53rd Annual Fall Conference

Date: November 21-22, 2025

The 53rd annual Criminal Lawyers’ Association Fall Conference is scheduled for November 21-22, 2025. Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto 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. 

CPD Confirmed!

• Two hours and 10 minutes of Professionalism
• One hour and 10 minutes EDI
• Substantive Hours: Seven hours and 35 minutes (if hours are not needed for professionalism and/or they can be added to substantive)

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 AND SPEAKERS

Friday, November 21, 2025

8:30 to 8:45 a.m. – Welcoming from Boris Bytensky, President, CLA

8:45 to 9:25 a.m. – Traumatic Brain Injury & Defendants
Featuring:

• Frank Addario, Addario Law Group (Toronto)
• Dr. Flora Matheson, Chair, Homelessness, Housing and Health, Unity Health Toronto (Toronto)
• Dr. Kim Gorgens, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado (USA)

9:25 to 10:05 a.m. – Constitutional Challenge to Legislation – a Practical Walk-Through
Featuring:

• Jonathan Doody, Bayne Sellar Ertel Carter (Ottawa)
• Carlos Rippell, Edward H. Royle & Partners LLP (Toronto)

10:05 to 10:45 a.m. – What is a “record”? An update on 278.1 case law
Featuring:

• Brandon Crawford, Edelson Foord Law (Ottawa)
• Anya Kortenaar, Assistant Crown Attorney (East Region G&G) (Ottawa)
• Anne Marie Morphew, Morphew Symes Barristers (Toronto)

10:45 to 11:15 a.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK

11:15 to 11:45 a.m. – Accessing Youth Records
Featuring:

• Honourable Justice Brett Moodie, Ontario Court of Justice (Cayuga)
• Emma Rhodes, Defence Lawyer (Toronto)
• Alana Pasut, Assistant Crown Attorney (Toronto)

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Sopinka Lecture featuring Mark Sandler, Cooper Sandler Shime & Schwartzentruber LLP (Toronto)

12.15 to 1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK

1:30 to 2:15 p.m. – The New Miscarriages of Justice Review Commission
Featuring:

• James Lockyer, Lockyer Zaduk Zeehn (Toronto)
• Kent Roach, University of Toronto Faculty of Law (Toronto)

2:15 to 3 p.m. – Corbett Applications in the Wake of King and Hussein
Featuring:

• Marco Sciarra, Marco Sciarra Criminal Lawyers (Toronto)
• Jonathan Shime, Cooper Sandler Shime & Schwartzentruber LLP (Toronto)

3 to 3:15 p.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK

3:15 to 4 p.m. – Investigative work for defence lawyers
Featuring:

• Hussein Aly, Defence Lawyer (Toronto)
• Dominic Lamb, Lamb and O’Brien (Ottawa)
• Lynda Morgan, Addario Law Group LLP (Toronto)

4:15 to 5 p.m. – Jail litigation/issues – solitary; strip searches
Featuring:

• Alison Craig, Posner Craig Stein (Toronto)
• Adriel Weaver, Goldblatt Partners (Toronto)
• Honourable Justice R. Philip Campbell, Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Toronto)

5 to 5:45 p.m. – CLA Annual General Meeting and Presentation of the 2025 Ricky Goldman Mensch Outstanding Member Award to Glenn Sandberg

6 to 8 p.m. – Cocktail Reception

Saturday, November 22, 2025

8:40 to 8:45 a.m.: Welcome from Adam Weisberg, Vice President, CLA

8:45 to 9:45 a.m. – Top 5 Cases – OCJ; SCJ; OCA
Featuring:

• Honourable Justice Bruce Durno, Retired, Superior Court of Justice
• Associate Chief Justice Michal Fairburn, Court of Appeal for Ontario
• Honourable Justice Mara Greene, Ontario Court of Justice

9:45 to 10:15 a.m. – Effectively representing Indigenous Clients
Featuring:

• Derek Fox, De Bakker Law (Thunder Bay)
• Honourable Justice Brock Jones, Ontario Court of Justice (Toronto)
• Shaunna Kelly, Shaunna Kelly Law (Scarborough)

10:15 to 10:45 a.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK

10:45 to 11:45 a.m. – Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers
Featuring:

• Roy Bornmann, Strategic Policy Counsel at Law Society of Ontario (Toronto)
• Ryan Fritsch, Law Commission of Ontario (Toronto)
• Maura Grossman, University of Waterloo (Waterloo)
• Alanzo Hessing, Account Executive, LexisNexis Canada Inc. (Toronto)

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Closing to the jury
Featuring:

• Honourable Justice Russell Silverstein, Ontario Court of Justice (Toronto)
• Moderated by Laura Metcalfe, Metcalfe Law (Toronto)

12:15 to 1 p.m. – Special Keynote featuring Brian Banks (USA)

1 p.m.: Closing by CLA Vice President, Adam Weisberg

1 to 3 p.m.: Martin Medal Award Luncheon and Presentation featuring Michael D. Edelson C.S.

Navigating Diversity in the Legal Profession: A Bird’s Eye View (recorded presentation)

A recorded presentation to be made available on the Conference Hub to all registration to access 48 hours prior to the Conference start date. This video will explore the personal experiences of criminal defence lawyers of diverse backgrounds in all aspects of their practices. Through a series of interviews, you will hear firsthand accounts of both the challenges and triumphs faced by these individuals. Employment and human rights lawyer, Wade Poziomka provides commentary on the legal implications for navigating some of the scenarios that arise and actionable insights to promote cultural competency in all aspects of our practices and become better employers, colleagues, and allies.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: 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 10 PENDING QUALITY of recordings at no extra charge. If recordings are not available, there are no credits or refunds.

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:

• $450 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members
• $300 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
• $285 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
• $175 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:

• $400 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members
• $265 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
• $250 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
• $160 plus HST: Student members currently enrolled in law school

NON-MEMBERS:

• $755 plus HST: Non-member legal professionals
• $370 plus HST: Non-member students

Register for the main Fall Conference online by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/event-6307902. Registrations over the phone are also accepted if paying by credit card. Call 416-214-9875, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no one-day rate or sharing of registrations. Extra Options:

• FREE to all registrants: CLA Friday Social, Friday, November 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Come and go as you please during the time period noted.
• Women in Criminal Law Dinner
• Martin Medal Luncheon

Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations will be accepted in writing if received by 12 noon (ET) on or before November 1, 2025. Cancellations are to be sent to support@criminallawyers.ca. A $50 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.

SPONSORS

VISIONARY SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

EMERGING SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

Addario Law Group

Calvin Barry Professional Corporation

CosmoLex

Heller Hunter Azevedo

Lacy Naster LLP

Liva Freeman Dent LLP

Metcalfe Law

Midtown Legal

Weisberg Law

BRONZE SPONSORS

Clio

Guidepoint Clinic

Just For Today

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIBER

We are now accepting 2025 Fall Programming sponsors and exhibitors! All sponsorship levels include the FOUR functions below: 1. 53rd Annual CLA Fall Conference (November 21-22, 2025 – in-person)

2. 37th Annual G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation (November 22, 2025 – in-person)

3. Annual Women in Criminal Law Dinner (November 20, 2025 – in person)

4. 11th Annual Recent Call Conference (September 27, 2025 – Hybrid)

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 5,900+ legal professionals
3. ONE DEDICATED EMAIL PROMOTION – sent via the CLA office to more than 5,900+ 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 each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
8. LEAD SPONSOR OF G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation.
9. PDF ADVERTISEMENT SHARED WITH ALL REGISTRANTS
10. CLA Social media acknowledgement via X and Instagram.

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 5,900+ 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 each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
7. CLA Social media acknowledgement via X and Instagram.

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 5,900+ 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 each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
6. CLA Social media acknowledgement via X and Instagram.

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 5,900+ 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 5,900+ legal professionals

FALL CONFERENCE EXHIBITOR SPACE $1,250 CDN EACH PLUS HST ONLY 16 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, table cloth, 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 21, 2025.
• Take-down time will end at 5 p.m., Saturday, November 22, 2025.
• Security personnel will be on duty between 7 p.m., Friday, November 21 and 8 a.m., Saturday, November 22; 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.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO TO CONFIRM YOUR SPONSORSHIP.

2025 HOTEL BOOKING – WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Book your group rate for Criminal Lawyers Annual Conference You will find the information for your online reservation link below. Event Summary:

Book your group rate for Criminal Lawyers Annual Conference