Board of Directors' Role

President

Katy Commisso

Buset LLP

Website

1st Vice-President

Mariam Moktar she/her

Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP

Email
Website

2nd Vice-President

Brenda Hollingsworth she/her

Auger Hollingsworth Professional Corporation

Email
Website

Brenda Hollingsworth

Biography

Brenda is an owner of Auger Hollingsworth Professional Corporation, a firm focussed on personal injury law in Ontario.

Secretary (Board & Council)

Melanie J. Webb she/her

Webb Barristers

Email
Website

Melanie J. Webb

Biography

Melanie practices criminal law at the trial and appellate levels. She also represents clients on regulatory and disciplinary issues, as well as extradition matters. While primarily a criminal litigator, Melanie has also appeared before various tribunals and commissions including: the Ontario Securities Commission, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Toronto Police Service Tribunal, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, and the Licence Appeal Tribunal, as well as the Ontario Review Board. Melanie is Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Criminal Justice Section. She presently sits on the OBA Board of Directors & OBA Council as the Toronto Regional Director, and is also the incoming Vice-Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Criminal Justice Section. She has chaired several continuing professional development programs for the OBA & CBA, and has been an invited speaker at numerous professional and educational events. She is also a long-standing member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and Toronto Lawyers Association.

Treasurer

Mohsen Seddigh

Sotos LLP

Email
Website

Immediate Past President

Kathryn J. Manning

DMG Advocates LLP

Email

Chair of Professional Development

Mirilyn R Sharp

Sharp Legal

Email
Website

Mirilyn R Sharp

Biography

My bio as well as my Bencher platform can be found at https://bencherelection.lawtimesnews.com/article/mirilyn-sharp-13627/

Chair of Sections

Dante Alighieri Capannelli

Levitt LLP

Email

Northwest Region

Samuel Raymond Bachinski

CARREL + Partners LLP

Email
Website

Northeast Region

Lisa F. Barazzutti

Barazzutti Strybos Barristers & Solicitors

Email

Central West Region

Kavita V. Bhagat Certified Specialist Family Law

Ontario Family Law Solutions

Email
Website

Kavita V. Bhagat Certified Specialist Family Law

Biography

Kavita V. Bhagat C.S. Lawyer I Mediator I Arbitrator I Parenting Coordinator Kavita practices exclusively in the area of family law as pertains to mediating, negotiating, arbitrating and litigating residential arrangements, child and spousal support, property division and the preparation of domestic contracts. She is a Certified Specialist in Family Law, accredited Family Mediator, Arbitrator, Parenting Coordinator, trained Collaborative Professional and former Panel Lawyer for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. Kavita is a Coach and Advisor for the Law Society of Ontario. Mentor for Legal Aid Ontario and the NCA Network. She is a former Board Member of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario and past-President of the Peel Chapter of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. She is the Treasurer of Peel Mediation-Arbitration and sits on the board of Volunteer Mississauga Brampton Caledon. A regular presenter for the Ontario Justice Education Network, Catholic Cross-Cultural Services, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, and various Continuing Professional Development programs. She also Coaches the Certificate in Family Mediation Program at York University . She is committed to ensuring and facilitating access to justice, and to educating the public on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to broaden the ways in which individuals and families can achieve outcomes which are tailored to their needs and foster success.

East Region

Antoine L Collins he/him

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Email

Antoine L Collins

Biography

Antoine L. Collins has practiced law in the United States and Canada over the past 19 years. After graduating in 2002 from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, his career began as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Baltimore City’s States Attorney’s Office. There, he prosecuted cases ranging from minor theft to felony child abuse and domestic violence. Subsequently, Antoine joined one of Baltimore’s top law firms, defending Workers’ Compensation cases. After moving to Canada, he was called to the Ontario Bar in 2011, thereafter, he ran a progressive and dynamic solo transactional practice focusing on Wills and Estates and Real Estate law. He is currently a Coordinating Member (Adjudicator/Manager) with the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. As an Adjudicator, he is charged with making well-reasoned decisions of applicants claiming refugee protection in Canada. Additionally, Antoine is actively involved in the Ontario legal community. He sits as a Trustee for the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Foundation acting as Chair for the Foundations Chief Justice Fellowship in Legal Ethics and Professionalism Studies. Member of OBA's Professional Development Committee, past-Co-Chair of the OBA’s Institute, as well as past-member of the Governance and Past-Chair of the Equality Committees of the OBA. As President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) Antoine is committed to legal excellence and reinvesting in the community through a multitude of events that promote academic and professional excellence and the advancement of issues of equality and diversity among the bar and judiciary. He is a Trustee for the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA), and a volunteer for Pro Bono Ontario. Antoine also served as Adjunct Professor at Algonquin College, where he taught Evidence Law. Outside of his legal career, Antoine has an extensive musical theatre resume along with independently releasing two full length jazz albums. His 2015 debut LP, Somewhere Along The Way, was recorded in Tel Aviv, Israel and features soulful, R&B-inspired takes on traditional standards. His 2018 follow up album “Nature Boy, The Music of Nat King Cole”, celebrates the legacy of a global cultural icon who left an indelible mark on jazz and popular song. Recreational cycling also helps Antoine ensure a healthy work-life balance. Whether on the bike path, recording studio, concert hall, or advocating in the courtroom, Antoine exudes positive energy through his personality, style, warmth, and his continuing support for a more enlightened and inclusive community.

Central South Region

Pamela Krauss she/her

Morrison Reist Krauss LLP

Pamela Krauss

Biography

Pamela was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006 and has over 10 years of practice experience specializing in resolving and litigating employment law issues facing non-unionized workplaces for both employee and employer clients. She effectively negotiates employment and non-competition agreements, and advises and advocates regarding issues related to: severance packages, wrongful dismissals, constructive dismissals, workplace policies, employment standards, human rights compliance and claims, personal and psychological harassment and disabled employees. Though she is practical and resolution orientated, where a fair resolution is not available, Pamela is a formidable advocate with a proven track record of litigating difficult wrongful dismissal cases both at the trial level and appeal level for both employees and employers. Pamela has appeared before the Ontario Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Court of Appeal and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. She also handles Ministry of Labour complaints, Canadian Labour Board unjust dismissal claims, and Canadian Human Rights Commission applications. Pamela also brings to her practice experience in corporate tax law, commercial law, intellectual property law and information technology law. She enjoys partnering with entrepreneurs to strategically manage legal issues that arise with their employees and has become a trusted legal advisor to many small to midsize local businesses.

Central East Region

Julie A. Layne

Layne Family Law

Email

Southwest Region

Dawn M. Melville

Ballance & Melville

Email
Website