2024 News
Living her values: Katie DiTomaso ’03 earns OBA award for professionalism and civility
July 26, 2024 - For civil litigator Katie DiTomaso, LL.B. ‘03, law offers a rewarding and enriching outlet for a lifelong passion for service. In June, her exemplary service to clients, peers, students and the legal community was recognized by the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) with the 2024 Joel Kuchar Award for Professionalism and Civility.
Read more...Expert Insight: Forced Marriage in the Al Hassan Trial Judgment
July 24, 2024 - In a blog post for OpinioJuris, Professor Valerie Oosterveld and co-authors Professors Melanie O'Brien and Kathleen Maloney provide an overview of the decision of the International Criminal Court in the Al Hassan case as it relates to forced marriage.
Read More...Tort law scholar Professor Maytal Gilboa joins Western Law
July 18, 2024 - Maytal Gilboa, PhD, will join Western Law as an associate professor in January 2025. Gilboa’s research expertise in the areas of tort law, tort theories, unjust enrichment and remedies are a complement to Western Law’s strength in private law theory.
Read more...Sask. faces uphill battle in carbon tax lawsuit with CRA, legal experts say
July 10, 2024 - Professor Rory Gillis was recently quoted in a CBC article regarding the carbon tax lawsuit initiated by the government of Saskatchewan against the CRA.
Read More...Schooling social media giants
July 05, 2024 - Professor Erika Chamberlain spoke to CBA National Magazine about the ongoing lawsuit by a group of Canadian school boards against major social media companies and the feasibility of success in court.
Read More...McCarney: Graduates must dare to "disturb the universe”
June 28, 2024 - On June 21, Western Law celebrated the class of 2024 and award recipients at the Convocation Awards Ceremony at RBC Place where graduates and their families enjoyed remarks from keynote speaker Rosemary McCarney and valedictorian Konner Fung-Kee-Fung.
Read more...Dean Chamberlain's parting top 10 list for 2023-2024
June 27, 2024 - As she concludes her term as Dean, Professor Erika Chamberlain reflects on the highlights of the past academic year at Western Law.
Read more...'Very narrow': Here's why 'hate crimes' are rarely charged and almost never prosecuted in Canada
June 19, 2024 - Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean, EDID, Sunil Gurmukh was quoted in a National Post opinion piece about what constitutes a hate crime in Canada.
Read More...JD valedictorian emphasizes importance of community, persistence
June 18, 2024 - Being elected as valedictorian is an honour Konner Fung-Kee-Fung (JD / MBA ’24) doesn’t take lightly as he’s keenly aware of the accomplishments of his fellow graduates. It’s the support of these peers and friends, along with the accessibility of faculty members and alumni, that has been the defining feature of his time at Western. In this Q&A, Fung-Kee-Fung reflects on the past three years, eyes the future and offers advice to the next generation.
Read more...Paul Hansen (PhD '24) earns fourth Western degree at 77
June 10, 2024 - When Paul Hansen crosses the stage at his convocation ceremony on June 21, he’ll be receiving his fourth Western degree, and the toughest one yet – a doctorate in law. He also carries another distinction: At 77, Hansen is the oldest of more than 8,500 Western students graduating this spring.
Read More...Professor Claire Houston recognized for teaching excellence
June 04, 2024 - For exemplary dedication to student development, Houston was named the recipient of Western Law’s 2024 Award for Teaching Excellence.
Read more...Marlene McGrath (LLB’86) elected vice-chair of Western's Board of Governors
June 03, 2024 - Marlene McGrath (LLB’86) has been elected as vice-chair of Western's Board of Governors. She first joined the board in 2022. McGrath is a former senior vice-president of human resources for 3M Company. She is a dedicated community volunteer with past board experience leading several local charities and corporations and was honoured as a YMCA Woman of Excellence.
Read More...Western Law faculty, students advocate for accessible air travel
May 30, 2024 - Western Law’s visiting research professor of disability rights David Lepofsky was invited to appear at a recent hearing of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Five law students from an upper-year public law course joined him on the trip to Ottawa to experience the legislative process in action and help champion air travel accessibility.
Read More...Q&A: Lawyers, judges and law professors share personal struggles with mental health
May 22, 2024 - Professor Thomas Telfer spoke to CBC London about his new co-edited book "The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession" and discussed the current state of mental health in the legal profession.
Read More...The problem becomes the path
May 08, 2024 - In this article from the 2023 edition of the Western Law Alumni Magazine, Professor David Sandomierski shares how he aims to maximize the potential of legal education through his research.
Read more...Professor Telfer extends mental health advocacy with release of “The Right Not to Remain Silent”
April 30, 2024 - As a co-editor (with Beth Beattie and Carole Dagher) and contributing author for The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession, published April 30, 2024, Professor Thomas Telfer continues his advocacy on the need to reform attitudes toward mental health. With candid essays from members of the legal profession living with mental health and addiction issues, the book provides encouragement while challenging how mental health is perceived in law and beyond.
Read more...Celebrating a season of student advocacy excellence
April 18, 2024 - During the 2024 winter term, Western Law students made a strong showing at over 15 for-credit and extra-curricular advocacy competitions. We’re pleased to share a roundup of performance highlights from the 2024 winter term moot season.
Read more...Expert insight: As Space Exploration Takes Off, Governance Struggles for Lift
April 16, 2024 - In this article for the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Professor Valerie Oosterveld discusses the current limitations of existing international space law on whether, when and how space resources can and should be extracted.
Read More...Western Law launches 2024-2029 Strategic Plan
April 15, 2024 - Our society frames some of its most pressing issues – whether climate change, international conflict, the pursuit of equality, or the misconduct of public officials and corporate actors – through the lens of litigation, rights, and legal accountability. As we grapple with a broad spectrum of global challenges, the need for highly educated lawyers has never been greater. Western Law is pleased to launch our 2024 - 2029 Strategic Plan, which rises to meet this moment of disruption – in our society, in our profession, and in higher education.
Read more...Expert insight: Flair Airlines cuts over 600 flights as it faces multimillion-dollar financial woes
April 12, 2024 - Professor Alfonso Noscilla, an expert in corporate insolvency, contracts, and commercial law, was featured in a recent Globe and Mail article regarding Flair Airlines' troubled financial situation. He provided insights on the process of companies and creditors registering their interests in properties.
Read More...Professor John Borrows highlights lessons from Anishinaabe law and constitutionalism at Coxford lecture
April 12, 2024 - At the 2024 Coxford Lecture on March 11, Professor John Borrows, the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto, explored the broad array of forces, including the air, water, fire, rocks, plants, insects, fish, birds, and animals, that are at the heart of Anishinaabe law and constitutionalism. In his lecture titled Indigenous Law & the More-than-Human World, Professor Borrows highlighted how engagement with Anishinaabe law – and Indigenous legal systems more broadly – can reveal potential gaps and shortcomings in Canadian law and constitutionalism.
Read more...Toxic Tour of Chemical Valley illustrates the impact of environmental injustice on Indigenous and working-class communities
April 03, 2024 - Professor Wade Wright brought his Current Issues in Public Law students to experience a “Toxic Tour” of Chemical Valley and Aamjiwnaang First Nation, in order to bring to life the units in the course on the Environment, Climate Change and the Constitution of Canada, and on Indigenous Peoples and the Constitution of Canada. The tour, led by Aamjiwnaang community members, activists and siblings Vanessa and Beze Grey, enables participants to see firsthand the impacts of environmental pollution on their community at the hands of over 60 high-emitting chemical and oil refineries.
Read more...Students and faculty explore the interconnectedness of food systems at seventh Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference
April 02, 2024 - Last semester, Jacob Van Boekel joined Professor Nadia Lambek and fellow students Noah Brennen (3L), Anthony Crudo (2L) and Darinka Tomic (PhD ’22) to attend the seventh Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Van Boekel was selected to present his paper from Lambek’s Food Law course, titled “Putting Down Roots: Assessing New Entrant Programs for Dairy and Broiler Farmers in Ontario,” which earned him the Gowling WLG - Joel Taller Prize for Emerging Voices in Food Law. Brennen and Tomic were also selected to speak at the conference, while Crudo joined Van Boekel and Lambek on the organizing committee.
Read more...Breaking the Mould: Kristina Milbourn leads by example as Head of Litigation at Rogers Communications
March 28, 2024 - The article from the 2023 edition of the Western Law Alumni Magazine shares how Kristina Milbourn (LL.B. '08) is leading by example through spearheading equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives and helping to lift and mentor BIPOC lawyers.
Read more...Western Law Co-hosts International Workshop on The Law of Nuisance 'From Victoria Park to the Tate Gallery'
March 27, 2024 - On February 23–24, 2024 Western Law’s Tort Law Research Group, in partnership with the University of the West Indies and the Université de Montréal, hosted an international workshop on the law of nuisance at UWI’s Cave Hill campus. The title of the workshop drew on two famous locations from the jurisprudence on nuisance: Victoria Park, a raceway in Australia, and Tate Gallery, a modern art museum in England.
Read more...Shauna Van Praagh encourages a re-reading of Palsgraf
March 25, 2024 - Professor Shauna Van Praagh delivered the Tort Law Research Group’s second Public Lecture of the 2023-2024 academic year on Tuesday, February 13, 2023. In her talk, “Read it Again: Palsgraf as Guide for the Perplexed,” Professor Van Praagh encouraged the audience of students, faculty, and members of the bar to reread the famous 1928 New York Court of Appeals case in an integrated and transsystemic way.
Read more...An Announcement from Dean Erika Chamberlain
March 20, 2024 - After seven years as Dean of Western Law, Professor Erika Chamberlain has announced her resignation as of June 2024. The University will begin the formal search process for a new Dean in the coming weeks Professor Andrew Botterell, who currently serves as Associate Dean (Academic), will be the Acting Dean for one year beginning July 1.
Read more...Osler, Hoskin, and Harcourt LLP honour Dale Ponder (LL.B. ’80) with scholarship and award
March 13, 2024 - Long-standing supporters of Western Law, Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, have generously recommitted to enhancing student financial aid opportunities with a $100,000 donation for a new scholarship and award in honour of Dale Ponder (LL.B. ’80).
Read more...Chief Justice Tulloch and Yola Grant share reflections from their journeys through the justice system in honour of Black History Month
March 13, 2024 - Western Law and the Western Law Chapter of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada were honoured to welcome Chief Justice of Ontario Michael Tulloch and Yola Grant, former Associate Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) to campus on March 4 to celebrate the culmination of Black History Month.
Read more...Western Intellectual Property and Innovation Legal Clinic supports researchers and early-stage businesses to navigate the innovation ecosystem
March 05, 2024 - With the acceleration of technology and the increasing number of Canadians embracing entrepreneurship many researchers, inventors, and creators in southwestern Ontario are in search of affordable legal services to protect and scale-up their businesses. The Western Intellectual Property and Innovation Legal Clinic (WIPILC) was established in September 2021 as a specialized intellectual property (IP) clinic at Western Law to help respond to this growing demand.
Read more...Unbottling Success: Suzanne Dajczak (LL.B. '87) parlays disability practice into thriving vineyard
March 05, 2024 - In this article from the 2023 edition of the Western Law Alumni Magazine, Suzanne Dajczak (LL.B. '87) shares her professional journey building a disability practice and a thriving vineyard.
Read more...Expert insight: The Online Harms bill will not chill free speech
March 01, 2024 - Assistant dean and professor Sunil Gurmukh writes for the Toronto Star on the Online Harms bill's amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Read More...Expert Insight: Professor Andrew Botterell weighs in on Veltman’s sentence
February 26, 2024 - CTV’s London spoke with associate dean and professor Andrew Botterell, regarding the precedent setting terrorism conviction of Nathaniel Veltman.
Read More...Expert insight: Police chief in London, Ont., apologizes to complainant in hockey sex assault case
February 06, 2024 - Professor Melanie Randall, whose work focuses on women's autonomy rights and sexual violence against women, was quoted in a Canadian Press article regarding the world junior hockey sexual assault case and London Police chief's apology.
Read More...AthletesCAN, Western Law unveil new Sport Solution brand, relaunch legal Clinic’s blog
January 31, 2024 - AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, and the Faculty of Law at Western University, are proud to unveil a new brand for Sport Solution and relaunch the legal Clinic’s official blog on AthletesCAN.ca.
Read More...Expert insight: RCMP must follow up on race data from officers: scholar
January 19, 2024 - Assistant dean and professor, Sunil Gurmukh was quoted in a Law360 article about a new RCMP pilot project aimed at examining officers’ perceptions of race.
Read More...10 Questions with Ritu Bhasin (LL.B. ’00)
January 12, 2024 - Ritu Bhasin (LL.B. ’00) is an award-winning speaker, author, and expert in belonging, equity, leadership, and empowerment, and the CEO of bhasin consulting inc., a renowned diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consulting firm. In June 2023, she released her second book We’ve Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging. For the 2023 issue of the Western Law alumni magazine, we sat down with Bhasin who shared her expertise on all things belonging, equity, diversity, inclusion.
Read more...Ardyth Brott, LLB’93, named among Western community members earning top national, provincial and municipal honours
January 10, 2024 - Western Law graduate, Ardyth Brott, LLB’93, executive director of the Brott Festival, was named to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the Canadian orchestral community, and for her sustained support for youth involvement in music. Brott is in good company with thirteen other members of the Western community who were recognized for Canada's highest national, provincial and municipal honours in 2023.
Read More...Professor Oosterveld joins current cohort of Western Research Chairs
January 08, 2024 - Professor Valerie Oosterveld has been appointed as one of seven Western Strategic Focus Research Chairs. She will focus her research on International Criminal Justice during this five-year term.
Read More...
