Michael Bowmile is the VP, General Counsel at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling. Michael started his legal career in the Business Law group at Dentons Canada, LLP, where he managed a general corporate practice with a focus on M&A. After leaving Dentons, he joined the Legal and Privacy Office at Cancer Care Ontario (now Ontario Health), before starting at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling in 2019. Since that time, he has worked in increasingly senior positions in Coca-Cola Canada Bottling’s legal department, assuming the VP, General Counsel role in April 2024. 

 

Jatinder Chera is a seasoned lawyer with ~17 years of legal practice gained from a leading national law firm, solo practice, and in-house.  

At present, Jatinder is Director, Legal Affairs for Lactalis Canada.  In this role, in addition to advising on day to day legal matters, Jatinder is a member of the Lactalis Canada Leadership Team and Co-Chair (Co-Compliance Officer) of the Lactalis Canada Grocery Code Compliance Office.

Prior to joining Lactalis Canada Inc., Jatinder had his own legal practice, Chera Law Firm, based in Peel Region with a focus on corporate law. Prior to his own legal practice, Jatinder was an Associate in the Restructuring and Insolvency group at Blakes, Cassels & Graydon in Toronto.  

In respect of community involvement, since June 2022, Jatinder has served on the Board of Directors of the Peel Children’s Aid Society.  

 

Erin started her legal career as a corporate commercial litigator at McMillan LLP in Toronto after graduating from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law in 2004. Following several years in a traditional lawyer role, Erin opened her solo freelance lawyer practice in 2013. In 2015 she founded Flex Legal Network Inc., a freelance lawyer platform that matches busy lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel with freelance lawyers to assist with overflow legal work on a project basis.

Erin is also on the Board of Directors for CanLII, has volunteered with several legal organizations, taught Legal Research & Writing at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and was the Regional Alumni Advisor (Toronto) for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, providing confidential career coaching to new lawyers. In addition to an award-winning law-blog, Erin writes for several legal publications and is a regular speaker on a variety of topics including alternative careers in law. Her first book, “The Modern Freelance Lawyer: A Guide to the Business, Ethics, and Evolution of Freelance Legal Work”, was published in 2025 and has reached several best seller lists on Amazon, and is also available at Indigo, Barnes & Noble, and the Toronto Public Library. 

Frédéric Duguay is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Information Officer at the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). He joined the CIB in November 2018 as its first General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.   

In his role, Frédéric leads the CIB’s legal, governance and information functions. His responsibilities include oversight of legal affairs, the corporate secretariat, regulatory and compliance matters, enterprise risk management and information and technology governance. He plays a key role in establishing legal, governance and risk frameworks that support the CIB’s investment activities and accountability as a Crown corporation. He also oversees the CIB’s information technology function, including the responsible integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the organization.   

Prior to joining the CIB, Frédéric was a Partner at Hansell LLP, where he advised boards of directors, shareholders and senior management teams on corporate governance, special situations, crisis management, stakeholder relations and board effectiveness. He previously held progressively senior positions at the Ontario Securities Commission.  Frédéric is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and holds a law degree from the University of Ottawa. He serves as Vice‑Chair of the Board of TFO, Ontario’s publicly funded French‑language educational media organization.  

Kim Gale is a seasoned advocate with a diverse background, championing her clients' causes across various platforms. Armed with an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, she is also a skilled mediator, emphasizing communication and negotiation to resolve conflicts effectively. Kim's journey in law began in 2015 when she graduated from City University of London and gained experience at a prestigious Bay street firm in the UK before returning to Toronto to pursue her legal career further.

Since her call to the bar in January 2018, Kim has been at the forefront of legal innovation, founding Law For Millennials, NCA Network, and Gale Law Professional Corporation, all aimed at fostering diversity, inclusion, and accessible legal services. Her specialization in estate litigation underscores her dedication to resolving intricate legal matters such as dependant support applications and will challenges. As she completed her Masters of Law in Dispute Resolution, Kim continues to expand her expertise, positioning herself as a prominent figure in the legal community, offering not only legal representation but also mediation services through Gale Mediation. 

 

Fernando Garcia is a senior legal and business executive with more than 15 years of experience serving as General Counsel and leading corporate functions across a range of industries. He is known for embodying the “+‑shaped” lawyer model, combining deep legal expertise with leadership across human resources, operations, and strategy to drive business performance. Fernando has built and transformed legal and HR functions into high-impact, technology-enabled partners, with a focus on scaling operations, strengthening governance, and enabling faster, more informed decision-making in complex environments.  

A recognized voice in legal innovation, Fernando frequently speaks on the evolution of the in-house role, legal operations, and the integration of technology into legal and workforce functions. He is particularly focused on how legal leaders can leverage data, process design, and emerging technologies to create strategic advantage. Fernando holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University along with dual civil and common law degrees, and has been recognized as Thought Leader of the Year by the Association of Corporate Counsel and Lexology, named one of the World’s 100 Leading General Counsel, and included among the Top 25 Most Influential individuals in Canada’s legal profession.  

 

Hina Latif is VP, General Counsel and Secretary at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada and Mercedes-Benz Canada. Hina embraces extreme ownership principles in leading the Legal teams and oversees matters relating to regulatory compliance, corporate governance, litigation, employment, privacy and competition law. Hina is focused on protecting and serving the businesses to minimize legal risks and on empowering business colleagues through education on relevant legal topics. Hina collaborates closely with peers on the executive leadership teams to devise and implement corporate strategy which relates to customers, dealers and employees. 

Hina founded and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at Mercedes and is also a co-founder and current President of the National GC Network. Hina is passionate about the advancement of those seeking careers in the law and mentors students and aspiring lawyers through formal and informal mentorship programs. Hina has been recognized by Canadian Lawyer as a Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer of 2024, was named a 2023 Automotive News Canada Notable Champion of Diversity for her commitment to DEI in the workplace and the community and is also a finalist for the CCCA-Mondaq In-House Counsel Action in Diversity and Inclusion Award. 

Prior to working at Mercedes-Benz, Hina acted as sole Canadian Counsel for a large North American fleet management company and also has extensive experience in the area of secured financing. She is qualified in Ontario, and in the UK, where she began her legal career in 2000 at a Magic Circle firm.

As a Partner at Neinstein, Rose is an integral member of the senior leadership team, driving innovative practices that keep the firm ahead of the ever-evolving legal landscape. Her keen organizational skills and strategic foresight have made her an invaluable source of knowledge and trust among her peers.

Rose also maintains a comprehensive medical malpractice and personal injury practice, focusing on birthing injuries and motor vehicle accidents. Over a legal career spanning more than 20 years, she has established herself as a diligent, driven lawyer, and a compassionate advocate capable of nurturing strong client relationships. Her skillful negotiation style is strategic and solution-oriented, optimizing client outcomes while ensuring their cases are advanced with the utmost care and attention.

"Here at LEAP, what do me and my team love most? Building strong relationships with the clients we serve; helping them thrive, achieve greatness and build wealth using LEAP's innovative technology to gain a competitive advantage. Welcome to LEAP, an all-in-one practice management solution built for law firms."

Malcolm Muthulingum is the Chief Executive Officer of LEAP Legal Software in Canada. Malcolm started at LEAP USA in 2016 as a Data Migration Specialist where he built and managed the Data Migration Team. He then quickly progressed to Director of Transitions and Director of Client Relations, in conjunction with serving on the LEAP USA Executive board.  

Before joining LEAP, Malcolm spent three years in Legal Tech playing an instrumental role in establishing a new legal software product in the Canadian Market. With a passion for building innovative businesses that support clients with best-in-class software solutions, Malcolm is excited to share how LEAP can help transform law firms in Canada and become more profitable. 

 

Christina is the Chief Legal Officer at BDO Canada LLP. In this role, she is responsible for leading the legal function across Canada, including litigation and dispute resolution, regulatory matters, governance, commercial agreements, transactions, privacy and employment-related issues. As a member of the Senior Leadership team, she has oversight over all legal affairs and provides strategic legal advice to executive and senior leaders on a wide range of matters. Christina also acts as the Board Secretary.

Before joining BDO, Christina was a partner at a global law firm where she provided opinions on complex and novel legal issues in litigation and pre-litigation matters involving contractual or statutory interpretation, arbitration disputes, class actions and numerous other corporate and commercial matters. Christina also previously served as a judicial law clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal for Canada. 

Paul Saunders is a Partner and the first Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Stewart McKelvey. After six years practicing corporate and M&A law, Paul has spent the past decade leading the firm’s strategic innovation efforts. His work spans practice innovation, legal project management, pricing, process improvement, profitability analysis, continuous improvement, change management, AI and emerging technologies, partner compensation, data analytics, and application development. Paul works closely with lawyers, staff, and firm leadership to address complex challenges and co-create practical, forward-looking solutions. In addition to his leadership role at Stewart McKelvey, Paul increasingly collaborates with other law firms seeking to build or enhance their own strategic innovation capabilities.  

 

Kurt Schlachter is the CEO of Stringam Law. Under his leadership, the firm is expanding throughout Western Canada via a combination of organic growth and targeted mergers, while fostering a culture of excellence and high-calibre client service.. Before becoming CEO, Kurt built a successful legal practice in business law, real estate, civil litigation, and family law. Deeply committed to community service, he has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations, including as the chair of both Economic Development Lethbridge and the Board of Governors of the University of Lethbridge. In 2023, Kurt and his spouse established an endowment for 2SLGBTQ+ students at the University of Lethbridge. Kurt holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Neuroscience, a J.D., and the prestigious ICD.D designation. Recognized for his leadership and commitment to community building, he was named one of Lethbridge’s Top 40 Under 40, given a traditional Blackfoot name, appointed King’s Counsel in 2022, and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Lethbridge in 2024.  

 

 Kosta Starostin serves as VP of Legal for Cohere, the security-first enterprise AI company. Kosta leads Cohere's global legal operations. Prior to joining Cohere, Kosta was a Corporate, M&A and Venture Capital attorney at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada's top ranked law firms, where his practice focused on advising emerging and high growth companies on commercial transactions, corporate governance, venture capital, and M&A. 

Allison Speigel is a commercial litigator with broad industry experience, representing clients in complex business disputes across a wide range of sectors. She is known for her strategic approach, intellectual rigor, and willingness to take on difficult cases that others might avoid.

Allison’s litigation practice includes construction, complex commercial and contract disputes, insolvency, real estate, professional negligence, and fraud-related litigation. She is a key member of the firm’s debt collection and enforcement team, where her tenacity and strategic insight are particularly effective against sophisticated fraudsters and judgment debtors intent on concealing assets.

Allison spent the first five years of her career litigating high-profile cases in New York City. Allison and her husband, however, decided that life in the great white north was too good to give up and moved back to Toronto, their hometown.

Since joining Speigel Nichols Fox LLP, she has played a central role in developing the firm’s innovative approach to the business of law, including the creation of alternative fee and value-based billing models. With Allison’s involvement, the firm was among the first in Canada to offer flat-fee, value-based billing for litigation matters.

When not working, Allison enjoys spending time with her family and arguing (with just about anybody) for sport. 

Tara Vasdani is the Principal Lawyer and Founder of Remote Law Canada. In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, she has been nominated for Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada. From 2020 to 2024, she has been awarded the Employment Law Firm of the Year Award, by Canada's Prestige Awards. In 2022, Tara has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Remote Work, and in 2021, she was recognized as one of the Top 10 Remote Work Advocates and Leaders in North America. In 2024, Tara has been named Female Trailblazer of the Year (Private Practice) by the Canadian Law Awards.

Prior to founding Remote Law Canada, Tara worked as a civil, subrogation and employment litigator on Bay Street. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2017, but was recognized globally by January 2018, as the first Canadian lawyer to serve a Statement of Claim using the popular social media app, Instagram. Tara’s innovative approach to civil litigation was quickly endorsed by the legal community, and she was featured in Above the Law, Globe Legal Post, Droit-Inc., on CBC, and profiled on the front page of the Law Times. In 2020, Tara joined Microsoft, Uber, FlexJobs, Distribute Consulting, and many others in advocating for remote work arrangements. In 2020, she was awarded a Top 10 Remote Work Advocate and Leader by AAE, nominated for RBC's 'Women of Influence', nominated for the WomenTech Network's Global Awards in the Global AI Inclusion and Global Technology Leadership categories, and a 'Woman of Inspiration' to the Universal Womens' Network.  

 

Jason Ward is a retired civil litigator, author, and co-owner of WARDS LAWYERS PC, a twelve-lawyer full-service firm in Central Ontario. Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Civil Litigation, he stepped away from litigation at age fifty after more than two decades inside the pressures of high-conflict legal practice and his own experience with mental health and substance use disorders.

Featured by the American Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Maclean’s, Jason writes and speaks extensively across Canada and the United States on the sustainability crisis facing modern legal practice. His nationally published essays and commentary examine the intersection of AI, billable-hour economics, institutional pressure, burnout, addiction, and the culture of performance that has long defined the profession.

He speaks across North America to legal organizations, regulators, law firms, corporations, and professional audiences about the future of the legal profession — and the personal cost of how that future is being built.  More information: Mentally Speaking