"The Top 25 is about a level of respect, the ability to influence public opinion and help shape the laws of this country; contribution to the strength and quality of legal services; and social and political influence and involvement," writes Gail Cohen, editor of Canadian Lawyer magazine, in her introduction to "The Top 25 Most Influential".

For the second year in a row, Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Sossin made the list in the Changemakers category. Sossin was praised for his important role in Canadian legal education with the magazine making a special note of his leadership role in experiential education. "With the Law Society of Upper Canada planning radical changes to legal licensing in Ontario, Sossin's novel and creative approaches to legal education promise to play an important role in the profession in the coming years," noted the magazine.

Justice David Brown, a judge on the Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, was also included in the Changemakers category. Brown was lauded for his colourful delivery and outspoken judgements. Canadian Lawyer magazine noted Brown's criticism of "the motions culture" in which he decried the actions by "lawyers preferring to bring complex motions rather than settle matters through a civil trial".

Making the list as part of the In-house Counsel category, Osgoode grad Norie Campbell, top legal counsel for the Toronto Dominion (TD) Bank, leads a team of more than 60 lawyers. She also appears on the top 40 under 40 list. Canadian Lawyer made special mention of Campbell's important role in the bank "at a time when TD is making serious inroads into the US market". Campbell is also active in the United Way.

In the Corporate-Commercial Law category, University of Ottawa Professor and Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, Michael Geist, is marking his third year on the Canadian Lawyer list. His column appears in the Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen newspapers, and he is an author and blogs regularly on copyright law. "Through his academic work and public outreach, Geist illuminates issues surround copyright law and the Internet," noted the magazine.

Appearing in the Criminal Law/Human Rights category, Osgoode alumnus Brian Greenspan, a partner in the Toronto firm Greenspan HumphreyLavine, made the list for his continuing leadership in Canadian criminal law. The publication referred to his work to help "redefine the scope of the defence of duress now available to all accused". Greenspan appeared on the magazine's first top 25 list that was published in 2010.

Also appearing in the Criminal Law/Human Rights category is Justice Rosalie Abella, a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada. Abella was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1991 by 91ŃÇÉ« for her leadership role in human rights law. "Abella was the sole dissenter in the 2012 case of R. v. N.S.," noted the publication, "where she argued that requiring a witness to remove her niqab would effectively force her to choose between her religious beliefs and participating in the justice system."

Full details are available on the  magazine website.

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IP Osgoode, Osgoode Hall Law School’s Intellectual Property & Technology Law Program, and OCE, a not-for-profit corporation that drives the commercialization of Ontario academic research, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to solidify the program.

Above: From left, Trish Barrow (director of Commercialization & CCR, Ontario Centres of Excellence), Osgoode students Shirley Bai, Rita Gao, Sebastian Talluri, Andrea Dias, Hashim Ghazi and Professor Giuseppina D'Agostino (founder & director, IP Osgoode). Missing from the photo is student Jeremy Loeb.

“Intellectual property law is a key component in Ontario’s and Canada’s innovation agendas,” said Stan Shapson, 91ŃÇɫ’s vice-president research and innovation. “The IP Osgoode/OCE project reflects our expanding research partnerships with industry and community partners and will further stimulate knowledge transfer between academia, government and industry groups pursuing innovative agendas.”

The IP Osgoode/OCE project will be launched as a 12-month pilot program with approximately six Osgoode students assisting OCE-supported companies with numerous IP matters – from patents to trademarks to copyright. The program will provide students with a combination of IP law theory and practical experience, while OCE is better able to support promising new companies, including helping them reduce start-up costs.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative for a law school to have a formal collaboration with a proven innovation driver such as OCE, at this level,” said Osgoode Professor , founder and director of IP Osgoode.

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“These companies are at the early growth stage,” D’Agostino said. “They need help from a very early point without having legal fees and various other costs choke them before they can get up and running. Having our IP students involved with these OCE-supported start-ups while at the law school will minimize the companies’ IP costs because our students will be working pro bono.”

Initially, the students will explore general areas of IP, with a special focus on patent law. The students will then be engaged in a variety of IP activities such as reviewing IP licensing transactions, performing prior art searches, reviewing patent specifications, performing freedom-to-operate and clearance searches, assisting with the preparation and filing of provisional patent applications, and conducting legal research.

To better enable the students, OCE’s CCR will provide $30,000 for the project’s operating budget. OCE will work with IP Osgoode and a clinical supervisor to select the most suitable OCE-supported companies, based on the skills and knowledge of the participating students, the scope of potential projects that may come from a particular company, and other factors that are consistent with the program’s overall goals.

“OCE’s Centre for Commercialization of Research is delighted to be working with IP Osgoode on this initiative,” said Tom Corr, OCE president & CEO. “Starting with a solid IP strategy is essential to the successful commercialization of leading-edge discoveries. The companies we work with have limited resources, but tremendous potential. This partnership with IP Osgoode will solve problems at a crucial time for start-up companies that are poised to create jobs and strengthen Ontario’s economy.”

“For many high-potential start-ups, their IP is their most precious commodity,” said Mario Thomas, senior vice-president, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and managing director, Centre for Commercialization of Research. “IP protection is vital for technology companies to get their products to market, so the value of this legal expertise and guidance provided by IP Osgoode cannot be stressed enough.”

Osgoode Dean also applauded the partnership, describing the IP Osgoode/OCE project as “a robust collaboration that will extend the classroom into the realm of real-world IP issues and benefit both Osgoode IP students and the start-up companies.”

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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The Ontario Legal Philosophy Partnership (OLPP), which celebrates its founding with a launch reception on Friday, May 13 in the Great Hall of McMaster’s University Club, is the brainchild of three internationally recognized legal philosophy professors who will be the partnership’s administrators. (Osgoode); Michael Giudice (91ŃÇÉ« Philosophy); and Wil Waluchow (McMaster Philosophy and the Senator William McMaster Chair in Constitutional Studies) are the brain trust behind the partnership.

Above: From left, OLPP founders and administrators Michael Giudice (91ŃÇÉ«), Wil Waluchow (McMaster) and François Tanguay-Renaud (Osgoode)

"Through the OLPP, Osgoode, as well as McMaster's and 91ŃÇÉ«'s departments of philosophy confirm their status as international leaders in legal philosophy and associated dimensions of political and moral philosophy,” said Tanguay-Renaud, co-director with Giudice of the new combined Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Philosophy (JD/MA) program offered by Osgoode and 91ŃÇɫ’s philosophy department, and acting director of the at Osgoode.

“This collective effort, which builds on solid pre-existing relations between the partners, promises to enable new ambitious research collaborations and grant applications, allow for the development of cutting-edge opportunities for our JD and graduate students, and project even further the partners' already well-established reputations in the field."

Tanguay-Renaud said the OLPP formalizes existing links between the three partners that have become increasingly solid and fruitful since the beginning of the millennium.

“The OLPP will create even further opportunities for each institution and their students,” said Tanguay-Renaud, noting that it has already helped to inspire and dynamize the Nathanson Centre’s Legal Philosophy between State and Transnationalism international seminar series, Osgoode’s ’Or ’Emet annual public lecture, the Transnational Legal Theory Journal, the McMaster visiting speakers series, Osgoode’s recent criminal law theory international conference, and other prominent legal philosophy initiatives at McMaster and 91ŃÇÉ«.

The OLPP’s latest initiative sees McMaster’s philosophy department, under the leadership of Waluchow and fellow OLPP member Professor Stefan Sciaraffa, hosting an international conference on “The Nature of Law: Contemporary Perspectives” May 11 to 15, with most of the biggest names in general analytical jurisprudence present.

The OLPP, which is also composed of a large contingent of faculty members from the three partner institutions, will be strongly represented in the conference program with Giudice delivering one of the keynote addresses. One of Osgoode’s newest hires, Professor l (hired from the University of Warwick in the UK), and Distinguished Research Professor (now serving as acting dean of 91ŃÇɫ’s Faculty of Graduate Studies) will also be presenting papers.

Suzanne Crosta, dean of McMaster’s Faculty of Humanities, and Osgoode Hall Law School Dean both have high praise for the OLPP. “We look forward with great anticipation to the rich intellectual synergies that will result from the new partnership,” Crosta said.

“The partnership brings together internationally recognized scholars to explore a shared passion for the philosophy of law and will provide a unique experience for the law and philosophy graduate students involved,” noted Sossin.

What’s more, Brian Leiter, professor of law and philosophy at the University of Chicago and one of the most eminent legal philosophers of our day, has written glowingly about the OLPP on his philosophy . "This will be of interest to students of legal philosophy, involving 91ŃÇÉ«, Toronto (and its law school, Osgoode) and McMaster University," writes Leiter,  "which, together, comprise probably the strongest legal philosophy cohort in Canada and one of the best ones in North America."

For more information, visit the  website.

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Right: Professor Sanjeev Purshotam Sahni (left), head of strategic human resources and assistant dean of Research & International Collaborations at Jindal Global Law School, and Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Lorne Sossin

Osgoode is leading the way among Canadian law schools in this kind of research-driven collaboration in India and in thinking creatively about how to engage legal educators and the legal profession in both countries to achieve mutually beneficial results, says Lisa Philipps, Osgoode associate dean research, graduate studies & institutional relations.

The delegates found the trip valuable both for their current research on transnational legal issues and for the development of Osgoode’s institutional relationships and collaborative programs in India.

“As this Osgoode trip to India vividly demonstrated to those who participated, we have much of value to learn from India, and much to share as well,” says Osgoode Dean .

Above: Professor Charles D. Maddox, assistant director of the Centre for Global Corporate & Financial Law & Policy, Professor Vikramaditya Khanna, visiting faculty at Jindal Global Law School, and Philipps, associate dean research, graduate studies & institutional relations at Osgoode, discuss issues at the symposium in India

Sossin and Philipps were among the Osgoode delegates to attend a two-day joint symposium, , with faculty and graduate students from Jindal Global Law School at O.P. Jindal Global University. The symposium explored issues ranging from access to justice and legal regulation of sexuality to the tax treatment of foreign investment.

Left: From left, Arun Khatri, Jindal Global Law School research associate, with Dayna Scott, Lorne Sossin and Allan Hutchinson of Osgoode

It was a continuation of last year’s symposium at 91ŃÇÉ«, funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada and Osgoode's , which included a delegation from India (See YFile, Oct. 25, 2010).

“This two-part conference was designed to establish an Indian-Canadian conversation on issues of pressing mutual interest,” says Philipps. “Indeed, too often, a separation of opinions between elements of the global North and global South is presumed insurmountable on issues ranging from climate change to development. In the last five years, from Hong Kong to Copenhagen, critical global issues have been mired in a difference in perspective between nations.”

Right: From left, Philipps; Professor Y.S.R. Murthy, assistant dean of projects & institutional development and executive director of the Centre for Human Rights Studies; and Charles D. Maddox

Through research and collaborations, such as the one with India, “We can facilitate discussions about innovative solutions to local and global policy issues,” she says. “Canada and India have the possibility to play bridge-builders in this North-South dialogue. It is believed that a Canadian-Indian dialogue can adopt a more sober, and potentially incisive, outlook on a range of global policy issues that simply cannot be ignored as yet another decade draws to a close.”

One of the benefits of the collaboration is a Memorandum of Understanding between the two law schools, which is currently being developed to include JD and graduate student exchanges and continued faculty visits. Discussions are underway toward a variety of joint teaching and research initiatives. Osgoode also renewed its student exchange agreement with the National Law School of India at Bangalore and strengthened relations with other law schools, including the National Law University in Delhi.

Left: Professor François Tanguay-Renaud (left), acting director of the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime & Security, and Sanjeev Purshotam Sahni

“Osgoode faculty, staff and students have expressed both interest and excitement to develop more exchanges, internships, joint conferences, research projects and collaborative pro bono projects, just to scratch the surface,” says Sossin.

In addition, Osgoode faculty met with Supreme Court justices, government ministers, independent think tanks, non-governmental organizations and leading members of the legal profession.

A selection of the best new research coming out of this collaboration will be published in an upcoming peer-reviewed special issue of the .

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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“The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice is one of the country’s leading organizations devoted to interdisciplinary research on civil justice,” says Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Professor Lesley Jacobs, who teaches law & society and political science and is the director of the YCPPL. “It is a non-profit, independent, national organization established in May 1998 to help meet the challenges of modernizing our civil justice systems in Canada.”

The forum works collaboratively with all of the sectors and jurisdictions in the justice community in Canada, and increasingly those based internationally. Serving as a clearing house, coordinator and facilitator to share knowledge between jurisdictions, the forum creates new knowledge, addressing gaps in information and understanding about the civil justice systems.

“It acts as a catalyst to transform this knowledge into successful reform and encourages evaluation of new initiatives so that we may learn from the reforms that are undertaken,” says Jacobs. “I anticipate numerous collaborative research projects between YCPPL and the forum. These projects will offer Osgoode faculty and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies many exciting opportunities.”

Leadership for the forum is provided by Osgoode Professor , who serves as the law school's director of clinical legal education, as well as chair of the board for the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice.

“The forum has emerged as a leading voice in the search for accessible and effective civil justice. This is a wonderful opportunity for Osgoode and 91ŃÇÉ« that benefited from Professor Jacobs of the YCPPL and Professor Farrow’s strong leadership,” says Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Lorne Sossin.

The forum will be hosted by the YCPPL on the sixth floor of the 91ŃÇÉ« Research Tower. A workshop is planned for mid-January to offer all interested faculty an opportunity to see the research opportunities the forum offers and to help shape the future of the forum at 91ŃÇÉ«.

For more information, visit the website or the  website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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This G20 summit weekend, while peaceful protests did turn violent, some believe the police – who with their sheer numbers in full riot gear – went too far, at times, in their actions, proportionately to the threat.

For , a University of Toronto law professor and incoming dean of 91ŃÇɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School, the handling of the sound cannon struck a good balance. The police displayed it early, opponents challenged it in court and in the end a judge ruled it could be used, but only under certain conditions.

By contrast, the granting of additional police powers to detain those refusing to present identification within five metres of the fence, while approved in a lawful fashion, was not publicized, said Sossin.

"The middle ground to me is where the reasonable citizen or protester will say, this is a fair tool for the police, it may not be ideal," he said, adding when there are individuals looking for windows to throw bricks through, it doesn't seem unreasonable to search bags.

But the extra police powers expire on Monday, surveillance cameras are coming down and tapes will be destroyed after a certain time.

"It's a quintessentially Canadian approach to the legitimate demands of security, but with the enduring commitments to privacy, civil liberties and allowing dissent to happen," Sossin said.

The complete article is available on .

Professor Allan Young was also interviewed about the fallout from the G-20 summit in The Globe and Mail June 26:

People being tried on G20-related charges will appear in court behind closed doors: Anyone wanting to check out the proceedings will have to watch via video feed.

Having the public in the courtroom would be a security risk, court staff say. Several lawyers argue refusing the public entry undermines basic principles of an open-court system.

But Alan Young, a professor at 91ŃÇɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School, said making the public watch from an adjoining room isn't all that unreasonable. What's more worrisome, he said, is that authorities are anticipating such a glut of G20-related charges that they've set a special courtroom aside to deal with all of them.

“It concerns me they think there’ll be so many people they’re bringing in,” he said. “It’s sort of an overzealous approach.… It seems they’re trying to send a message.”

The complete article is available on .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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91ŃÇÉ« has appointed Professor Lorne Sossin as dean of its Osgoode Hall Law School.

Sossin, who most recently taught at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, will begin a five-year term on July 1.

Right: Lorne Sossin

Prior to joining the University of Toronto, where he served as associate dean  in the Faculty of Law from 2004 to 2007, Sossin was a faculty member at Osgoode Hall Law School and an associate-in-law at Columbia Law School in New 91ŃÇÉ« City. He is also a former litigation lawyer with Borden & Elliot (now Borden Ladner Gervais) and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

“I am so pleased that Professor Sossin has accepted our offer to become the next dean of Osgoode and I’m very much looking forward to working with him,” said President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “He brings many strengths that will help build 91ŃÇɫ’s reputation and ensure that our students receive the best legal education in Canada.”

Sossin holds doctorates in law from Columbia University and in political science from the University of Toronto. His teaching interests span administrative law, public administration, professional regulation, civil litigation, ethics and professionalism and legal process. He received a 2008-2009 Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Award for Teaching Excellence.

"I'm thrilled to be coming home to Osgoode,” Sossin said. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students and alumni to further enhance Osgoode's leadership and innovation in legal education."

Shoukri also acknowledged the dedication of Osgoode’s interim dean, Jinyan Li.

“I’d like to thank Professor Li for her steady hand and leadership during this process,” Shoukri said.

Sossin will succeed former Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan, who has taken on a new role as 91ŃÇÉ«'s vice-president academic & provost.

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