Brenda Hollingsworth
Biography
Brenda is an owner of Auger Hollingsworth Professional Corporation, a firm focussed on personal injury law in Ontario.
Mohsen Seddigh
Biography
Mohsen Seddigh is a Partner at Sotos LLP, where he focuses on complex litigation and class actions in areas such as constitutional rights, consumer protection, and competition law. His belief in access to justice, corporate responsibility, and the rule of law drives both his practice and his leadership. He has acted in various capacities: Treasurer of the OBA, Secretary of the Board and Council, a longstanding Trustee of the OBA Foundation, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Chair of the Class Actions Section, a member of the Supreme Court of Canada Liaison Committee, a member of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s Equity Committee, amongst others. Mohsen also teaches law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, mentoring the next generation of lawyers.
Antoine L Collins
Biography
Antoine L. Collins: Called to the Bar in Maryland in 2002 and Ontario in 2011, Antoine’s career is distinguished by a steadfast commitment to justice, community service, and the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion. As a lawyer, artist and community leader, he has seamlessly integrated his passion for community service into his professional endeavors, having a profound impact on both the legal profession and the broader social and cultural landscape of Ontario. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, he is the 2025 recipient of the Law Society of Ontario’s Lincoln Alexander Award, honouring his tireless advocacy and leadership across the province’s legal and community sectors. Antoine began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney in Baltimore, Maryland. There he cultivated a deep understanding of legal and social issues that would shape his career. In this role, he prosecuted a wide range of cases ranging from minor thefts to serious felony matters such as child abuse and domestic violence, while collaborating closely with law enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Services, and other service care providers. Today, Antoine’s leadership is exemplified through his current role as a Member (Adjudicator) with the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). In this capacity, he delivers fair, well-reasoned, and efficient decisions on refugee protection claims in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Beyond his adjudicative work, Antoine has been a driving force behind initiatives that strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the IRB. His efforts have led to improved hiring practices and expanded opportunities across the division. Additionally, his mentorship of new members, co-founding the IRB’s Black Employees Network and being appointed the IRB’s Champion for Black Employees further illustrates his proactive approach to addressing systemic issues and inspiring BIPOC individuals to pursue their career ambitions. As immediate Past President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, Antoine has mentored countless students and young legal professionals, demonstrating the transformative power of sharing knowledge and experience. His leadership in establishing CABL’s 2SLGBTQIA+ mentorship program and publishing the first book on Canada’s Black judges underscores his dedication to diversity equity and inclusion within the profession. He remains actively involved in the legal community through his work with numerous law associations. Antoine’s commitment to community is also reflected in his involvement with organizations like OrKidstra and the Ottawa Arts Council. During the pandemic, he played a crucial role in helping OAC secure critical sponsorships for their Emerging IBPOC Artist Award. As a jazz singer, his passion for the arts encourages collaborations with organizations like the National Film Board of Canada and the Inside Out Film Festival to promote diversity in the arts. His career stands as a testament to the transformative power of leadership grounded in compassion, integrity, and community engagement. Whether in the hearing room, recording studio, or concert hall, Antoine radiates positive energy through his personality, style, and unwavering support for a more enlightened and inclusive community.
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 the current Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Criminal Justice Section, and Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Criminal Justice Section. She presently sits on the OBA Board of Directors & OBA Council as the Secretary. 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.
Paul Lomic
Biography
Paul Lomic is an intellectual property and litigation lawyer at Lomic Law. Paul's practice is focused on resolving intellectual property and commercial disputes, including matters involving patents, trademarks, copyright, social media/internet and confidential information. As a registered trademark agent, Paul conducts opposition and cancellation proceedings and assists his clients with managing and protecting their trademark portfolios.
Paul serves as a Council member for the Ontario Bar Association and is a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). Paul is a frequent contributor to legal education seminars and legal publications. Social Media and Internet Law - Forms and Precedents published by LexisNexis is Paul's first book. More information about the book can be found at http://tinyurl.com/k4vpwbn
Selected litigation experience:
• Lefebvre v. Pow, [2014] F.C.J. No. 613: Successfully defended an appeal in the Federal Court
• 1734983 Ontario Inc. et al. v. Tortoise Restaurant Group Inc., [2013] O.J. No. 2692: Franchising law – successfully opposed a motion to separate a counterclaim.
• Plant Products v. Greenstar Plant Products, 2011 TMOB 220: Opposed a trade-mark application that resulted in protecting the wares covered by the client’s products.
• Destiny Software Productions, Inc. v. Musicrypt Inc., 2011 ONSC 470: Opposed a summary judgment motion to dismiss a counterclaim in its entirety preserving the client’s key causes of action.
• Kiss My Face Corporation v. LaPointe Rosenstein LLP, 2011 FC 150 (T-478-10): Represented a client in a section 45 appeal that reinstated the client’s trade-mark.
• J2 Global Communications and Catch Curve v. Protus, 2010 FC 572: Successfully defended against an appeal with costs awarded to the client.
• Belzberg v. Commissioner of Patents, 2009 FC 657 (T-248-08): Represented a client in a judicial review that forced the Commissioner of Patents to award a patent to the client. The client was awarded costs (co-counsel).
Articles and Papers
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Court balances privacy rights and copyright enforcement” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), May 2014, Volume 33, No. 2
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Federal Court awards $10.5 million for copyright infringment” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), April 2014, Volume 33, No. 1
• Tiffany Soucy, Kiran Bains and Paul Lomic, “Canada introduces bill to combat counterfeiting” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), June 2013, Volume 32, No. 3
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Supreme Court clarifies sufficiency of disclosure” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), January 2013, Volume 31, No. 10
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Sound trade-marks registrable in Canada” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), June 2012, Volume 31, No. 3
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Case Summary: Eurocopter v. Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limiteé, [2012] FC 113”, IPIC Bulletin, March/April 2012, Vo. 312, pp. 6-7
• Matthew Norwood and Paul Lomic, “New approach for summary judgment in Ontario courts” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), March 2012, Volume 30, No. 12
• Co-chair, Protecting Innovation in High-Tech Industries, Ontario Bar Assoiciation, Continuing legal education seminar, May 24, 2012
• Benjamin Mak, Matthew Norwood, Robert Wilkes and Paul Lomic, "Business Methods" patentable: Amazon.com update, Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), February 2012, Volume 30, No. 11
• Jennifer Sander and Paul Lomic, “Appeal on lack of sound prediction succeeds” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), December 2011, Volume 30, No. 9
• Paul Tackaberry and Paul Lomic, “Supreme Court clarifies ‘likelihood of confusion’ test” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), August 2011, Volume 30, No. 5
• Joanna Pitkin and Paul Lomic, “Canadian court denies stay despite concurrent U.S. action” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), July 2011, Volume 30, No. 4
• Benjamin E. Mak and Paul V. Lomic, “Business Methods can be patented” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), December 2010, Volume 29, No. 9
• Paul V. Lomic and J. Douglas Wilson “Court finds online music previews are fair dealing” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), July 2010, Volume 29, No. 4
• Paul V. Lomic and J. Douglas Wilson “Federal Courts improving litigation process” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), August 2009, Volume 28, No. 5
• Mala Joshi, Paul Lomic and Dylan White “Overview of Intellectual Property”, Written Materials for Ontario Bar Association (Continuing Legal Education - Seminar) “Intellectual Property Issues in a Non-IP Context”, May 4, 2009
• Paul V. Lomic “Federal Court initiatives streamline adversarial process” The Lawyers Weekly (a LexisNexis Publication), January 30, 2009
• Paul V. Lomic and J. Douglas Wilson “Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upholds selection patents” Legal Alert (a Carswell Publication), January 2009, Volume 27, No. 10
Presentations
• Co-chair, Divine Discoveries: Building a Great Case, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, March 7, 2014
• Speaker, “An Overview of the Judicial Review Process”, Your First Judicial Review ,Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, May 7, 2013
• Co-chair, Your First Civil Trial, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, March 8, 2013
• Co-chair, Protecting Innovation in High-Tech Industries, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, May 24, 2012
• Faculty, Essential IP Elements and Concepts, Osgoode Professional Development, Negotiating and Drafting IT Agreements, February 7, 2012
• Co-chair, Divine Discoveries: Building a Great Case, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, April 19, 2012
• Co-chair, Your First Civil Trial, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, March 9, 2012
• Co-chair, Dialogue with the Bench and Bar: Tools and Tactics to Improve Your Advocacy Skills, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, October 4, 2011
• Co-chair, Dialogue with the Bench and Bar: Tools and Tactics to Improve Your Advocacy Skills, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, September 29, 2009
• Co-chair, Intellectual Property Issues in a Non-IP Context, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, May 4, 2009
• Co-chair, More Than Simply Inserting an ® Symbol, Ontario Bar Association, Continuing legal education seminar, May 10, 2007
Katherine DiTomaso
Biography
Katie Di Tomaso is a knowledgeable and trusted civil litigator at Stieber Berlach LLP with over 20 years of practical experience acting for insurers, businesses, governments, public entities such as children's aid societies, and individuals in defending complex tort litigation matters. In 2024, Katie was awarded the prestigious Ontario Bar Association’s Joel Kuchar Award for Professionalism and Civility for consistently demonstrating an exemplary commitment to the ideals of professionalism and civility in the practice of law. Katie has appeared as lead counsel at the Ontario Court of Appeal, Superior Court of Justice, Federal Court of Canada, Small Claims Court, Human Rights Tribunal, and various Tribunals governing self-regulated health care professionals. Katie is known for her outstanding client service, keen problem solving abilities, sound judgment, and utilizing technology within her practice. Katie is an active listener, an articulate communicator, and a persuasive lawyer who aids her clients in making decisions and managing conflict with integrity. Clients retain Katie for her skillful application of civil litigation tools to provide solutions and resolve their issues. Graduating from University of Toronto (with High Distinction) and Western University Faculty of Law, Katie possesses a strong commitment to academic and intellectual excellence and has received numerous scholarships and awards including a Governor General’s Medal for academic excellence, Silver Medalist from University of Toronto, Cressy Leadership Award, Bereskin & Parr LLP Prize for Intellectual Property Law, and the CBIA’s Wilcox Award for national excellence in Insurance Law. Katie has demonstrated a commitment to legal writing on civil litigation issues and has recently published chapters contained within civil litigation publications including Annual Review of Civil Litigation (Carswell: 2018), Civil Procedure and Practice in Ontario (CanLII: 2021-2024) and The Advocates' Quarterly (Thomson Reuters: 2024). Katie gives back to her legal community and community at large as the OBA Insurance Law Section Past Chair, CBA Insurance Law Section Secretary, Tort Law Moot Competition Co-chair, lecturer, mentor, moot judge, published author, and Board Member for a children’s not-for-profit where she has acted as a significant fundraiser and advocate. In 2022, Katie was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Award recognizing her civic contributions.
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.
Alison G. Southern
Biography
Alison is a family lawyer based in Ottawa, offering services throughout Ontario in all aspects of family law, including separations/divorces, adoptions, and reproductive law.
