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Alumni Spotlight

Filipe Reis, alumnus of Osgoode's Professional LLM in Canadian Common Law

Few people embody their occupation as perfectly as international tax specialist Filipe Reis de Carvalho. In his current role at Scotiabank’s Toronto headquarters, the Brazilian-born graduate of Osgoode’s part-time Professional LLM in Canadian Common Law program advises a global financial institution on U.S. federal tax issues. “International experience is something… Click to Continue Reading.

Ali Ghiassi, alumnus of the part-time Professional LLM in Constitutional Law

Ali Ghiassi had his political awakening a little earlier than most. The graduate of OsgoodePD’s part-time Professional LLM in Constitutional Law was just seven years old when his family left Iran following the revolution that brought down the country’s monarchy. “When you see something like that at a young age,… Click to Continue Reading.

Bhuvana Rai, alumna of Osgoode's Taxation Law LLM

Bhuvana Rai has a judge to thank (at least partly) for her Professional LLM in Taxation Law. Just days into her clerkship at the Tax Court of Canada, one of Rai’s judicial mentors – obviously sensing potential in the fresh law school grad – had some advice for her: “He… Click to Continue Reading.

Henry Shew, alumnus of the part-time Professional LLM in Taxation Law

From a young age, Henry Shew has always appreciated a good riddle. “Solving complex mysteries and puzzles is something that I’ve always been drawn to. I like getting into the nitty gritty details,” he says. And Shew has found the perfect professional outlet for his passion in the world of… Click to Continue Reading.

Tamara Barclay, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in Constitutional Law

The roots of Tamara Barclay’s determination to become a lawyer go so deep that even she can’t remember a time before her sights were set on the profession. “The family story is that as a little girl, I always liked arguing. One day, I announced that I was going to… Click to Continue Reading.

Ryan Hayes, alumnus of the part-time Professional LLM in Business Law

Growing up surrounded by lawyers as both a son and a brother, Ryan Hayes thought he had a good grasp of the legal profession. However, his experiences didn’t leave him with a favorable impression. “My dad and my sister work on the litigation side, but I wanted to be the… Click to Continue Reading.

Charmaine Chung, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in Securities Law

Charmaine Chung has spent most of her career on the legal fast track. After enrolling in a Bachelor of Business Administration course at York University’s Schulich School of Business, Chung left early to take up a place at Osgoode Hall Law School. “I knew very early on that I wanted… Click to Continue Reading.

Ann Wallington, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in Canadian Constitutional Law

Ann Wallington is happy to admit she was a little anxious about her enrolment in Osgoode’s part-time Professional LLM in Constitutional Law. Before her 2013 start date, Wallington had spent most of the previous three decades immersed in the field of law and justice. That included 13 years as a… Click to Continue Reading.

Yonida Koukio, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in General Law

Yonida Koukio doesn’t just speak the language of her clients; she has walked in their shoes. Before establishing herself as a corporate and intellectual property lawyer assisting innovative startups with every stage of their business – from inception to exit – Yonida was the co-founder of her own tech enterprise,… Click to Continue Reading.

Kim Westfall-Connor, alumna of the part-time Professional LLM in Health Law.

Kim Westfall-Connor has never been afraid to blaze her own trail. After becoming the first member of her family to attend university, she qualified as a registered massage therapist (RMT), before carving out a unique career for herself in health law that includes elements of healthcare governance, professional discipline adjudication… Click to Continue Reading.

Veronica Syrtash, alumna of the part-time LLM in Intellectual Property Law

Veronica Syrtash could hardly have picked a more consequential moment in music or intellectual property law history when she began her career at the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) in 1999. In June of that year, just a week after Syrtash took up the role, a service known as… Click to Continue Reading.