Ben Markusoff
Biography
Ben is a litigator at Beard Winter LLP. His practice focuses on employment and civil litigation. Ben represents both employers and employees in employment disputes. He is sought by employers to provide timely advice. He assists his clients to avoid employment disputes at the outset and ensure the employer is in a strong position if litigation is unavoidable. Employees seek Ben out because he provides practical advice tailored to the unique needs of his clients. Ben understands his role is not only to secure the best outcome for his clients, but also to help them navigate the challenges after dismissal. Ben has a particular interest in representing executives and employees who have been dismissed for cause. Ben also maintains a broad civil litigation practice assisting individuals, corporations, and other organizations with shareholder disputes, real estate and lease disputes, professional negligence claims, and a myriad of other matters. Ben has experience before all levels court in Ontario (including the Court of Appeal) and Alberta (including the Court of Appeal). He also has experience before administrative tribunals and private arbitrators. Ben is active in the legal community. He is the Vice-Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (Central) Executive. He also volunteers as a Team Lead for the Ottawa Pro Bono Employment Clinic and has participated in Pro Bono Students Canada’s Indigenous Human Rights Clinic for a number of years.
Airianna Y. Mapp
Biography
Airianna was raised in Waterloo Region and has always been heavily involved in her community. Graduating from the International Baccalaureate Program at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, in Kitchener. She then went Western University and received a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Political Science with minors in French, Sociology and Philosophy. She chose to broaden her horizons and applied to law schools in the United Kingdom. Airianna chose to attend City, University of London for the Graduate Entry LLB Accelerated program. Coming home following the completion of her law degree, she completed the National Accreditation Process and wrote the licensing exams, then entered the Law Practice Program via Toronto Metropolitan University and completed her law placement in corporate and commercial real estate. She is now an Associate Lawyer, practicing family law with McLeod Green Dewar LLP & Associates. For the 2026-2027 year she was elected as Secretary to the Young Lawyers Division of the Ontario Bar Association and part of the OBA's Family Law Section Executive. Airianna is passionate about supporting women of colour, visible minorities, youth and the 2SLBGTQIA+ communities. The main focus of her practice is providing access to justice and empowering her clients through knowledge, empathy and rigorous advocacy.
Oksana Romanov
Biography
I am a criminal lawyer with work experience in prosecuting Criminal Code offences and defending individuals. I also served with distinction as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. I hold the Juris Doctor degree, with distinction, from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University. I have a Masters in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, where I studied as the recipient of the U.S. Fulbright Fellowship, one of the most prestigious academic scholarships for graduate students internationally.
Prateek Suman Awasthi
Biography
Prateek is an Associate in the firm’s Toronto office. He maintains a broad and diverse legal practice, advocating for federally and provincially regulated employers before courts, tribunals and arbitrators. Drawing on over a decade of global experience in advocacy, non-profit management and government-relations, Prateek advises employers to help them successfully navigate their most difficult and complex workplace issues. Prateek was an articling student with Mathews Dinsdale before returning as an Associate. After graduating from law school, he completed his Masters of Public Administration from Columbia University. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at the United Nations in New York, and with Engineers Without Borders Canada. Along with a working knowledge of French, he is also fluent in Spanish, Hindi and Marathi.
