE SYRIAN REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP PROJECT
Katie Black was distressed to see the photo of the Syrian child washed up dead, abandoned on the beach. So she did something about it. She determined the need - assistance for families in their application to sponsor refugees to come to Canada. She determined the solution - a cadre of lawyers to translate legal complexity into language the families could understand. She created the organization - of trainers, of lawyers, of IT support, of facilities. All from scratch. All without a budget.
This emotionally charged interview kick off the Great Canadians Interview Series. Katie distills her experiences into lessons that we can all apply to our lives. Lessons of leadership. Listen to the podcast here. Katie's Contact Information |
EPISODE 21 - AVESTA ALANI AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT HAND LIFE DEALS YOU

Avesta Alani is a Great, albeit young, Canadian. Legally blind, Avesta has already accomplished great things in University (uOttawa) and in Law School (Osgoode Hall at York). She is author of a soon-to-be-published book (Diffability - Friesen Press, October 2018). She is both a graduate and booster of CNIB programs. Avesta discusses the merits of community involvement and the mutual benefits that accrue to donor and donee.
Listen to the podcast here.
Avesta's Contact Information
Listen to the podcast here.
Avesta's Contact Information
EPISODE 22 - DEAN ADAM DODEK AND THE ISSUES FACING THE MODERN LAW SCHOOL

Dean Adam Dodek, newly appointed head of University of Ottawa Law School, has a vision of law school as a centre of lifelong learning for lawyers. He is mindful of the disconnect between recent law school graduates looking for meaningful employment and a population that lacks access to lawyers and justice. In this interview, Dean Dodek presents his vision of the role that law school can play to remedy this.
Listen to the podcast here.
Dean Dodek's Contact Information
Listen to the podcast here.
Dean Dodek's Contact Information
EPISODE 23 - RETIRED SCC JUSTICE TOM CROMWELL AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVES

Tom Cromwell retired from the SCC in fall 2016, after a long and distinguished career as a lawyer, an academic and as appellate judge in both Nova Scotia and the Supreme Court of Canada. At the Chief Justice's request, Tom has continued to lead the national Access to Justice Initiative with the mandate to implement real change. In this interview, Tom describes his career and discusses choices that face modern law students and junior lawyers. He then presents his vision for improved access to justice for all Canadians and what he is doing about it. Listen to the podcast here.
Tom Cromwell's Contact Information
Tom Cromwell's Contact Information
EPISODE 24 - Carissima Mathen Brings Constitutional Law to Life
Carissima Mathen has become a trusted explainer of Canada's complex constitutional issues to the Canadian public. She has mastered the art of tweeting in real time to bring the incomprehensible to the living rooms of the nation. In this podcast, Carissima explains how significant inter-jurisdictional disputes matter to the common person. And it's not just trucking beer across provincial boundaries!
Listen to the podcast here. Carissima Mathen's Contact Information |
EPISODE 25 - EMILIE TAMAN DISCUSSES WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Emilie Taman walks the talk. Unhappy with formation of criminal law policy while serving as a public prosecutor (federal), Emilie left the safety of the civil service and ran for office as an NDP candidate in a Liberal riding with a popular sitting MP. And then sued her former employer for denying her request for a leave of absence. Mixing litigation, community service and a busy family life with a litigator spouse and three active children, Emilie would either find a work-life balance or explode. Listen to Emilie recount her story and offer advice to young lawyers who want to "have it all".
Listen to the podcast here. Emilie Taman's Contact Information |
EPISODE 26 - FORMER ATTORNEY-GENERAL YASIR NAQVI AND THE MERITS OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Yasir Naqvi came to Canada with his family escaping political repression in Pakistan. The child and brother of a family of lawyers, Yasir joined the Liberal Party as one of his first acts as a new Canadian immigrant. He leveraged political involvvement into a career that reached its peak (so far) as Ontario's Attorney-General still in his early 40's. Listen to what he has to say about mentorship, work-life balance, and lessons learned that would help young lawyers make career decisions.
Listen to the podcast here.
Yasir Naqvi's Contact Information
Listen to the podcast here.
Yasir Naqvi's Contact Information
Episode 27 - Christophe Bondy Explains International Law as a Career
Christophe Bondy has the career many junior Canadian litigators can only dream of. He negotiates international trade agreements. He conducts investor vs. state arbitrations, representing investors and nation-states. He juniored in Toronto for Torys, worked in Paris, returned to Ottawa as senior counsel in the NAFTA Trade Law Bureau within Foreign (now Global) Affairs, and currently works in London (UK) - all in his chosen field of public international law. In this interview, Christophe discusses what it means to practice public international law as a civil litigator. Along the way, he gives great tips on how to deal with journalists and how to focus your career goals on interests rather than what is trendy today.
Listen to the podcast here. Christophe Bondy's Contact Information |
Episode 34 - Jaye Hooper's "New" Firm after Five Years. What's changed?
Jaye Hooper has practiced in Ottawa since her call to the bar in 2001. Although most cases settle, Jaye has extensive trial experience as well as dozens of appearances on motions and appeals. Her most recent successes include defeating an aggressive motion to encroach a $33 million property as well as an employment trial involving a disgruntled employee claiming to be a partner and seeking profits of the business. Jaye has appeared before all levels of court including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
Jaye described the creation of her new firm in Episode 16 (see above). Listen to the new podcast here Jaye Hooper's Contact Information |