Committees

Three young CLA members chatting over tea and coffee.

CLA committees drive much of our work. They bring together members who are keen to share their expertise to respond to emerging issues across criminal law practice. They support advocacy and criminal justice reform, develop education programs, strengthen membership benefits and guide our priorities across Ontario and the country.

Here are the committees for 2025-2027.

ACCESSIBILITY

Members of this committee promote equitable access to public spaces and technologies that are necessary for the provision of legal services. They also advance the issues and concerns of CLA members with disabilities, along with championing diversity and inclusion within the association and across the criminal justice system. This committee also fosters opportunities for people with disabilities in criminal law.

Criminal defence lawyers must have equitable access to their clients, especially those remanded into custody. Accessing clients in certain facilities may be more difficult for members with a disability. The Accessibility Committee wants to hear your concerns about accessing clients in custody at the remand facility, courthouse, virtual courtroom etc.

Email us at accessibility@criminallawyers.ca. Our volunteers are ready to help!

Committee members
  1. Anthony J. Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie) – Co-Chair
  2. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga) – Co-Chair
  3. Michael Brito (Brampton)
  4. Ben Fulton (Mississauga)
  5. Carolyn Arnold LeBlanc (Woodstock)
  6. Dawn Quelch (Napanee)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2023 Report

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS

This committee coordinates CLA’s communications activities and implements strategies to support the association’s mission and objectives. Get in touch with us at  media@criminallawyers.ca.

Committee members
  1. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Jessyca Greenwood (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Adam Weisberg (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  4. Elizabeth Barefoot (Owen Sound)
  5. Daniel Brown (Toronto)
  6. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto)
  7. Hilary Dudding (Toronto)
  8. Matthew Gourlay (Toronto)
  9. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  10. Howard Krongold (Ottawa)
  11. Michael Lacy (Toronto)
  12. Dominic Lamb (Ottawa)
  13. Maija Martin (Toronto)
  14. Meaghan McMahon (Ottawa)
  15. Laura Metcalfe (Toronto)
  16. Cassandra Richards (Ottawa)
  17. Lauren Wilhelm (Hamilton)
2025 Report
2022 Report

CRIMINAL LAW AND TECHNOLOGY / EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND PRIVACY COMMITTEE

Members of this committee develop positions for the CLA on the growing and evolving effects of emerging technologies on criminal law, Charter rights and civil liberties. Working in coordination with the litigation committee, we advance our interests on these issues in court and other public forums. Our members consult with government and law reform bodies, educate and support CLA members on privacy issues, the use (and misuse) of artificial intelligence, and other emerging digital technologies in the criminal law practice.

You can reach us at modernization@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Eric Neubauer (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Karen Symes (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Elizabeth Barefoot (Owen Sound)
  4. Cooper Lord (Kitchener)
  5. Brendan Neil (Milton)
2023 Report
2022 Report

CRIMINAL PRACTICE

Our members are responsible for Courthouse Reps and coordinate all aspects of court administration affecting the CLA members.

Committee members
  1. Jessyca Greenwood (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Eric Neubauer (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Lisa Carnelos (Windsor)
  4. Jolene Hansell (Ottawa)
  5. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  6. Sara Little (Toronto)
  7. Mark MacDonald (Smiths Falls)
  8. Michael Michel (Sudbury)
  9. Anthony Orazietti (Sault Ste Marie)
  10. Alan Richter (Oshawa)
  11. Chris Sewrattan (Toronto)
  12. Ram Shankar (Owen Sound)
  13. Karen Symes (Toronto)
  14. Jordan Weisz (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2022 Report

DIVERSITY  

We want to hear from you! Email us at diversity@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Tonya Kent (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Marianne Salih (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Lisa Bristow (Toronto)
  4. Ben Elzinga-Cheng (Toronto)
  5. Usman Farhat (Ajax)
  6. Chetanaya Gupta (Brampton)
  7. Taufiq Hashmani (Toronto)
  8. Kenneth Jim (Toronto)
  9. Richard Mwangi (Toronto)
  10. Inderdeep Padda (Toronto)
  11. Kamran Sajid  (Toronto)
  12. Rubaina Singh (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report

EDUCATION

This committee oversees all continuing legal education programming and mentorship activities for the CLA.

Committee members
  1. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Brendan Neil (Milton) – Co-Chair
  3. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  4. Alan Richter (Oshawa)
  5. Chris Rudnicki (Toronto)
  6. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga)
  7. Jordan Weisz (Toronto)
  8. Lauren Wilhelm (Hamilton)
2025 Report
2023 Report

ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION 

You can find us here: ethics@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Elizabeth Barefoot (Owen Sound) – Co-Chair
  2. Lisa Carnelos (Windsor) – Co-Chair
  3. Jill Makepeace (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  4. Michael Davies (Ottawa)
  5. Mark Halfyard (Toronto)
  6. George Joseph (Thunder Bay)
  7. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  8. Nadia Liva (Toronto)
  9. Naomi Lutes (Toronto)
  10. Chris Rudnicki (Toronto)
  11. Breanna Vandebeek (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report

FALL CONFERENCE

Our members plan every aspect of the fall conference program. That includes setting the agenda and securing special guests and speakers.

Here’s how to reach us:  http://criminallawyers.ca/cla-programs/cla-fall-conferences/

Committee members
  1. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Lauren Wilhelm (Hamilton) – Co-Chair
  3. Samiyyah Ganga (Toronto)
  4. Matt Gourlay (Toronto)
  5. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  6. Meaghan McMahon (Ottawa)
  7. Eric Neubauer (Toronto)
  8. Sweta Tejpal (Brampton)
2025 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report

GALE MOOT CUP

For more information, email us at Galecup@criminallawyers.ca
https://www.galecupmoot.com/en/home/

CLA Committee members
  1. Sweta Tejpal (Brampton) – Co-Chair
  2. Lauren Wilhelm (Hamilton) – Co-Chair
  3. Emily Dyer (Barrie)
  4. Sara Little (Toronto)
  5. Jessica Proskos (Toronto)
  6. Maya Shukairy (Ottawa)
2025 Report
2022 Report

GOVERNANCE

Committee members
  1. Jessyca Greenwood (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Adam Weisberg (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Elizabeth Barefoot (Owen Sound)
  4. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto)
  5. Jacob Gauthier (Sudbury)
  6. Michael Mandelcorn (Kingston)
  7. Maija Martin (Toronto)
  8. Brendan Neil (Milton)
  9. Lauren Wilhelm (Hamilton)
2023 Report

INDIGENOUS 

Let us know what’s on your mind, indigenous@criminallawyers.ca.

Committee members
  1. Ryan Stiles (Bracebridge) – Co-Chair
  2. Elise Brass (Belleville)
  3. Jordan Gold (Toronto)
  4. Daniella Guido (Newmarket)
  5. Chetanaya Gupta (Brampton)
  6. Jason Herbert (Bracebridge)
  7. Riali Johannesson (Parry Sound)
  8. Airianna Murdoch-Fyke (Goderich)
  9. Inderdeep Padda (Toronto)
  10. Denise Resnick (Barrie)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2023 Report

LEGAL AID

Members of this committee address all issues related to legal aid that affect the criminal defence bar. You can get in touch with us by emailing legalaid@criminallawyers.ca.

Committee members
  1. Michael Davies (Ottawa) – Co-Chair
  2. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Jordan Weisz (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  4. Lisa Carnelos (Windsor)
  5. Emily Dyer (Barrie)
  6. Mark MacDonald (Smiths Falls)
  7. Laura Metcalfe (Toronto)
  8. Michael Michel (Sudbury)
  9. Brendan Neil (Milton)
  10. Alan Richter (Oshawa)
  11. Ram Shankar (Owen Sound)
  12. Adam Weisberg (Toronto)

LEGISLATION

The Legislation Committee provides CLA’s expert advice on federal and provincial criminal legislation. Our members often appear as witnesses before committees of the House of Commons and Senate to provide frontline perspectives and thoughtful recommendations on proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, as well as other criminal justice reforms. Legislation Committee members are always working on position papers on various priority areas of criminal justice policy.

Let us know if you want to help out or suggest a policy to review, reform@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Jolene Hansell – (Ottawa) – Co-Chair
  2. Maija Martin – (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Cassandra Richards – (Ottawa) – Co-Chair
  4. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto)
  5. Danielle Landry (Owen Sound)
  6. Chris Rudnicki (Toronto)
  7. Marianne Salih (Toronto)
  8. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report

LITIGATION

This committee manages all litigation-focused activities on behalf of the CLA such as interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada, as approved by the board.

Email us here, litigation@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Stephanie DiGiuseppe (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Mark Halfyard (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Breana Vandebeek (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  4. Michelle Biddulph (Toronto)
  5. Dan Brown (Toronto)
  6. Erin Dann (Toronto)
  7. Matt Gourlay (Toronto)
  8. Jolene Hansell (Ottawa)
  9. Nader Hasan (Toronto)
  10. Anil Kapoor (Toronto)
  11. Howard Krongold (Ottawa)
  12. Michael Lacy (Toronto)
  13. Maija Martin (Toronto)
2026 Second Chair Roster
  1. Brendan Coffey (Toronto)
  2. Nikolas De Stefano (Toronto)
  3. Heather Gunter (Toronto)
  4. David Hakim (Toronto)
  5. Heather Lawson (Toronto)
  6. Sara Little (Toronto)
  7. Robert Nanni (Toronto)
  8. Jocelyn Rempel (Ottawa)
  9. Cassandra Richards (Ottawa)
  10. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga)
  11. Taylor Wormington (Toronto)
  12. Anna Zhang (Toronto)
2025 Report

MEMBERSHIP

These members manage all aspects of membership recruitment, retention and recognition. You can get in touch with us at membercommitttee@criminallawyers.ca

Committee members
  1. Adam Goodman (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga) – Co-Chair
  3. Daniella Guido (Newmarket)
  4. Sukhraj Hundal (Oakville)
  5. Chris Raimondo (St. Catharines)
  6. Glenn E.J. Sandberg (Sudbury)
  7. Remy Sansanwal (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report

MENTAL HEALTH

Members of this committee work on mental health issues in the criminal justice system. Please reach out to us at md@criminallawyers.ca.

Committee members
  1. Dean Embry (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Maija Martin (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Nemee Bedar (Ottawa)
  4. Cassandra DeMelo (London)
  5. Sabrina Feldman (Toronto)
  6. Daniella Guido (Newmarket)
  7. Jamie Kopman (Toronto)
  8. Dawn Quelch (Napanee)
  9. Karen Symes (Toronto)
  10. Jordan Weisz (Toronto)

MENTORING

To coordinate all aspects specific to the official annual CLA mentorship program. Consulted if/when another mentorship offering is being proposed/offered by another CLA committee.

Terms of Reference

Committee members
  1. Jill Makepeace (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Christopher Raimondo (St. Catharines) – Co-Chair
  3. Andrew Guaglio (Toronto)
  4. Jolene Hansell (Ottawa)
  5. Tonya Kent (Toronto)
  6. Cooper Lord (Kitchener)
  7. Adam Newman (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report

PRISONS AND JAILS

To coordinate all aspects specific jails/prisons/incarnated persons.

Committee members
  1. Tonya Kent (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  2. Cooper Lord (Kitchener) – Co-Chair
  3. Simon Borys (Kingston)
  4. Jolene Hansell (Ottawa)
  5. Mark MacDonald (Smiths Falls)
  6. Cassandra Richards (Ottawa)
  7. Marianne Salih (Toronto)
  8. Remy Sansanwal (Toronto)
  9. Ram Shankar (Owen Sound)
  10. Karen Symes (Toronto)
  11. Adriel Weaver (Toronto)
2025 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report

RECENT CALL

http://criminallawyers.ca/cla-programs/cla-legal-programs/
To coordinate all aspects specific to recent calls.

Committee members
  1. Nemee Bedar (Ottawa) – Co-Chair
  2. Remy Sansanwal (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Mohammad Ameli (Markham)
  4. Sebastian Becker (Toronto)
  5. Samiyyah Ganga (Toronto)
  6. David Hakim (Toronto)
  7. Jocelyn Heaton (Toronto)
  8. Mark Kamel (Mississauga)
  9. Robert Nanni (Toronto)
  10. Victoria Palermo (Toronto)
  11. Elias Rabinovitch (Toronto)
  12. Anish Sethi (Ottawa)
  13. Sophie Vaisman (Toronto)
  14. Taylor Wormington (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report

SPRING CONFERENCE

Members of this committee plan the Spring Conference program, set the agenda and secure special guests and speakers. Let us know if you’d like to help, http://criminallawyers.ca/cla-programs/cla-spring-conferences/

Committee members
  1. Cassandra DeMelo (London) – Co-Chair
  2. George Joseph (Thunder Bay) – Co-Chair
  3. Elizabeth Barefoot (Owen Sound)
  4. Brendan Neil (Milton)
  5. Karen Symes (Toronto)
  6. Sweta Tejpal (Mississauga)
2023 Report

WOMEN IN CRIMINAL LAW

Members of this committee promote and protect the interests of the female members of the CLA, encourage diversity in the association and leadership and foster opportunities for women in criminal law. You may reach us at  women@criminallawyers.ca.

Committee members
  1. Danielle Landry (Owen Sound) – Co-Chair
  2. Michelle Psutka (Toronto) – Co-Chair
  3. Ayesha Abbasi (Peel)
  4. Sarah Black (Kingston)
  5. Tara Boghosian (Toronto)
  6. Lisa Bristow (Toronto)
  7. Jolene Hansell (Ottawa)
  8. Melody Izadi (Toronto)
  9. Sandra Kimberg (Toronto)
  10. Rachel Neiman (Toronto)
  11. Sabrina Shillingford (Toronto)
  12. Rubaina Singh (Toronto)
2025 Report
2024 Report
2022 Report