2026 Annual Spring Conference

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Saturday, June 13, 2026, 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
In-person and Virtual options

In-person: 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON M5C 2B8

CPD CONFIRMED:

• 45 minutes of Professionalism content.
• 15 minutes of EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion)
• Two hours and 35 minutes substantive (if hours are not needed for professional and/or EDI they can be added to substantive)
• Plus: Approved for LAWPRO’s Risk Management Credit
  

Agenda and Speakers

8:50 to 9 a.m. Welcome by Cassandra DeMelo, Co-Chair, Spring Conference, CLA Director, London

9:00 to 9:20 a.m Changes Coming to the OCJ

• Chief Justice Sharon Nicklas of the Ontario Court of Justice
• Moderated by: Cassandra DeMelo, Co-Chair, Spring Conference, CLA Director, London

9:20 to 9:45 a.m. What To Do When Police Have Your Client’s Property

• Brian Peck, Senior Forensic Scientist, Biology, Centre of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of the Solicitor General (Toronto)
• Brendan Neil, Neil Lawson Criminal Defence (Milton)
• Susan Pennypacker, Pennypacker Law (Toronto)
• Moderated by: Cassandra DeMelo, Co-Chair, Spring Conference, CLA Director, London

9:45 to 10:10 a.m. AI and Policing

• Aneurin (Nye) Thomas, Executive Director, Law Commission of Ontario (Toronto)
• Moderated by Sweta Tejpal, Kalina & Tejpal Lawyers (Mississauga)

10:10 to 10:45 a.m. Top 5 under 5

• Savena Bhangal, Bhangal Law (Brampton) – 2022 – R v G.G. 2026 SCC 12
• Jesica Cacciavillani, JC Criminal Law (London) – 2021 – R v. A.K., 2026 ONSC 2262
• Sara Little, Little Legal (Toronto) – 2021 – R. v. Oryia, 2026 ONCA 166
• Brooke Rogers, Atwood Labine LLP (Thunder Bay) – 2021 – 2023 SKCA 123, 2026 SCC 8
• Alison Shields, Bottomley VanderHeyden (Toronto) – 2021 – R. v. I.M., 2025 SCC 23
• Moderated by George Joseph, Co-Chair, Spring Conference, CLA Director, Thunder Bay

10:45 to 11 a.m. Break and Exhibitor Visit

11 to 11:30 a.m. Litigating Charter motions and voluntariness voir dires: Indigenous and racialized clients

• Justice Brock Jones, Ontario Court of Justice (Toronto)
• Shaunna Kelly, Shaunna Kelly Law (Scarborough)
• Moderated by Sweta Tejpal, Kalina & Tejpal Lawyers (Mississauga)

11:30 a.m. to 12 noon Making Friends in Court – The Role of Amicus Curiae

• Dean Embry, Embry Dann LLP (Toronto)
• Maija Martin, Martin Barristers (Toronto)
• Paula Rochman, Defence Lawyer (Toronto)
• Moderated by: Jessyca Greenwood, Greenwood Law (Toronto)

12 to 12:45 p.m. NCR – Procedure, Pitfalls and Practical Tips

• Justice Clayton Conlan – Superior Court of Justice – Central West
• Mary Cremer, Cremer Barristers (Toronto)
• Brady Donohue, Assistant Crown Attorney (Toronto)
• Moderated by Karen Symes, Morphew Symes Barristers (Toronto)

12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Behind the Prison Walls – the Realities of Incarceration for Individuals with Mental Illness and Cognitive Deficits 

• Emily Dixon, Defence Lawyer (Toronto)
• Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (Ottawa)
• Moderated by Karen Symes, Morphew Symes Barristers (Toronto)

1:15 p.m. Closing Remarks by George Joseph, Co-Chair, Spring Conference, CLA Director, Thunder Bay

REGISTRATION

The price for in-person and virtual is the same enabling registrants to switch preference up to 48 hours in advance with no penalty. There are no refunds. Recordings, pending quality, will be made available for viewing to registrants only up to September 30, 2026. We will not be selling access to the recordings separately. There are no refunds.

• $85 plus HST: CLA Junior Active & Junior Observer Members
• $100 plus HST: CLA Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate Members
• $65 plus HST: Articling student members
• $45 plus HST: CLA Student Members
• $225 plus HST: Non-members – open to all legal professionals*
• $110 plus HST: Non-member students*

REGISTER ONLINE BY GOING TO https://members.criminallawyers.ca/event-6561823 or call the CLA office with credit card payment to register over the phone: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ED, 416-214-9875.

 * Not a member?
Join online by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/joinus or call the CLA office during business hours to renew your membership (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ED, 416-214-9875)

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CONFERENCE VIRTUAL OPTION:

• All presentations will be LIVE broadcast and recorded.
• When there is time, all registrants will have the opportunity to ask speakers questions.
• It is up to each registrant to ensure they have a strong internet connection prior to the event.
• Access information to the Virtual Hub will be emailed to all registrants at least 48 hours before the start date and will be sent to the email address entered when registering.
• It is up to each registrant to ensure they have the Virtual Hub link and test access before the conference start date. Be sure to check your spam and junk boxes. The CLA is not responsible if you cannot locate the access link or if you have access issues. If you are not able to locate the access information by 9 a.m., June 13, please email support@criminallawyers.ca. It is the responsibility of each registrant to ensure they have the access information.

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

Visionary Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Just For Today

Petrone & Partners

Transcripts Ontario 

Bronze Sponsor

Edward Jones