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51st Annual Fall Conference

Date: November 17-18, 2023

Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto, ON

The 51st annual Criminal Lawyers’ Association Fall Conference will open for registration soon! The Annual Criminal Lawyers’ Association Fall Conference is Canada’s largest criminal law conference attracting more than 700 defence lawyers, judiciary, educators, reporters and other prominent guests from across Canada. Note, the Fall Conference is an in-person format only. Registrants are expected to attend in-person.

CPD Confirmed:

  • 1 hour of EDI
  • 1 hour 30 minutes of professionalism.
  • Substantive Hours: 7 hours and 50 minutes (if hours are not needed for EDI and/or professionalism they can be added to)

* Please note all Fall Conference registrants will be provided access to resources on the conference hub (access provided to registrants 48-hours before conference start date) that will provide registrants access to an additional 1 hour EDI. Details on one recorded session that will be made available provided in the agenda below.

Plus:  Approved for LAWPRO’s Risk Management Credit. Participants who attend the full two days of the program can claim the Risk Management Credit twice. Those attending for one full day can claim once ($50).

Agenda FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

8:40 to 9 a.m. Welcome by Daniel Brown, President, Criminal Lawyers’ Association

  • Featuring opening drummer performance by Walter Lindstone, Batchewana First Nation. The spirit name he carries is ‘K’okomis Shkawbaywis’, which translates to ‘Your Grandmother’s Helper’.

9 to 9:40 a.m. Criminal Law Refresher, Part 1: Recent Case Law on ss. 11(b), 10(b), and 24(2) of the Charter

9:40 to 10:20 a.m. Sexual Assault Law: The Interaction between mens rea and the defence of “Honest but Mistaken Belief in consent”

10:20 to 11 a.m. Legislative Changes following Ndhlovu: Update on SOIRA

11 to 11:30 a.m. BREAK

11:30 a.m. to 12 noon Justice Outside the Courtroom: Alternative Models of Justice for Sexual Harm. 

12 to 12:30 p.m. Sopinka Lecture featuring Donald Bayne, Bayne Sellar Ertel Macrae (Ottawa)

 

12:30 to 2 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

2 to 2:45 p.m. Jury Trials: Practical Tips and Recent Case Law Developments

2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Creative Third Party Records and JJ Applications

3:30 to 4 p.m. Impaired Driving: Recent Cases from the Supreme Court of Canada

4 to 5 p.m. Attacking the Qualifications of Experts

5 to 5:45 p.m. CLA Annual General Meeting

6 to 8 p.m. Cocktail Reception and 51st Anniversary Celebration

FEATURING:

Comedic Performances by:

Jarrett Campbell is the fastest rising talent in Canadian comedy. His work has been featured on MTV, Comedy Network, CTV, SiriusXM and his debut comedy album, ‘Straight White Fail’, was nominated for Comedy Album of the Year at the 2020 Junos. Recently he recorded his second television set on the Jim Jefferies Gala at Just for Laughs in Montreal, appeared on Jeff Ross’s Roast Battle at JFL, can currently been seen on season one of Roast Battle Canada on CraveTV, as well as CBC Gem’s New Wave of Standup and was featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. In 2019, Jarrett was nominated as the 2019 Breakout Artist of the Year at the Canadian Comedy Awards and as a writer he has previously been nominated for Best Writing in a Comedy Series.  From New York to Vancouver, Jarrett has been on stages all across North America and continues to tour regularly with Yuk Yuk’s. He has opened for the likes of Chris D’Elia, Theo Von, Andrew Schulz, Mark Normand, Andrew Santino, and many more.

With his unmistakable charm, Jeff Paul pushes the boundaries of comedy leaving no topics off limit. Jeff’s quick wit and unrestrained attitude often result in raw, embarrassing stories at his own expense.​ Jeff has opened for Louis CK, Gilbert Gottfried, and K.Trevor Wilson, is a Yuk Yuk’s regular, can be seen on Roast Battle Canada on CTV Comedy, and was selected for New Faces at JFL42 in Toronto. For 5 years he ran one of Toronto’s best weekly shows, Dope N’ Mic Comedy, at the famed Underground Comedy Club. It was also the first 420-friendly show in Just For Laughs history. In 2014 he founded the Icebreakers Comedy Festival in his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  His debut album “Delightfully Dark” is available through Comedy Records and on all streaming sites.

Musical performance by:

Victoria Yeh’s unique style….dynamic and progressive. Classically trained, Yeh combines the purity of her musical heritage with the edginess of progressive fusion. She lights up the stage with her infectious energy, her passion and her distinctive style, captivating audiences across Canada. Yeh performs both acoustically and with her brilliant red electric violin, appearing as both a solo artist and with various groups including her original band The Spirit Awakens and jazz fusion band Paul DeLong’s ONE WORD and Art Griffin’s Sound Chaser. No matter the setting, Yeh’s haunting, daring and electrifying sound presents the violin as it’s rarely seen. www.VictoriaYeh.com

  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023

8:50 to 9 a.m. Welcome by Meaghan McMahon

Featuring opening drummer performance by Walter Lindstone, Batchewana First Nation. The spirit name he carries is ‘K’okomis Shkawbaywis’, which translates to ‘Your Grandmother’s Helper’.

9 to 9:30 a.m. Overcoming Challenges in Credibility Cases

9:30 to 10:15 a.m.  Top 5 Cases at the OCJ, ONCA, and SCC

10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Criminal Law Refresher, Part 2: Recent Case Law on Bail and Sentencing

10:45 to 11:15 a.m. BREAK

11:15 a.m. to 12 noon Protecting the Presumption of Innocence: Responding to the Media

12 to 12:30 p.m. So you want to know what a judge thinks?

  • The Honourable Joseph Di Luca, Superior Court of Justice
  • The Honourable Vincenzo (Enzo) Rondinelli, Ontario Court of Justice
  • The Honourable Lori Anne Thomas, Ontario Court of Justice

12:30 to 1 p.m. Search and Seizure: Attacking Search Warrants and Step 6 Applications

1 p.m. Closing by Adam Weisberg

1 to 3 p.m. G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal Luncheon presentation featuring Marie Henein

  • Remarks from Danielle Robitaille and Associate Chief Justice Michal Fairburn

*PRE-RECORDED SESSION: EDI Considerations for Defence Counsel

 
* Please note all Fall Conference registrants will be provided access to resources on the conference hub (access provided to registrants 48-hours before conference start date) that will provide registrants access to an additional 1 hour and 30 minutes EDI. The session will be posted on the conference hub for registrations to access and watch on their own time.

Hotel Night Room Block

We have secured a SPECIAL reduced rate at the Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre for $150 CAD per night plus tax/fees.

(*NOTE* Only November 17th is still available at the reduced rate of $150.00)

The CLA has a set number of rooms blocked for the following dates:

  1. Thursday, November 16 – $279.00  Book your group rate for Criminal Lawyers

  2. Friday, November 17 – $150.00 (while rooms are still available) CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM

  3. Saturday, November 18 – $279.00  Book your group rate for Criminal Lawyers

While hotel night spaces are available, guests can book rooms up to October 26.

Guests may also book their rooms over the phone by calling the toll-free reservations line at 1-800-905-0667 and mentioning to the agent either the Group Name “Criminal Lawyers” or the Mini Hotel Code “CLA”.

Conference registration:REGISTER NOW
Includes access to on Online Hub with links to panel materials. The Saturday Martin Medal Awards Luncheon is an extra fee. Recordings of presentations will be made available to all registrants by December 5 PENDING QUALITY of recordings at no extra charge. If recordings are not available, there are no credits or refunds.

Register online by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/event-5077600 or call the CLA office, with credit card information, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET at 416-214-9875.

MEMBERS FROM THE GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA) AS PER ADDRESS LISTED IN THEIR MEMBER PROFILE. This includes members from the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York:

  • $400 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members 
  • $250 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
  • $250 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
  • $150 plus HST: Student members currently enrolled in law school

MEMBERS FROM OUTSIDE THE GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA) AS PER ADDRESS LISTED IN THEIR MEMBER PROFILE:

  • $350 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members 
  • $225 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
  • $225 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
  • $100 plus HST: Student members currently enrolled in law school

NON-MEMBERS:

  • $735 plus HST: Non-member legal professionals
  • $350 plus HST: Non-member students

Please note we do not offer a one-day rate. There is no sharing of registrations.

Extra Options:

  • FREE to all registrants: CLA Friday Social, Friday, November 17, 6 to 8 p.m. Come and go as you please during the time period noted. 

If you want to attend the Martin Medal Luncheon honouring Marie Henein on November 18, please purchase your ticket separately below. 

Access to the Conference Online Hub will be emailed to all registrants at least 48 hours in advance to the email address provided when registering. Please be sure to monitor or spam/junk folders for materials. No sharing of materials is allowed as they are included with the registration fee. The CLA does not provide printed copies of the materials.

PLEASE REVIEW IF ATTENDING:

  1. We highly recommend all in-person attendees be fully vaccinated.
  2. The venue will be following all local government protocols. Refer to https://covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-measures
  3. Stay home if you feel unwell or are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. If unwell, we ask you to complete a COVID-19 test and quarantine until a negative result is confirmed. If needed, COVID-19 tests can be purchased locally. Please note, with currently circulating COVID-19 variants, it is common for rapid tests to be unable to detect COVID-19 until several days into infection – hence even if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and are testing negative, please do not attend. Access to the conference recordings will be available by December 5 on the Conference Hub.

Cancellation Deadline:

Cancellations will be accepted in writing if received by 12 noon (ET) on or before November 1, 2023. Cancellations are to be sent to support@criminallawyers.ca. A $35 admin fee will apply. No refunds will be accepted on or after November 2. The substitution of registrants is not accepted unless emailed to support@criminallawyers.ca 72 hours prior to the event start time. The sharing of registrations is not permitted.

The CLA reserves the right to alter or cancel, without prior notice, any of the arrangements relating directly or indirectly to an event, for any circumstances beyond the CLA’s reasonable control. If the CLA cancels the event, registrants will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date.

In the case of inclement weather, unless otherwise notified by CLA, the event will still take place. When an event proceeds as planned, there will be no refunds should attendees not be able to attend as a result of weather. The CLA will also not be liable to refund registration fees should the event be impacted by a transit strike, strike lock-out, accident, civil disturbance or any other cause whatsoever beyond their control.

 We are now accepting sponsors for the following: 1. 51st Annual CLA Fall Conference (November 17-18, 2023 – in-person)

  • 600 to 700 attendees
  • 90% of attendees are practicing criminal defence lawyers.
  • 95% of attendees practice in Ontario.
  • Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto

2. 35th Annual G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation (November 18, 2023 – in-person)

  • 200 to 300 attendees
  • Attendees are criminal defence lawyers, justices and o various members of the legal community.
  • Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto

3. Annual Women in Criminal Law Dinner (November 16, 2023 – in person)

  • Location TBC
  • 60 to 100 criminal defence lawyers that identify as female.

4. 9th Annual Recent Call Conference (October 228, 2023 – Hybrid)

  • 200 to 300 participants
  • 90% of participants are practicing criminal defence lawyers in their first seven years of practice.
  • Ontario Bar Association, 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto

Sponsorship levels (includes all four functions noted above):

  • Visionary (x1) $10,000
  • Platinum (x3) $7,500
  • Gold (x5) $5,000
  • Silver (x10) $2,000
  • Bronze (unlimited) $1,000

BREAKDOWN OF SPONSOR BENEFITS NOTED BELOW: VISIONARY X1 $10,000 CDN

  1. COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
  2. COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 5,000+ legal professionals
  3. ONE DEDICATED EMAIL PROMOTION – sent via the CLA office to more than 5,000+ legal professionals.
  4. EXHIBITOR SPACE at the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
  5. VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
  6. 60 SECOND COMMERCIAL  – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
  7. FIVE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATIONS to the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
  8. LEAD SPONSOR OF G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation.
  9. PDF ADVERTISEMENT SHARED WITH ALL REGISTRANTS

PLATINUM X3 $7,500 CDN EACH

  1. COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
  2. COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 5,000+ legal professionals.
  3. EXHIBITOR SPACE at the main Fall Conference.
  4. VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
  5. 45 SECOND COMMERCIAL  – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
  6. THREE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATIONS to the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.

GOLD X5 $5,000 CDN EACH

  1. COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
  2. COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 5,000+ legal professionals
  3. VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
  4. 30 SECOND COMMERCIAL  – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
  5. ONE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION to the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.

SILVER X10 $2,000 CDN EACH

  1. COMPANY NAME ON EVENT WEB PAGES
  2. COMPANY NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 5,000+ legal professionals
  3. VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.

BRONZE $1,000 CDN EACH

  1. COMPANY NAME ON EVENT WEB PAGES
  2. COMPANY NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: sent to more than 5,000+ legal professionals

FALL CONFERENCE EXHIBITOR SPACE $1,250 CDN EACH PLUS HST ONLY 14 EXHIBITOR SPACES ARE AVAILABLE. EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:

  • The exhibitor space will be in the Ballroom Foyer – where all coffee breaks and Friday’s cocktail reception will be held.
  • A listing of exhibitors, with a map with the placement of each, will be included in the Conference Materials. 
  • Email confirmations sent to all conference attendees will list confirmed exhibitors. 
  • The CLA website will also include a listing of confirmed exhibitors.
  • Food & beverages provided during scheduled CLA breaks are open to exhibitor staff to enjoy. Food circulated during the Friday social is also open to exhibitor staff to consume, but beverages will be at the expense of individuals (cash bar). 
  • Actual conference registration and luncheon attendance are NOT included with Exhibitor fee, but may be purchased separately. 
  • Space allocations will be available by mid-November. Each exhibitor will be contacted with space allocation details and shipping instructions closer to the conference date.
  • We will provide a 10′ x 10′ space, six-foot table, two chairs and an electrical outlet for your use. Exhibitors MUST stay within their allotted 10′ x 10′ space due to fire-code regulations and in fairness to other exhibitors.
  • We will print exhibitor staff name badges IF names are provided to the CLA office at least 48 hours in advance of the conference.
  • Set-up time will begin at 6:30 a.m., Friday, November 17, 2023.
  • Take-down time will end at 5 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023.
  • Security personnel will be on duty between 7 p.m., Friday, November 17 and 8 a.m., Saturday, November 18; however, the CLA is not responsible for any lost or damaged items.
  • Wifi is included. However, exhibitors requiring telephone or hardwired high-speed lines will need to make arrangements directly with the hotel banquet office. Any additional fees for telephone/internet are to be paid directly to the hotel.  

To find out more, or to reserve your sponsorship and/or exhibitor space, please go to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/event-5343535.

 

SPONSORS

Visionary Sponsor

 

Platinum Sponsor

 

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Grill Barristers Professional Corporation 

LEX Reception

Smith Litkowski Criminal Trial Appeal Lawyers 

Strike Consulting Private Investigations

Thomson Reuters

Bronze Sponsors

Alan Richter

Chugh Law Professional Corporation