FOX IP MOOT
Future bright lights of the intellectual property bar now have a place to hone their skills as students thanks to the country’s first-ever IP moot, the Harold G. Fox Moot.
The event was founded by Windsor Law Prof. Emir Mohammed and Prof. Mohamed Hashim, and sponsored by Toronto IP boutique firm Dimmock Stratton LLP. Mohammed and Dimmock Stratton partner Angela Furlanetto acted as co-chairs for the inaugural event.
Last month’s moot brought together eight teams of law students from the University of Western Ontario, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, McGill University, Windsor University of Windsor, University of Alberta, and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Judges attend from the Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal, Ontario Court of Appeal, Federal Court, and the Ontario Superior Court. Several lawyers also acted as panellists.
Western Law students Shane Gonsalves and Adriana Morrison took top honours at the moot. Adrian Howard of the University of Ottawa took best oralist honours, while Tavengwa Runyowa and Matthew Paik of the University of Ottawa receive the award for best factum.
The moot is named after Fox, who was one of Canada’s top intellectual property scholars and advocates.
GOWLINGS HOSTS CHINESE DELEGATION
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP recently hosted 20 judges from China’s Liaoning province as part of a week-long educational experience on the adjudication of civil disputes in Canada’s litigation system.
“Gowlings is delighted to host the judges’ delegation and comments Prof. Sam Chiu of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and the Canada China Business Council for organizing a program of study in Canada for the Chinese judges,” said Martin Cauchon, national leader of Gowlings’ China group, in a release.
“We are honoured to have the opportunity to meet these distinguished senior judges and to discuss the current state of and future trends in Canadian litigation.”
The evening event with Gowlings featured an address from former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry, who now acts as a member of Gowlings’ advocacy practice.
The Rotman School hosted the week-long program, which included lectures on how Canadian courts deal with disputes relating to labour and employment law, family law, contract law, and medical malpractice.
LSUC CELEBRATES WOMEN’S DAY
The Law Society of Upper Canada has recruited a high-profile cast of legal experts to ponder the contributions of women judges to legal decision-making, legal culture, and the administration of justice.
“The topic was inspired by the dramatic increase in the number of women in all areas of the legal profession in recent years, including the judiciary,” read an LSUC release. “There has been much debate, commentary, and academic writing about the influence of gender on judicial decision- making.”
The March 2 public forum is co-hosted by the LSUC, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, the Feminist Legal Analysis Ssection of the Ontario Bar Association, the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund. It is part of the law society’s public education series.
Panel members include Osgoode Hall Law School Prof. Jamie Cameron, lawyer Mary Anne Eberts, Osgoode Hall Law School associate professor Sonia Lawrence, and Justice Micheline Rawlins of the Ontario Court of Justice. Justice Geraldine Sparrow of the Ontario Court of Justice will act as chairwoman and moderator of the panel discussion.
A reception will be held following the forum to honour female LSUC benchers who have been appointed to the judiciary. Superior Court Justice Helen MacLeod-Beliveau will deliver a keynote address at the reception.
NEW JUDGE APPOINTED
Criminal law specialist John Skowronski is the latest addition to the bench of the Ontario Court of Justice.
“The appointment of Justice Skowronski will increase access to justice and help our justice system work more effectively and efficiently,” said Attorney General Chris Bentley, in a release.
“I am confident that Justice Skowronski’s broad range of legal experience will enable him to make significant contributions to the Ontario Court of Justice.”
The new judge was called to the bar in 1986, and as an assistant Crown attorney in London since 1992, he prosecuted cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court, and supervised the bail program for two years.
