Program Chairs:
Sarit E. Batner,
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Alexandra S. Clark,
Ministry of the Attorney General
Scott Maidment,
McMillan LLP
Frank Walwyn, LSM,
WeirFoulds LLP
The leak in
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the overturning of
Roe vs. Wade. The public cross-examination of the Prime Minister of Canada. "Freedom Convoys", celebrity trials, and sporting scandals - all played out in the media and, of course, on social media.
We've all seen the headlines - but what do these events, combined with three years of remote practice, really mean for us as Canadian lawyers?
Hosted by The Advocates' Society and the
American College of Trial Lawyers, Spring Symposium is the premier annual CPD and networking event for civil litigators. Join co-chairs Sarit Batner, Alex Clark, Scott Maidment, and Frank Walwyn, along with top litigators and appellate judges for a day of discussion, learning, and networking. You will track the latest developments; get strategies, tools, and tips; and examine the impact of current events on the justice system and your practice.
Registration includes educational materials, which will be provided prior to the program.
Keynote Speaker:
Susan J. Harriman, Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP, President of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Susan is the General Counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters, where she has been practicing law since 1985. She became a partner in 1989. Susan has handled a wide range of complex business litigation. She has tried state and federal cases involving a wide range of commercial disputes, legal malpractice defense, real estate, and wrongful termination. She has also arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and JAMS, Inc. She has represented many lawyers and law firms and groups as diverse as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the Koret Foundation, Electronic Arts, Univision, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Susan was named among California’s Top Women Lawyers by the Daily Journal for more than two decades, and has been listed by Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law, Regulatory Enforcement, and Securities Litigation. The Legal 500 has named Susan a Leading Trial Lawyer and The American Lawyer included her among its Women Leaders in the Law.
After graduating from Brown University, Susan served as Peace Corp Volunteer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire). Following law school, she was a teaching fellow at Stanford Law School and then clerked for the Hon. Robert F. Peckham of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. She formerly served on the San Francisco Ethics Commission, and was its chairperson from 2006 to 2008.
Speakers Include:
The Hon. Chief Justice Michael H. Tulloch, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Lorne Sossin, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Julie Thorburn, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Benjamin Zarnett, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Stephen E. Firestone, Regional Senior Judge for the Toronto Region, Superior Court of Justice
Sarah J. Armstrong, Fasken
Sandra Barton, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Amy Block, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Shantona Chaudhury, Pape Chaudhury LLP
Tom Curry, Lenczner Slaght
Doron Gold, The Lawyer Therapist
Brian Gover, Stockwoods LLP
Gillian Hnatiw, Gillian Hnatiw & Co.
Alexia D. Korberg, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Ewa Krajewska, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Peter W. Kryworuk, Lerners LLP
Jeffrey S. Leon, LSM, Bennett Jones LLP
Linda M. Plumpton, Torys LLP
Yashoda Ranganathan, Ministry of the Attorney General
Danielle Robitaille, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
8:30 - 9:00
Registration
9:00 - 9:10
Introductory Remarks & Welcome from the President of The Advocates' Society
Peter W. Kryworuk, Lerners LLP
9:10 - 9:50
The Year in Review: Key Cases in 2022
Sarah J. Armstrong, Fasken
Amy Block, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Linda M. Plumpton, Torys LLP
Yashoda Ranganathan, Ministry of the Attorney General
Moderator: Alexandra S. Clark, Ministry of the Attorney General
9:50 - 10:30
Are We Okay?: Three Years of Remote Education, Litigation, and Client Service
The Hon. Stephen E. Firestone, Regional Senior Judge for the Toronto Region, Superior Court of Justice
Sandra Barton, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Doron Gold, The Lawyer Therapist
Co-Moderators: Peter Kryworuk, Lerners LLP, and Scott Maidment, McMillan LLP
10:30 - 10:45
Refreshment Break
10:45 - 11:30
"The Leak": Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Alexia D. Korberg, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Jeffrey S. Leon, LSM, Bennett Jones LLP
Moderator: Alexandra S. Clark, Ministry of the Attorney General
11:30 - 12:00
Keynote Presentation
Susan J. Harriman, Keker, Van Nest & Peters, President of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Introduced by Sarit E. Batner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch Break
1:00 - 1:30
Fireside Chat with The Hon. Michael H. Tulloch, Chief Justice of Ontario
In conversation with Frank Walwyn, LSM, WeirFoulds LLP
1:30 - 2:15
Trial by Social Media: the Depp Trials
Shantona Chaudhury, Pape Chaudhury LLP
Gillian Hnatiw, Gillian Hnatiw & Co.
Danielle Robitaille, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Moderator: Frank Walwyn, LSM, WeirFoulds LLP
2:15 - 2:30
Refreshment Break
2:30 - 3:10
At the Intersection of Law, Rights, and Politics: the Freedom Convoy and the Emergency Act Commission
Tom Curry, Lenczner Slaght
Brian Gover, Stockwoods LLP
Ewa Krajewska, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Moderator: Sarit E. Batner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
3:10 - 3:55
A View from the Bench: Advocacy at Trial vs. at Appeal
The Hon. Justice Lorne Sossin, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Julie Thorburn, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Benjamin Zarnett, Court of Appeal for Ontario
Moderator: Scott Maidment, McMillan LLP
3:55 - 4:00
Closing Remarks
A wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom
"A wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom. A top notch program, not to be missed!"
One of the best symposiums I have ever attended
"This is one of the best symposiums I have ever attended! I learned a great deal, well worth attending."
Advocacy was the central theme
"A truly marvelous program! I appreciated that advocacy was the central theme, not any particular area of law."
Superb and inspiring speakers
"Terrific mix of formats and really practical content, plus some superb and inspiring speakers. Well done!"
Eligible CPD Hours:
This program contains 2.5 Professionalism Hours and is eligible for up to 3.5 Substantive Hours.

This organization has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario.
For information on CPD requirements and accreditation across Canada,
please click here.
Register now!
Pricing:
TAS Members: Regular: $599.00 + Tax | Discount: $449.25 + Tax* (please see below)
Non-members: Regular: $749.00 + Tax | Discount: $561.75 + Tax* (please see below)
*The Advocates' Society is pleased to offer a 25% discount on this program for all lawyers who practise as sole practitioners, or in firms smaller than 5 lawyers, and government lawyers (including lawyers who work for legal aid clinics).
TAS Members always save on our programs.
Join us today.