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 Director
Savannah Mathieu
Savannah has just completed her second year of the JD program at Western Law and has been involved with WIPILC since starting law school. She is particularly interested in copyright, trademarks and brand protection, and enjoys exploring how creative industries like fashion, entertainment and video games intersect with IP. Prior to law school, Savannah earned her Honours Bachelor of Health Studies from York University and a diploma in Justice Administration Studies from Seneca College. Her work experience includes court reporting at the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys attending fitness classes, watching reality competition shows and spending time in the sunshine.
Summer Caseworkers
Armaan Ahmad
Armaan just completed his first year of the JD Program at Western Law. Prior to law school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto, double majoring in Peace, Conflict, and Justice, and Political Science. His interest in intellectual property was first sparked by exploring artist rights issues in the entertainment industry, and was further deepened through his first-year property law course. Outside of school, Armaan loves to travel, try new food places, and cheer on the Blue Jays.
Brittany Borg
Brittany is a first-year JD candidate at Western Law. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Guelph. Prior to law school, she spent five years working in policy research and development with the City of Mississauga. Her interest in intellectual property law developed during her first-year property law course with Professor Awad. In her free time, Brittany enjoys travelling, reading, playing tennis, and spending time with her dog.
Emma Gurevich
Emma is entering her second year of the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Health Studies from York University, where her academic and professional experiences fostered a strong interest in the intersection of health, innovation, and law. Her interest in intellectual property emerged through her work on AI diagnostic models designed for hospital use, where she became increasingly aware of the legal frameworks governing technological advancement in healthcare. In her free time, Emma enjoys travelling, cultivating plants, and exploring new coffee shops.
Jasnoor Arora
Jasnoor is in her first year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Real Estate Agent. Her interest in intellectual property emerged through her work in cybersecurity, where she became increasingly drawn to the legal questions surrounding data protection, emerging technologies, and the rights of innovators in an AI-driven economy. She holds the CompTIA Security+, CIPP/C certification and is currently pursuing the CISSP, and she is particularly interested in the intersection of IP, privacy, and cybersecurity law as Canadian companies navigate an increasingly regulated digital landscape. Outside of law school, Jasnoor enjoys horseback riding and spends much of her free time exploring new coffee shops around town!
Maayan Rotberg
Maayan is a first year JD student at Western law. Prior to law school, he earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, with a double major in the History & Philosophy of Science and Technology and in Book & Media studies. He then completed his MA at the University of Toronto, which was funded by the CGS-M award (SSHRC). His interest in IP emerged from his research experience in the history of technology, through which he developed a passion for examining the interaction between technological innovation and the law. Outside of law school, he enjoys playing musical instruments, solving crosswords, spending time in nature and reading.
Madison Pincombe
Madison just completed her first year in the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Film & Media from Queen’s University, and spent eight subsequent years working in Toronto’s media and entertainment industry. During the time she spent as a Bell Media employee, Madison gained prolonged, practical exposure to the diverse set of intellectual property issues artists and businesses in the media industry confront. There, she worked on Bell Media’s streaming services, collaborating directly with studios including HBO and Paramount to ensure contractual compliance and parity with copyright and distribution rights agreements. As she reviewed these contracts for channels like Crave and CTV, she became interested in the legal work behind their drafting and enforcement, which prompted her pivot to law. In her spare time, Madison enjoys singing in a community choir, skiing, and keeping up with the latest film and television releases.
Melvin Maroon
Melvin is in his first year of the JD program at Western Law. He obtained his Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Neuroscience from Western University. Melvin was initially intrigued by Intellectual Property and Patent Litigation when observing disputes over mRNA vaccinations at the culmination of the pandemic. More personally, creating novel touchscreen tasks for his preclinical work, Melvin began to ask how other scientists can legally replicate or utilize his experimental methodologies. This intersection between science, innovation and the law is the heart of Melvin’s drive in the legal field. In his spare time, Melvin enjoys reading fictional novels, playing the guitar, and playing tennis.
Nohadra Jeorje
Nohadra is a JD student at Western Law, where she recently completed her first year. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Translational and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa, where her research focused on 3D bioprinting. Her interest in intellectual property law arose through her research, where questions of protection and ownership emerged. Outside of law school, Nohadra enjoys travelling and trying new activities.
Tiana Kotsaftis
Tiana has completed her first year of the JD program at Western Law. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from Western University and a certificate in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University. She co-authored research on COVID-19 vaccine deployment across Africa, which sparked her interest in intellectual property law. Her interest in intellectual property is focused on health innovations and improving access to healthcare technology. Outside of law school, Tiana enjoys pilates, cooking new recipes, and going to cafes.
