Event Calendar

Start Date: 6/3/2025 9:00 AM EDT
End Date: 6/3/2025 4:30 PM EDT

Venue Name: The Conference Centre at the OBA

Location:

Organization Name: Canadian Defence Lawyers

Contact:

Date: Tuesday June 3, 2025, 9:00am - 4:30pm EDT
Where: OBA Conference Centre | 20 Toronto St., Toronto
CPD Credits: 6 Hours CPD Credits, Substantive Professionalism, and EDI (to be confirmed post-event)
 
Cost:
CDL Members - Early Bird $600.00 plus HST | Full Price $650.00 plus HST 
Non-Members - Early Bird $800.00 plus HST | Full Price $825.00 plus HST 
*Early Bird pricing is available until May 12, 2025

Co-Chaired by:
Devan Marr, Research Lawyer, LAWPRO, Toronto, ,ON
Bronwyn Martin, Managing Partner, Moodie Mair Walker LLP, Toronto, ON

The Program:

30 Years of CDL Leadership – How did we get here?
Philippa G. Samworth, ASM, Senior Partner, Dutton Brock LLP, Toronto, ON
Justice Sandra L. Corbett, Alberta Court of Justice, Edmonton, AB
Jade Spalding, Partner, Cox & Palmer, Fredericton, NB

10 Under 10
10 Under 10 Lighting Round: Substantive Updates on Case Law Impacting Civil Litigation: Each presentation of 10 minutes, by a Young Lawyer under 10 years Call.

• What happens when there is a mistake in a release?
  Neala Kielley, Associate, Cox  Palmer, St. John’s, NFLD
   
• Achter Land & Cattle Ltd. v South West Terminal Ltd. 2024 SKCA 115: How a thumbs up emoji can equate to signing a legally binding contract
  Carly Dobbs, Legal Counsel, SGI Canada, Regina, SK
   
• Judicial commentary on trial costs decisions and the impact of litigation strategy
  Delila Bikic, Associate, Gardiner Roberts LLP, Toronto, ON
   
• A primer on the “Documents in Possession” hearsay exception
  Dean Barlett, Associate, Snowden Kamayah LLP, Toronto, ON

Defensible Fraud Investigations - Avoiding the risks of unconscious bias: A D&I Presentation
Moderator: Ethan Edwards, SBA Lawyers LLP, Toronto, ON
Bruce Pitt-Payne, Consulting and Training Services, Richmond BC
Tanya Walker, Walker Law Professional Corporation, Toronto, ON
 
OSINT Surveillance – Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and record!
Liz Pia, Senior Investigative Consultant, W3 Intelligence Research Group, Toronto, ON

Outmaneuvering the Competition – Combatting Plaintiff “Reptile” tactics
Matthew G. Moffett, Partner, GRSMB LLP, Atlanta, GA

Shut it down early – The when, why, and how of partial summary judgment motions
Allison Farley, Claims Counsel, LAWPRO, Toronto, ON
Hollis Bromley, Partner, Alexander Holburn LLP, Vancouver, BC

Putting Pen to Paper: Effective affidavits and evidence on motions
John Douglas Shields, Partner, Shields Harney, Vancouver, BC
Andrew Morrison, Shields Harney, Vancouver, BC

Cross Examination Panel: Don’t forget about Experts, Lawyers & Lay Witnesses
Michael Kealy, Partner, Moodie Mair Walker LLP, Toronto ON
Maureen Whelton, Managing Partner, Whelton Hiutin LLP, Toronto ON

Moving Up & On – The changing landscape of civil defence work
Moderator: Andrea Lim, Partner, Dutton Brock LLP, Toronto, ON (Moderator)
Alex Dirlis, VP, General Counsel (P&C Litigation), The Co-operators Group, Toronto, ON
Kate Genest, Claims Manager, Beazley Insurance, Toronto, ON
David Festeryga, Partner, Sullivan Festeryga LLP, Hamilton, ON

Accommodations:
Make the most of your evening by staying overnight at the Omni King Edward Hotel under the Canadian Defence Lawyers Board of Directors room block.

Hotel Reservations:
Book Your Stay Here
General Line: 416-863-9700
Omni Hotels: 1-800-THE-OMNI (800-843-6664)

---

Thank You to Our Sponsors