Menu
Log in
Become a YWL member today!
Log in

Board of directors

Meet the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is a team of women lawyers who direct the organization. Each Director fulfills a specific role and manages the responsibilities associated with her portfolio. The Directors work together to put on exciting events and other activities to further YWL’s mission statement. Interested in joining the Board of Directors? Check the website for updates about upcoming applications!

Anisa Arra

President

aarra@youngwomeninlaw.com


Anisa Arra received her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School and in 2017 founded Arra Law Firm where she practices business law, real estate law, and civil litigation. Her passion is working with startups and entrepreneurs. Concurrently, Anisa is a Council Member of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation and an advisor with Sick Kids Professional Advisors’ Network. Previously, she co-founded and chaired the Albanian Canadian Lawyers Association, served on the Young Advocates’ Standing Committee of The Advocates’ Society, and taught a law course at Humber College.

Leah Burlock

Director of Events 

lburlock@youngwomeninlaw.com


Leah Burlock is an associate at Strigberger Brown Armstrong LLP, where her practice focuses on the defence of tort claims and statutory accident benefits. Leah earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Western Ontario and obtained her J.D. from the University of Windsor. While at law school, Leah served as a Business Associate for the Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues and was the Head Chair of Windsor Law’s ‘AskLaw’ Committee. 


Molly McCarthy (she, her, hers)

Director of Events

mmccarthy@youngwomeninlaw.com

Molly McCarthy is currently counsel at the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada.  Molly obtained her JD from Queen’s University in 2020 and graduated from University of Ontario Institute of Technology with an Honours BA in Legal Studies in 2015. Prior to law school, she worked for two years with a boutique wealth management firm in downtown Toronto. While at Queen’s Law, Molly was actively involved with the Queen’s Elder Law Clinic, served on a number of Committees, and participated in the Bader International Study Program.

Jack Goslett

Independent Director 

jgoslett@youngwomeninlaw.com


Jack Goslett is a Partner at Aird & Berlis LLP and the Co-Chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative. Jack’s practice focuses on banking and corporate/ commercial law, with an emphasis on domestic and cross-border lending transactions, including syndicated credit facilities, senior and subordinated/mezzanine financings, asset-based lending and venture capital/private equity investments. Jack completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2007 and obtained her J.D. from the University of Windsor in 2011.

Joanna Hunt-Jones (she, her, hers) Independent Director 

Joanna Hunt-Jones is an associate lawyer at Normandin Chris LLP, where she practices all aspects of family and matrimonial law. She obtained her J.D. from Queen’s University in 2014. Prior to law school, Joanna completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Global Development Studies) and a Masters of Public Administration at Queen’s. She has held past volunteer positions with various organizations, including the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, Pro Bono Students Canada and the Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance.

Sahar Talebi (she, her, hers)

Director of Sponsorship 

stalebi@youngwomeninlaw.com


Sahar Talebi is an associate at Lenczner Slaght. Sahar’s litigation practice involves a variety of areas, including complex commercial and professional liability matters. Sahar obtained a Dual JD degree from the University of Windsor in 2018.

During law school, Sahar was focused on various advocacy and access to justice initiatives. She also volunteered at Pro Bono Students Canada: Windsor Law Chapter, the Windsor Refugee Sponsorship Support Program, as well as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Legal Clinic in Detroit, Michigan.

Pooja Sihra (she, her, hers)

Vice President & Director of Membership 

psihra@youngwomeninlaw.com


Pooja maintains a broad transactional practice in general corporate and commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, financings, corporate reorganizations and dispositions.  She completed her law degree from the University of London.  During law school, she volunteered at Start-Ed Pro Bono Legal Clinic where she assisted small business owners and tech startups on a variety of corporate, commercial, and intellectual property matters. 

Sandra Buhain

Director of Marketing & Communications

sbuhain@youngwomeninlaw.com


Sandra is currently working as Legal Counsel at Desjardins Insurance practicing civil litigation. Prior to moving in-house, she practiced in the area of insurance defence and subrogation at a Toronto firm. She obtained both her American J.D. and Canadian J.D. in Detroit and Windsor respectively. Prior to law school, she completed a paralegal studies program and worked at the Criminal Duty Counsel office at Old City Hall. She has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the License Appeal Tribunal and had the experience of appearing in court in person before becoming a “virtual litigator”. Working from home, she has picked up various hobbies including collecting and rehabilitating orchids. When she is not working you can find her travelling, playing a weekday match of tennis or baking delicious desserts!

Katrina Kairys 
Director of Marketing & Communications

kkairys@youngwomeninlaw.com


Katrina practices charity and not-for-profit law at Patel Kairys Law.  She completed her undergraduate degree at McGill University and obtained her J.D. from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.  Katrina practiced charity and not-for-profit law at a national law firm for several years prior to co-founding Patel Kairys Law.

Katrina is a director of ACCESS Community Capital Fund, a charity based in Toronto, and she volunteers as a member-at-large of the Ontario Bar Association Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section Executive. Katrina has authored articles in the Estates, Trusts & Pensions Journal, Canadian Tax Foundation Conference Report and Ontario Bar Association Section Insider.


Victoria Pileggi

Director of Events 

vpileggi@youngwomeninlaw.com


Victoria Pileggi is an associate at Paterson MacDougall LLP, where she practices mainly in aviation law. Prior to joining the firm, she summered and articled in the advocacy department of an international law firm. Prior to law school, Victoria worked in health and neuroscience research and obtained four degrees leading up to her law degree. During law school, Victoria was actively involved in the mooting community, participating in the Wilson Moot competition where her team came first in the preliminary rounds and second in the overall competition.

Taleen Ohanessian
Director of Events

tohanessian@youngwomeninlaw.com


Taleen Ohanessian is currently Partner, Legal Counsel at Hazelview Investments. In her role, Taleen is responsible for structuring new investment products, supporting the investment teams with asset and equity transactions, and general corporate legal support across Hazelview’s different business lines, including governance, litigation, privacy and banking law matters. Prior to joining Hazelview, Taleen practiced law at a large Bay Street law firm in Toronto, where she acted for a wide variety of public and private issuers in the areas of corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions and corporate and commercial law.

Sameha Ohmer

Corporate Secretary

somer@youngwomeninlaw.com

Sameha Omer is currently working a legal counsel for the Canadian Human Right Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, Sameha was the Director of Legal Affairs at the National Council of Canadian Muslims, where she provided legal services to community members on issues related to human rights and civil liberties. Sameha obtained her J.D. from the University of Ottawa and her M.Sc in Microbiology and Immunology from Western University. 


Bianca Salive

Treasurer

bsalive@youngwomeninlaw.com

Bianca Salive is an environmental lawyer at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Bianca attended law school at the University of Ottawa, and received an undergraduate degree in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. While at the University of Ottawa, Bianca volunteered with 'Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights" and the "University of Ottawa Association of Women and the Law". Throughout her education, Bianca participated in exchange programs in Australia and the Netherlands.

 




Follow us on social media!


© 2019 Young Women in Law

Home    Privacy Policy   Contact

Get In Touch


info@youngwomeninlaw.com

PO Box 1098, Toronto Dominion, 

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1P2

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software