From Western Law to the WNBA: Aaron Barrett's Journey to the Toronto Tempo
February 23, 2026
Aaron Barrett (JD ’20) is the General Counsel of the Toronto Tempo, the first Canadian franchise in the WNBA. Early into the role, he is already reconnecting with Western Law. He recently reached out to find a summer intern for the Tempo’s inaugural season through the Western Law Internship Program. Even late in the matching process, Western made it work.
“Western has always been supportive,” says Aaron. “As a student, my professors were incredibly flexible in letting me pursue my passion.”
Building Something at the Intersection
That passion was sports law – where law meets business, entertainment, and competition. Aaron's professors encouraged him through independent research, directed studies, and papers in sports law.
Having benefited directly from the Western Law Internship Program as a student, Aaron knew the value of the experience to both the student and the hosting organization. Through the program, he spent summer 2018 at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in Colorado Springs, gaining international sports experience that now informs his daily work.
Aaron also worked for Western Law's Sport Solution Clinic, which was co-founded by Professor Richard McLaren, a member of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport and internationally recognized expert in sports law and arbitration. The Sport Solution Clinic reflects this same commitment to connecting legal education with the sports industry by providing students hands-on experience working directly with athletes and organizations.
After graduating in 2020, Aaron joined a full service law firm in Toronto, representing professional sports teams and leagues. But when the Tempo opportunity emerged, he took the leap.
"As the only lawyer, I manage all legal matters for the expansion WNBA franchise. From negotiating partnership contracts, to navigating the league’s complex regulatory framework, to providing guidance to the leadership team, I’m ecstatic to be part of an incredible group building the infrastructure for something that's never existed before."
Relationships That Come Full Circle
Aaron's path to Western Law didn't follow the typical script. When he was navigating unique circumstances as a prospective student, Assistant Dean Danielle Lacasse picked up the phone.
"Danielle took the time to really understand my situation and help me figure out my path forward," Aaron recalls. "The flexibility they showed at that time set the tone for the support they later showed me as a student."
Similarly, when Aaron reached out in search of a Western Law summer intern in February, Western's response reflected the same ethos that shaped his student experience: relationships matter, and community means showing up for each other.
"We didn't hesitate," says Dean Mohamed Khimji. "The fact that he thought to call us first says everything about the relationships we build here."
For Aaron, bringing a Western Law student to the Tempo isn't just about filling a role – it's about paying forward the support that made his career possible.
"Western gave me the space to explore my passion and the tools to build a career around it," he says. "If I can give a student that experience – and maybe take in some basketball games with them in our inaugural season – that's what this should be about."
From that first phone call with Western Law to becoming the General Counsel of a WNBA franchise, Aaron's path shows what happens when legal education is personal, entrepreneurial, and built on relationships. As the Toronto Tempo prepares for tip-off on May 8, 2026, Aaron is living proof that the path from Western Law to groundbreaking work doesn't have to be conventional – it just has to be supported.
