Program Director Spotlight: Professor Mary Condon

Professor Mary Condon brings decades of experience in securities regulation, academic research, and public service to her role as Program Director of Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Securities Law. A long-standing member of the Osgoode faculty and former Vice-Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, her work sits at the intersection of legal theory, market practice, and regulatory policy.

What stands out most to Professor Condon in leading the program is the strength of the cohort. “The caliber of the students that we get in the program is really high,” she says. Many bring varied professional backgrounds and direct industry experience, shaping a learning environment grounded in real-world insight. This exchange of perspectives is central to how she approaches the program, creating space for mutual learning in the classroom. “It’s both the ability to teach at a high level and to learn from the participants in the program.”

Her teaching reflects this exchange of ideas. In her course, Securities Law – Theoretical Approaches, Professor Condon introduces students to leading academic research on securities and financial markets, encouraging them to step back from day-to-day practice and consider broader structural questions. “They really appreciate the opportunity to look at bigger trends…issues that affect the markets as a whole,” she explains. For experienced professionals, this shift often brings a renewed sense of intellectual engagement. The course’s assessment options further support this approach, allowing students to choose between a take-home exam and a research paper. Many opt for the latter, using it as an opportunity to explore complex issues in greater detail and engage more deeply with the subject matter.

Professor Condon fosters what she describes as a “robust discussion” environment, encouraging students to test abstract ideas against their own experience. “You’re not just a passive learner,” she says. “You should be actively engaging with the material…stress testing some of the abstract ideas in terms of your own on-the-ground experience.” Contributions from across the cohort – spanning legal practice, compliance, and financial institutions – deepen the conversation and connect theory to practice.

The program attracts a broad range of professionals. While many participants have legal training, not all are practicing lawyers. A significant cohort works in compliance roles within investment firms, banks, and private equity organizations, bringing practical insight into regulatory frameworks. The program also welcomes international participants, adding comparative perspectives that further enrich classroom dialogue. This diversity of backgrounds is complemented by regular guest speakers who bring specialized and timely expertise to the classroom. Speakers address topics such as derivatives markets, private equity, and investment fund regulation, ensuring students gain exposure to both theoretical frameworks and current industry practice.

Professor Condon’s research continues to inform her teaching and leadership. She is currently examining the evolving structure of securities markets, particularly the growing prominence of private markets. “Fewer companies are going public,” she notes. “Instead, they’re staying private – and some of them get very large even while they’re private companies.” This shift raises important regulatory questions, especially as more investors gain access to private market opportunities.

Historically, private companies have been subject to lighter regulatory oversight. However, as Professor Condon points out, that assumption may no longer hold. “Once you’re in that zone, then you do need to think about what effective, smart regulation might look like for the private market.” Her current research explores whether existing frameworks are sufficient or whether fundamental principles of securities regulation need to be rethought in response to these changes.

Through her leadership, the Securities Law LLM offers a rigorous, discussion-driven learning environment that bridges theory and practice. By encouraging critical engagement with evolving market structures and regulatory challenges, Professor Condon ensures the program remains both academically grounded and closely aligned with the realities of modern financial markets.Infrastructure can provide both the broader perspective and practical knowledge needed to continue growing into leadership roles.