Priscila Jales Atkinson
Crown Counsel, Ministry of the Solicitor General and Co-Founder of Brazil Canada Bar Association (BCBA) and ITLNCA NetworkS
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Priscila Jales is Crown Counsel at the Ministry of the Solicitor General, where she provides support on class actions involving corrections, conducts Coroner’s Inquests, and provides advice to the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Corrections. Before joining SolGen, Priscila was an Assistant Crown Attorney at the Central Toronto Crown Attorney’s Office and Crown Counsel at the Constitutional Law Branch, where she was also a summer and articling student. In Brazil, Priscila was a Judicial Law Clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal and Electoral Court of Appeal of Pernambuco and worked in the Homicide Division at the Duty Counsel Office of Pernambuco.
Beyond her legal practice, Priscila is committed to supporting Internationally Trained Lawyers (ITLs) through her volunteer work. She co-founded two not-for-profit organizations aimed at helping ITLs navigate their legal careers in Canada – the Brazil Canada Bar Association (BCBA) and the ITLNCA NetworkS. She has also served as Director of the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association and, during her LL.M., was a Vice-President of the Osgoode Latin American Students.
Priscila holds a Master of Laws in Canadian Common Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Laws from the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, where she graduated with the Gold Medal for academic excellence.
Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation
Type of Practice: Public Sector – Government
Qualifying Degree from: Brazil
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? Osgoode LLM
Year of Call: 2022
Come chat with me about: Government career, NCA process, 2L and Articling recruitment for the Government
Aayush Bhawani
Senior Associate Lawyer, BLANSHAY LAW and Principal Lawyer, Bhawani Law Professional Corporation
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I am a lawyer based in Ontario, practicing in corporate and commercial transactions, franchise law, business immigration and refugee matters, litigation, and dispute resolution. I work with individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and businesses to provide strategic, practical, and results-focused legal solutions.
Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation, Corporate & Business Law, Contracts & Commercial Agreements, Immigration, Real Estate, Wills & Power of Attorney
Qualifying Degree from: India
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? NCA Exams and GP LLM
Barbara De Dios
Corporate Counsel, Commercial Law,
Cineplex Entertainment LP
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Barbara De Dios is Corporate Counsel, Commercial Law, at Cineplex Entertainment LP, where she supports legal operations nationwide for Canada’s largest theatre chain and one of North America’s major cinema networks.
Based in Toronto, she advises on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including corporate governance, media, digital and technology, procurement, commercial real estate, among other practice areas. She partners closely with business stakeholders to navigate complex contractual, regulatory, and operational issues across Canada.
Prior to joining Cineplex, Barbara served as Corporate Counsel for a Canadian DSO, advising primarily on corporate governance, regulatory and operational matters, and mergers and acquisitions.
Beyond her in‑house practice, Barbara is an active advocate for the professional growth and support of corporate counsel across Canada.
Barbara has been published in Canadian Lawyer Magazine and has held leadership and volunteer roles with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL), the Ontario Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Forum, Global Lawyers of Canada (Ontario Chapter), and the former Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA). In 2020, she was nominated as Canadian Lawyer Magazine’s Woman of the Year. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016.
Areas of Practice: Corporate, Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Entertainment
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? I wrote 7 exams allocated to me by the NCA accreditation process.
Come chat with me about: I’m flexible – networking, mentorship, building an in-house career, creating in-house value.
Carol Gavilanes
Assistant Crown Attorney,
MAG – Criminal Law Division
I am an internationally trained lawyer from Ecuador, where I practiced law for seven years before moving to Canada in 2019 and rebuilding my career in a completely different legal system. After earning my law degree and practicing in Ecuador, I decided to come to Canada.
I began my career in Canada working as a legal administrative professional within the criminal law division, where mentors and colleagues encouraged me to stay in the field, build connections, and continue pursuing my goal of becoming a lawyer in Ontario. I completed my GPLLM studies at the University of Toronto in 2024 to obtain my NCA qualification and was called to the Ontario Bar in June 2025. I currently practice criminal law as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Toronto.
Having built my professional network from scratch while adapting to a new legal culture, I understand many of the challenges internationally trained lawyers face when starting over in Canada.
Areas of Practice: Criminal Law
Type of Practice: Prosecutor
Qualifying Degree from: Ecuador
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? GP LLM
Year of Call: 2025
Come chat with me about: Transitioning from being a lawyer abroad to working in Canada
Irina Maimust
Principal Lawyer, Esteri Law
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Irina Maimust is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Esteri Law, a Toronto-based immigration law firm serving both corporate and individual clients. She advises employers, entrepreneurs, and internationally-trained professionals on navigating Canada’s complex immigration framework with a practical, solutions-driven approach.
In her corporate and business immigration practice, Irina assists employers with Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), intra-company transfers, work permits under Free Trade Agreements, and advises on employer compliance issues.
Irina also maintains a robust individual immigration practice, advising clients on temporary and permanent residence matters, including economic immigration programs, family reunification, and humanitarian and compassionate applications. She is frequently retained on complex or high-stakes matters involving procedural fairness concerns and long processing delays.
Irina holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from Perm State University and a Global Professional Master of Law from the University of Toronto. Irina is licensed to practice law in Ontario and Russia and is fluent in English and Russian languages.
Beyond her legal practice, Irina is actively engaged in professional leadership and policy advocacy. She volunteers extensively with the Ontario Bar Association, including in her role as Public Affairs Liaison with the OBA Immigration Law Section for the 2025-2026 year, and serves as Member Engagement Coordinator for the Canadian Bar Association’s National Immigration Law Section.
Areas of Practice: Immigration
Type of Practice: Solo Practice
Qualifying Degree from: Russia, Canada
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? LLM
Year of Call: 2024
Come chat with me about: Job search, career development, starting your own firm
Noorin Manji
Partner, Torkin Manes
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Noorin is a Partner in the Torkin Manes Commercial Real Estate Group. Noorin is routinely involved in transactional work relating to the acquisition, disposition and financing of all types of real property. Noorin drafts and negotiates a wide range of real property contracts, including agreements of purchase and sale and commercial leases.
Areas of Practice: Commercial Real Estate
Type of Practice: Private Practice
Qualifying Degree from: England
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? I completed my LL.M in Canadian Common Law through Osgoode Hall Professional Development.
Year of Call: 2017
Come chat with me about: Job search, practice area and NCA Completion through LLM.
Angela Ogang
Barrister & Solicitor, Notary Public, AngeLAW Professional Corporation; Mentor & Assessor, Toronto Metropolitan University; Formatrice, University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law | Common Law · On-Call
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Angela Ogang is a bilingual lawyer licensed in both Ontario and Kenya. She holds a Certificate in English Law from the London School of Economics (UK), an LL.B. in English and French Law from the University of Essex (UK), a Diplôme d’études juridiques françaises from the University of Strasbourg (France), and an LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary University of London (UK).
She practices in downtown Toronto at her firm, AngeLAW, where she provides legal services in English and French in the areas of Immigration, Wills & Estates, and Business Law.
Angela currently sits on the OBA Citizenship and Immigration Law Section Executive and serves as Chair of the OBA Equality Committee. At the national level, she is the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Women Lawyers Forum and serves on the CBA Immigration Section’s Immigration Equity Advisory Committee (formerly the Anti-Racism Committee), where she contributes to national efforts to advance equity in immigration law and policy.
She is the recipient of the 2026 ITL Conference Community Impact Award for her exceptional dedication to serving and uplifting the community through advocacy, legal advocacy, pro bono work and community-driven initiatives. It also recognizes her exemplary commitment to justice and meaningful impact in advancing the interests of ITLs, their clients, and the broader community.
Crystal Park
Associate Lawyer, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
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Hyunju (Crystal) Park is an associate in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office, practicing in the firm’s Business Law Department. Her practice encompasses assisting businesses in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate finance, and general corporate and commercial matters, with a focus on technology and nuclear industries.
Crystal has worked on numerous complex cross-border mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and financings for international clients based in Canada, United States, China and South Korea. Further, she has worked on significant recent nuclear projects including the complex negotiation of the financing terms of a new standard modernized reactor design and the drafting of bespoke loan agreements related to integrated nuclear project agreements for a first-of-a-kind SMR project.
Crystal holds a Global Professional LLM from the University of Toronto, LLM in International Business Law (Thesis Track) from the University of Macau and an LLB from Yonsei University (South Korea). She regularly presents on Canadian corporate law matters and is a member of the teaching team of the upper year “Lawyer as Negotiator” course at York University – Osgoode Hall Law School.
Crystal sits on the Board of Directors of the ITLNCA Networks Association. She currently serves as Section Executive (CPD Liaison) of the Ontario Bar Association – Business Law section and has been selected to be a part of the 2024-2026 cohort of Business Law Fellows by the American Bar Association. Crystal is also the Co-Chair of the ESL/Foreign-Qualified Lawyers Committee of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and a member of the International Association of Korean Lawyers.
Areas of Practice: Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate
Type of Practice: Business Law
Qualifying Degree from: South Korea
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? University of Toronto, GPLLM
Year of Call: 2023
Come chat with me about: M&A, Corporate Law, Private Practice, Mentorship, OCIs/Formal Recruit
John-Paul Rodrigues
Lawyer and Co-Founder,
The Paralegal TownHall
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John Paul (J.P.) Rodrigues is the Program Coordinator for the Paralegal Program at Seneca Polytechnic, where he is also faculty in both the law clerk and paralegal program. He is also a paralegal faculty member at Centennial College and at George Brown Polytechnic, where he brings real-world insight and engaging instruction to students entering the legal profession.
J.P. was named Instructor of the Year at triOS College’s Toronto Campus in 2020 and received the Excellence in Teaching Award from Career Colleges Ontario for his outstanding dedication to student success and legal education. In 2021, his Justice in Pieces series was honoured with a Clawbie Award, recognizing it as one of Canada’s top legal podcasts and video series. Most recently, the City of Pickering awarded J.P. with an Individual Volunteer Award in 2026, highlighting the work done with Justice in Pieces.
J.P. and Justin D Rochester co-founded The Paralegal TownHall, which is a dynamic and engaging forum designed to bring together paralegals, legal professionals, educators, and students to discuss the present and future of the paralegal profession in Ontario.
J.P. has also taught law internationally, spending several years in China, where he was featured on Chinese television and in local media for his teaching excellence. During his time abroad, he also embraced his creative side, moonlighting as both a rapper and DJ in Chongqing.
In addition to his work as an educator, J.P. is an experienced criminal defence lawyer, currently serving only as Brydges telephone duty counsel, advising clients who have been detained by police on criminal and immigration matters. In this role, he has supported thousands of individuals facing charges ranging from impaired driving to murder.
Areas of Practice: Criminal/Immigration
Type of Practice: Solo Practice
Qualifying Degree from: Canada
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? N/A
Year of Call: 2013
Come chat with me about: Job search, networking, teaching law, unique paths in practicing
Rachel Sachs
Lawyer & Seniors Advocate, Sachs Law
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I am a Filipino-German Canadian lawyer and trained mediator based in Toronto, Canada. My family and cultural heritage are important threads intentionally woven into my career and personal development. I work with older adults because of the deep connections I’ve been privileged to have throughout my life with my own grandparents, and others.
I practice law with the clear intention of assisting retirees, older adults and aging individuals. If you’re experiencing legal issues related to aging, whether short or long term challenges, I am here to help. From the broad scope of “elder”/”seniors” law and estates and trusts, to real estate and litigation, my goal is to support older adults and help ensure they have a say in their own lives.
I host “Ask Me Anything” calls on different legal issues affecting older adults, sometimes with special guests. I love technology (when it works) and strategizing unique solutions that will help older adults meet their goals. I love collaborating and brainstorming possibilities with others who work in aging, so reach out and we’ll talk.
I’m President and a board member of the Filipino Canadian Lawyers Network, board member of a local daycare, a Women’s Law Association of Ontario mentor, and a volunteer with the Canadian Free Wills Network, helping to provide free, simple wills to low-income and older Canadians. Twice a week, I assist low-income callers on the Pro Bono Ontario hotlines.
There are always improvements – tweaks – that can be made to how we practice and how we engage. I’m here, building and incrementally tweaking my practice so I can be a better service provider.
Areas of Practice: Will & Estates, Elder Law, Civil Litigation
Type of Practice: Private Practice, Solo Practice
Qualifying Degree from: United Kingdom
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? NCA Exams
Year of Call: 2017
Come chat with me about: Elder law beyond wills and estates, gaps in your resume or law practice journey, managing/running a law practice, parenting and practice, caregiving for adults and practice, embracing your authentic self, mental health, low-income advocacy and volunteer work, the law practice program and more
Gurbir Sidhu
Lawyer – Patents, Smart & Biggar and Adjunct Professor – Law, Conestoga College
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Gurbir is a computer science engineer turned lawyer, with experience in assisting technology companies to develop, position, and monetize their IP assets. He has extensive experience in patent prosecution, IP due diligence, licensing, transactions, and IP analytics, with a focus on the engineering and high-tech sectors. His areas of expertise include software, artificial intelligence, CGI and animation, robotics, AR/VR technologies, FinTech, and aerospace.
Outside of work, Gurbir is an Adjunct Professor at Conestoga College, where he enjoys teaching business and IP law. He is committed to pro-bono efforts and legal volunteerism, mentoring students and young professionals through programs at the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) and the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA).
While completing his Master of Laws (LLM) in IP Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, Gurbir represented his institution at the USPTO’s National Patent Application Drafting Competition (2022), securing third place and marking the first time a Canadian law school was listed among the national winners.
Areas of Practice: Intellectual Property
Type of Practice: Patent and Trademarks
Qualifying Degree from: India, Canada
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? Writing the 5 exams allocated to me by NCA.
Year of Call: 2023
Come chat with me about: Job searching, skill development, intellectual property practice
Antonio Urdaneta
Award-winning Workplace Lawyer,
Workplace Legal
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Antonio is an award-winning workplace lawyer (2026 ITL Conference: Impact Award – Diversity Champion) focused on workplace and institutional investigations in English, French, and Spanish. Before establishing his law practice, he went through the process that internationally trained professionals undergo to become qualified to practice locally. He completed his requalification and professional integration in approximately four years. During this period of academic and regulatory challenges, he gained local academic and work experience, which included completing the University of Toronto’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP), the Global Professional Master of Laws (GP LL.M.), the Law Practice Program (LPP), and advising and representing parties before courts, boards, and tribunals, by working at a legal support centre focused on human rights, and in commercial and employment litigation law firms. He holds licenses to practice law in Canada and Venezuela.
Antonio is the co-founder and current President of ITLNCA NetworkS Association, a member-based and volunteer-run not-for-profit corporation. This organization is a joint effort of equality-seeking legal professional associations that seeks to improve the experience of internationally trained lawyers in their career exploration, certification, and licensing processes in Canada. Prior to this work, he served on the board of the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) as its Membership Director and later as its President (the First president under COVID lockdowns).
Antonio is also a long-distance runner. He has completed one ultra-marathon, two marathons, three half-marathons, and several shorter races. He finds that running helps him mentally cope with the multiple challenges of modern life.
Areas of Practice: Workplace Law
Type of Practice: Investigations
Qualifying Degree from: Venezuela
How did you satisfy your NCA requirements? Mixed exams and LLM
Year of Call: 2016
Come chat with me about: Contextual Legal Dispute Solutions