Our Team
Director
Dr. Bassem Awad is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Area of Concentration in Intellectual Property, Information and Technology (IPIT) at the Faculty of Law. Bassem teaches courses on intellectual Property (IP) Law, International Protection of IP, and Law and Disruptive Technologies. He is also a Head Tutor and Professor at the Academy of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.
Prior to joining Western, Bassem was the Deputy Director of IP Law and Innovation at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and served for several years as a Judge and Head of Court at the Appeal Courts of Egypt and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Professor Awad has remarkable experience in intellectual property law, technology and innovation policies. He worked in both common and civil law systems and conducted research projects for international and regional organizations in Africa, Europe and Canada.
Student Directors
Adam Maunsell
Adam is in his third year of the JD program at Western law. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op) from McMaster University with a focus on Nuclear Engineering. His interest for intellectual property (IP) spawned from the opportunities throughout his undergraduate studies. Working in the evolving fields of satellites, nuclear reactors, machine learning and simulation systems, Adam gained an appreciation for human ingenuity. IP law is a field ripe with interesting problems and Adam welcomes the challenges.
Following his first year of law school, Adam worked as a summer student at one of Canada’s leading IP law boutiques, Ridout & Maybee LLP. Following his second year, Adam worked for Gowling WLG in Toronto. Outside the clinic, Adam is a student assistant for Western Law’s contracts course and captain of the Western Law intramural beach volleyball team. In his free time, Adam enjoys 3-D printing, escape rooms, board games, and live music.
Larissa Zhong
Larissa has just finished her second year of the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English literature and Certificate in Law from Queen’s University. This year, she further explored her interest in intellectual property law as a caseworker at WIPILC and a competitor in the Harold G. Fox Moot; this summer, she is excited to be returning to WIPILC and stepping into her role as VP External at the Western Journal of Legal Studies. Outside of law school, Larissa loves dogs, sitcoms, and day hikes.
Case Team Members
Abigail Liznick
Abby is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she earned her Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from McMaster University. She became interested in intellectual property when researching the efficacy of various breast cancer treatments as part of her undergraduate thesis. Currently, Abby is a co-president of the Western Animal Law Association and marketing manager for the Western Health Law Association. She has also competed in the BLG Client Consultation Competition, Harrison Pensa Contract Drafting Competition, and Legate Medical Malpractice Moot. Outside of school, Abby enjoys hiking, reading, and travelling. 
Mahika Ahluwalia
Mahika is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University and a Master of Bioethics degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Mahika became interested in intellectual property after completing various research projects in graduate school where she explored ethical implications in pharmaceutical and regulatory policy and patent work. Mahika has written several publications in the field of bioethics and law.
Mahika is an Associate Editor for the Canada-US Law Journal, and a part of the Western Intellectual Property Association. Mahika has served as a Program Manager at the Yale interdisciplinary Centre for Bioethics, where she continues to explore topics related to intellectual property and ethics. Outside of law school, Mahika enjoys cooking vegan meals, running, and making Spotify playlists!
Jonah Sedge
Jonah is entering his second year of the JD program at Western Law. He earned his Honours Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from York University. His interest in intellectual property came from a particularly interesting lecture in an undergraduate genetics course and was furthered by his experience working for biotech startups. Outside of law school, Jonah enjoys playing cards and watching movies.
Lauren Sheffield
Lauren is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University majoring in psychology, neuroscience and behaviour. Lauren’s interest in intellectual property law developed throughout her undergraduate studies, where she had the opportunity to work with various researchers and gained insight into the importance of protecting academic ownership. She is passionate about supporting innovation and promoting accessible ways for individuals to safeguard their creations. Outside of school, Lauren loves spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Arshdeep Thuhan
Arshdeep is entering her second year of the JD program at Western law. She obtained both her Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (cellular physiology) degrees from York University. Arshdeep developed an interest in intellectual property law after participating in pharmaceutical drug research during her graduate studies, which exposed her to the legal challenges faced by researchers. In her free time, she loves hiking with her dog and staying active.
Justin Stonkus
Justin is entering his second year of the JD program at Western Law. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, Justin holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. His interest in intellectual property developed during his undergraduate studies writing a paper on regulatory approaches to nefarious deepfake technology.
During his first year of law school, Justin worked as a Caseworker for the Western Business Law Clinic, participated in several moot court competitions, and was a member of the Western Varsity Baseball team. Outside of law school, Justin enjoys long-distance running, golfing, and mountain unicycling.
