Studying Law Around the World

Tony Albrecht, a former litigator and founder of CONTENDER, shares insights on how lawyers can effectively use LinkedIn to build trust and visibility. He emphasizes the importance of viewing LinkedIn as a platform for genuine engagement rather than just a job board. Albrecht discusses his career shift towards legal marketing and the lessons learned from pivoting careers. His advice is rooted in the principles of consistency, generosity, and authenticity, showcasing how meaningful connections can lead to significant opportunities.

Amanda Haverstieck is a former big law litigator turned legal writing coach, author, and founder of Writing Law Tutors LLC. After 20 years of writing for high-stakes litigation, she now helps lawyers and law students sharpen their writing skills, build confidence, and communicate more clearly and effectively.She is the author of Dear 1L: Notes to Nurture a New Legal Writer, a bestselling guide for new law students. Through one-on-one coaching and upcoming courses, Amanda is working to change how legal writing is taught, making it more accessible, supportive, and practical for everyone in the legal profession.Amanda is also a proud mother of three and brings the same warmth and insight from her personal life into her teaching. Whether you are a junior litigator, a 1L student, or someone preparing to enter law school, Amanda’s work is all about helping you grow into the writer and lawyer you want to become. Visit writinglawtutors.com.

Abdi Aidid researches and teaches in the areas of civil procedure, torts, and law & technology at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.He received his B.A. from the University of Toronto, his J.D. from Yale Law School and his LL.M from the Faculty of Law. Professor Aidid previously practiced litigation and arbitration at Covington & Burling LLP in New York City and most recently served as the VP, Legal Research at Blue J, where he oversaw the development of machine learning-enabled research and analytics tools. 

A partner in Torkin Manes’ Litigation Group, Marco’s practice focuses on appellate litigation and applications for judicial review. He regularly appears on behalf of clients before both the Ontario Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal.In practice, Marco strategically counsels and advocates for his clients on a range of appellate and public law matters, including administrative, construction and commercial law. Marco invests substantial time to get to know his clients and their matters in order to gain a full understanding of their legal needs. He leverages his years of experience, judgment and legal knowledge to provide clients with opinions and practical advice on various legal issues.Marco is actively engaged in the University of Toronto’s Alumni Mentorship programs, providing mentorship to students in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Faculty of Law. Marco is past co-chair of Torkin Manes’ Diversity and Inclusion Committee. An award-winning legal author, Marco has published many articles on a host of legal issues and is Chief Editor of Torkin Manes LegalWatch. Since 2019, Marco has repeatedly won Lexology’s quarterly legal writing award as a “Legal Influencer” in the categories of Dispute Resolution (Canada) and the Future of Legal Services (Canada) for his publications on appellate and civil litigation. Marco was also recognized by Mondaq as a Thought Leader of Public (Administrative) Law in Canada. Marco was recently shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious Canadian Online Publishing Awards for his legal writings on the use of AI in Litigation.As a testament to his prominence in the profession, Marco was recognized as a leader in his field in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and was nominated as a contender for Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada.

María Mercedes García is a corporate and securities lawyer with a unique cross-border perspective. Originally from Argentina, she practiced tax law in the public and private sectors for over a decade and taught at the university level before relocating to Canada in 2020.Starting over had a cost: learning a new legal system and rebuilding her career from scratch. After relicensing in Ontario, she now provides in-house legal advisory to Canadian mining companies with projects around the world -including Argentina- focusing on corporate structuring, securities compliance, and ESG matters.In this episode, Mercedes brings a 360-degree perspective to the law practice, bridges cultural gaps in the profession, and shares what she learned about it: legal advice isn’t just about rules, it’s about context, purpose, and real-world consequences.

Recognized leader in legal tech, Colin S. Levy is dedicated to revolutionizing the legal industry by bridging the gap between technology and law. As an author, educator, and speaker, Colin demystifies the complexities of legal innovation. He’s the author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem, co-author of CLM for Dummies, and editor of the Handbook of Legal Tech.With a passion for empowering the legal tech community, Colin’s insights appear in Today’s General Counsel, and he serves as a judge for the American Legal Technology Awards. As General Counsel for Malbek, he stays at the forefront of Contract Lifecycle Management, advising startups and investing in emerging tech.Colin’s mission is clear: to inspire and lead the legal world into a tech-driven future.

Gabriel Lins is a lawyer at CSC Netherlands, where he provides legal support on corporate governance matters to global private-equity firms. He holds an LL.M degree in Commercial and Company Law from Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL), graduating with cum laude, and a bachelor's degree from Federal University of Pernambuco (BRA). Gabriel is admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association and has also worked in the country advising clients in venture capital and M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, and commercial contracts.

Today we’ll be speaking with Gina Alexandris, Career Coach & Consultant for Legal Professionals. Gina’s own beliefs and values have been shaped by both her professional and academic experiences, and her experiences as the daughter of Greek immigrants to Canada, being a wife, mother, sister and aunt.Before becoming a full-time Coach and Consultant for the Legal Profession, Gina held these formal roles: Senior Director, Law Practice Program at TMU (formerly Ryerson University); and Special Advisor to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law; Director of the Strategic Planning Unit with the Legal Services Division at the Ministry of the Attorney General; Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyers Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law; and Assistant Dean and Director of Career Services at Osgoode Hall Law School. Before that, she practised civil litigation and family law.Lifelong learning is a core value and passion for Gina, who holds degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School, UofT/OISE (in Adult Education), a Certificate of Completion for the Art and Practice of Leadership Development Program at the Harvard Kennedy School and earned her Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. https://ginaalexandris.com/

Alex Munoz leads Sherrard Kuzz LLP’s Education Law/Educational Institutions practice. He isone of Canada’s leading lawyers in education law, with more than 20 years’ experiencerepresenting all levels of school boards and departments. Alex’s extensive practice focusses onemployment law, human rights, criminal law, regulatory and administrative matters, as well ascivil litigation in the education law context. He has appeared as counsel in courts andadministrative tribunals across Ontario, including the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal.Alex is the long-standing editor of the Annotated Ontario Education Act (Thomson Reuters).Prior to joining Sherrard Kuzz LLP, Alex was the Associate General Counsel to the TorontoDistrict School Board (“TDSB”), the largest public school board in Canada, and one of thelargest in North America. Before joining TDSB, Alex was a partner in a boutique litigation firm.A former Board Member and President of the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association (“CHBA”),Alex remains a CHBA mentor. He is a current Board Member of the Canadian ColombianChildren’s Organization, as well as a youth soccer and baseball coach.

Jay Baykara is the CEO of KSI Law, a firm that operates in the creditor space. He focuses on aligning legal services with the goals of creditors by understanding their needs and delivering outcomes that reflect those priorities. He also explores the use of technologies like machine learning to support legal strategy and improve decision-making.He has trial and appellate experience and has appeared before various tribunals and all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2024, Lexpert named him one of the 'Lawyers to Watch.' Jay holds a B.A. from York University, an LL.B. from the University of Manchester, completed a J.D. exchange at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned an LL.M. from the University of Toronto.