Legal Career & Intersectional Identities Panel

[événement seulement en anglais] OUTLaw and the Faculty of Law Career and Professional Development Centre will be hosting Nikki Gershbain, Lucas Kilravey, Samantha Peters, and Paul Saguil for a panel discussion on intersectionality in the legal field. The discussion will be moderated by OUTLaw VP Communications, Michelle Liu.

Panelists

Nikki Gershbain / Chief Inclusion Officer, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

A recognized leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives and pro bono programming, Nikki’s role, combining equity and social responsibility into one portfolio, is a first of its kind for the Canadian legal industry. A sought-after expert on topics related to social justice and diversity, Nikki regularly speaks at professional conferences and has delivered dozens of presentations, workshops and keynote speeches nationally and internationally. Her reputation for excellence includes numerous nominations as a top legal “Changemaker” by Canadian Lawyer. Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, Nikki was the National Director of Pro Bono Students Canada. Under her leadership, PBSC earned numerous awards and accolades and became a Canadian leader in experiential learning in legal education, and the delivery of pro bono services to low-income individuals and non-profit organizations.

Lucas Kilravey / Associate, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Lucas is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario bar in 2019. He is passionate about practicing law related to commercial real estate, land planning, emerging technologies and public law. Lucas is dedicated to building a more diverse and inclusive legal profession and is actively engaged with lawyers, associations and firms to make the case for the diversity dividend. Lucas is also engaged in the community and in efforts to improve access to justice in Canada. He works closely with the Osgoode Hall chapter of Pro Bono Students Canada and is an engaged alumnus of the Community & Legal Aid Services Program. Outside the law, Lucas is an active supporter and member of the Royal Ontario Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Fall for Dance North festival.

Samantha Peters / Black Legal Mentor-in-Residence, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa

Samantha Peters (she/her) is a cis-gender Black queer femme-identified lawyer and educator, whose work focuses on labour, employment and human rights law.  Samantha is the Black Legal Mentor-in-Residence/Mentor Juridique pour la Communauté Noire at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.  She is also a feminist legal researcher, the National Vice-President of Equity and Anti-Oppression at the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers’ and a member of the City of Toronto’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Council Advisory Body where she provides advice to City staff and City Council on identified priority issues to support the elimination of barriers and inequities experienced by LGBTQ2S+ communities in accessing City of Toronto programs and services. "If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive." — Audre Lorde.

Paul Saguil / Deputy Head of Global Sanctions Compliance and Anti-Bribery, TD Bank

Paul Jonathan Saguil is Deputy Head of TD Bank Group's Sanctions Compliance and Anti-Bribery / Anti-Corruption Program as part of the Global Anti-Money Laundering Department. He was formerly an Associate Vice President overseeing key governance functions for the AML advisory team supporting the Canadian Banking and Digital Channels lines of business and worked closely with other risk management partners to advance TD’s innovation agenda with his understanding of emerging technologies and applicable AML/ATF/sanctions requirements and controls. He previously practised as Senior Counsel in TD's Legal Department, managing complex litigation, disputes, and investigations involving TD's various businesses in Canada and internationally, and at Stockwoods LLP, litigating regulatory and professional discipline matters, appeals and applications for judicial review, class actions, and general civil and commercial disputes. He has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court, and various regulatory bodies. He received his Hons. B.A. (Philosophy) from York University in 2004 and LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007. Before being called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008, he served as a judicial clerk to the Honourable Justice Phelan of the Federal Court. He is a member of the Board for the Ontario Justice Education Network and the 519 Community Centre; past Chair of the Law Society of Ontario Equity Advisory Group and of the Board of Directors for Start Proud; and serves on the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee for the GTA.

Moderator

Michelle Liu / VP Communications, OUTLaw

Michelle is a law student, engineer (EIT), student governance leader, and community volunteer. Prior to law school, Michelle earned her undergraduate (Honours) and Master's degrees in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo and worked as a construction engineer. Michelle has dedicated much of her time in the last decade to volunteering and leadership activities. In 2019, she was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by City of Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky for her community contributions and was nominated as one of the Kitchener-Waterloo Women of the Year. Among many roles in the community, she is currently an elected board member of a Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) chapter, a stakeholder with the 30-by-30 Task Force jointly led by Engineers Canada and PEO, and an ambassador/mentor with the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering (WiE). On campus, she currently serves on the Board of Directors of the University of Ottawa Students' Union, as VP Communications of uOttawa OUTLaw, a member of the Common Law Student Society (AÉCLSS) Presidential Subcommittee, and more.

Image by Anne Sisson Runyan