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COMMITTEES
Meet our Committee Members
YWL’s committees provide valuable support to the Board of Directors and help our social media and annual charity gala run smoothly. Interested in joining a committee? Email us at info@youngwomeninlaw.com.
The Marketing & Communication Committee assists the Directors of Marketing & Communication in running YWL’s social media. Committee members manage the organization’s social media profiles, post new and engaging content daily, and promote upcoming events across various platforms.
The Events Committee assists the Directors of Events and Sponsorship in running YWL’s annual charity gala. Committee members coordinate with sponsors, organize silent auction and swag bag donations, and provide day-of support.
Sonya Joshi, Marketing & Communication
Rosalind Pyper, Marketing & Communication
Prior to working as Legal Counsel, Rosalind summered, articled and was a corporate associate at a national law firm. Rosalind obtained her Bachelor of Arts Honours (with Distinction) in Psychology from Queen’s University and obtained her J.D. from the University of Windsor. While at Windsor, Rosalind studied for a semester at the University of Amsterdam as part of the Amsterdam Law School Exchange Program. During her undergraduate, law school and since law school, Rosalind has been very involved with the community, being a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, organizing the Ambulance Chasers Charity Run and Charity Fashion Show in law school and currently being on the Executive Committee of the MLSE Foundation’s Game Changers Committee, a committee dedicated to raising money for the MLSE Launchpad, a sports and academic facility for at-risk youth. Rosalind previously ran national-level cross country and in her spare time she plays volleyball, attempts to improve her golf swing and recently ran a half marathon. Marie Boisvert, Events
Anisa Arra, Events
Outside her practice, Anisa is the President of Albanian Canadian Lawyers Association, an advisor with the Sick Kids Foundation Professional Advisors Network and an adjunct professor at Humber College. She has volunteered as a mentor with the Ontario Justice Education Network and Osgoode Alumni Mentor Program. During articling, she joined the gala committee for the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade. While in law school, Anisa prepared lecture notes for a family law professor and was actively involved with Pro Bono Students Canada. Alia S. Besharat, Events
Awesta Masshoor, Events
Awesta graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2004 and passed the Washington State Bar in 2005. She was called to the bar in British Columbia in 2013 and transferred to the Law Society of Ontario in 2014. Awesta’s interests include running (she most recently completed a half marathon in October), travelling, and reading. Pooja Sihra, Events
Pooja currently works at Rousseau Mazzuca LLP with a focus on civil/commercial litigation, construction and employment law matters. Tara Mrejen-Cohen, Events
| Farrah Rahman, Marketing & Communication
After working in private practice for one year, Farrah moved in-house and is presently Legal Counsel at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. In addition to being a Marketing Committee member with Young Women in Law, Farrah is actively involved with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. She currently is a member of the She Matters Committee. Sandra Kimberg, Events
Sandra articled at a criminal law firm before joining Leo Adler Law an Associate. Her practice consists of criminal defence, regulatory defence, extradition and administrative law. Jacqueline Chan, Events  Jacqueline Chan is a lawyer at Lenczner Slaght. Jacqueline's practice encompasses a broad range of intellectual property litigation, including technology, pharmaceutical and biologics patents. Prior to joining Lenczner Slaght, Jacqueline summered and articled at a prominent civil litigation boutique, specializing in insurance and medical negligence matters. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, as well as administrative tribunals. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University, where she competed in the national Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Moot, and was awarded the Bereskin & Parr LLP Prize for highest-standing in Patent Law and the Queen’s Law Prize in Advanced Torts. While in law school, she also volunteered as a student caseworker at Queen's Legal Aid, providing litigation services to low-income residents in Kingston, Ontario. Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto. Prior to law school, she worked as an analyst at both a major teaching hospital and global technology consulting firm. Cecelia Yang, Events
Sukhman Grewal, Events
Through law school, Sukhman devoted her time to volunteering with advocacy organizations, including the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW), as a Court Watch Volunteer, and the "Only Yes Means Yes" program with the Legal Education Action Fund (LEAF). Sukhman is a family law practitioner. Celeste Matthews, Events
She is currently articling for a large real estate development firm, but still finds time to enjoy the finer things in life: dance, reading, and of course, trying every restaurant in Toronto. Ellen Dalicandro, Events
Angelique Bedford, Events
Khrystina McMillan, Events
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Marie recently received her LL.B from the University of Leicester and is currently completing an LL.M at Osgoode Hall Law School. After completing a certificate in dispute resolution this past summer, Marie grew a strong interest in collaborative law and plans to tailor her career towards family law. She is passionate about litigation and is looking for every opportunity to sharpen her advocacy skills! While attending law school, Marie was actively involved with the University of Leicester Legal Advice Clinic where she assisted unrepresented clients. She currently volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario. 
Anisa Arra received her J.D from Osgoode Hall Law School and previously had graduated with an B.Sc. (Honours) from York University. Anisa articled in insurance defence and was called to the bar in 2017. She is now running her own firm, Arra Law Firm, specializing in civil litigation and real estate law. 
Alia obtained her LLB from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom and her BA(Hons) in International Relations from Glendon College - York University. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2017 and has been an active member of Young Women in Law since coming back to Toronto from the UK. She articled at a boutique family law firm in Toronto and worked as an associate at a full service litigation firm. Alia enjoys being active in the legal community and aspires to give back to the community when she can. Alia was bit by the travel bug some time ago so be sure to ask her about her most recent adventure.
Awesta Masshoor is the Senior Legal Counsel for Schneider Electric supporting the global mergers and acquisitions team with a focus on North America. Awesta has been with Schneider Electric for nine years filling roles of escalating strategic value including: Contract Specialist for Schneider Electric’s solar division, outside counsel supporting Canada, Legal Counsel for Canada and the US Energy business. In her career with Schneider Electric, Awesta has specialized her skill set in negotiating and finalizing strategic deals.
Pooja Sihra studied law and obtained her LLB from the City University London in 2017. Pooja graduated with a Masters in Public Policy, Administration & Law from York University in 2013. 
Tara Mrejen-Cohen is Legal Counsel at Roots Corporation. Before joining Roots, she practiced commercial litigation on Bay Street and worked at the Ministry of the Attorney General as an Assistant Crown Attorney (per diem) and as Crown Counsel. She served as a law clerk to current Associate Chief Justice Jocelyne Gagné of the Federal Court of Canada, and current President Judge Eboe-Osuji of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, the Netherlands. Tara holds undergraduate and law degrees from McGill University and a master’s degree in law from the University of Toronto.
Farrah Rahman received her LL.B. from the University of Leicester and completed her LL.M. at Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to being called to the Ontario bar in 2016, Farrah articled at a boutique corporate and technology law firm. 
Sandra received her Master of Arts in Law from the prestigious University of Oxford where she finished with a First Class grade. At Oxford, Sandra participated in moots and the Law Society, and represented the university on the tennis and volleyball teams. 
Cecilia obtained her JD from Queen's University in 2017, and her double degree in Business and Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2012. She articled at a litigation boutique specializing in employment and business law, and currently works in-house at Crosslinx Transit Solutions building the new Eglinton TTC line.
Sukhman Grewal graduated with her J.D. from the University of Ottawa in 2016 and was called to the Bar in 2017. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Criminology, and Human Rights and Human Diversity from Wilfred Laurier University in 2012. 
Celeste Matthews is originally from Vancouver but haslived in Montreal, Hong Kong, and now Toronto. Celeste went to McGill University for her bachelor in Political Science, and Osgoode Hall for law school. 
Ellen Dalicandro obtained her J.D. and Honours Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa in 2016 and 2013, respectively. Ellen practices corporate law at Stikeman Elliott LLP. 
Angelique Bedford obtained her LL.B. from the University of Birmingham in 2016, and her B.A. (Hons) from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2014. In 2017, she obtained her LL.M. from Osgoode Hall Law School. Angelique is currently Legal Counsel at a large medical device company. In addition to being involved in Young Women in Law, Angelique is the Director of Volunteer Services for MADD Durham Region. 
Khrystina is a litigation lawyer who has worked at a number of leading national firms and litigation boutiques. She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. Khrystina obtained her J.D. from the University of Toronto in 2013, and graduated from the (then) University of Western Ontario with an Honours B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature in 2010. She volunteers as an adjudicator for the Matthew House Refugee Hearing Program and also serves as duty counsel for the Ontario Court of Appeal. In her “spare” time, Khrystina is a cast member of the Nightwood Theatre’s Lawyer Show. This year’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be Khrystina’s fourth show with them.
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