Studying Law Around the World

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.

Laura Frederick is a contracts lawyer turned entrepreneur who has spent 25+ years practicing law across the globe—from San Francisco to Singapore—at top firms like Morrison & Foerster and leading commercial deals at Tesla.In 2020, she started a 30-day LinkedIn challenge sharing contract tips—and it changed everything. Her posts, paired with her signature contract-themed cartoons, gained massive attention, leading her to write the bestselling book "Practical Tips on How to Contract" (now in its second edition).She then launched How to Contract, a training platform that helps lawyers and in-house teams master real-world drafting and negotiation. She also created ContractsCon, a one-of-a-kind contract training event where speakers dress as characters like Sherlock Holmes and Mary Poppins!In this episode, Laura shares her unexpected career journey, how she overcame setbacks, why LinkedIn transformed her career, and what she’s learned about law, business, and life along the way.

Jeffery Lamont is the President of Lamont Wealth Strategies. In 1998, Jeffery Lamont followed in his father Ray’s footsteps and began his career in the financial services industry. Over the past 26+ years, he has helped entrepreneurs, lawyers, and other professionals build, preserve, and transition their wealth strategically. A consistent Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifier—with multiple achievements at the prestigious Court of the Table level—Jeffery has established himself as a trusted expert in financial planning, tax strategies, and wealth management. In 2015, he founded Lamont Wealth Strategies, recognizing the unique financial challenges that lawyers face. His firm specializes in helping lawyers take control of their financial future, leveraging tailored strategies and a team of tax, accounting, and financial professionals to ensure that lawyers—who work so hard for their money—get their money working harder for them. Expanding on his mission to educate and empower legal professionals, Jeffery co-founded The Wealthy Lawyer Podcast, a bi-weekly show dedicated to business development, practice management, and long-term financial success for lawyers. Through this platform, he shares insights and strategies to help lawyers achieve financial independence sooner and build lasting legacies. Jeffery lives in Oakville with his wife, Colleen, their two sons, Jack and Harry, and their daughter, Bridget. When he’s not working with clients or growing his business, he enjoys traveling, golfing, and coaching baseball.

Bill Denstedt is a partner at Loopstra Nixon LLP, where he specializes in all aspects of real estate transactions. With a client-focused approach and a commitment to leveraging new technologies, Bill ensures seamless and efficient service in every transaction.Before joining Loopstra Nixon, Bill was a Founding Partner of Realty Law, a firm dedicated to providing real estate services across Ontario. His extensive background in real estate law is complemented by his earlier experience in civil litigation, where he appeared before the Ontario Superior Court and at Examinations for Discovery. This litigation experience provides him with valuable insights when navigating complex real estate matters.Bill began his legal education at the University of Melbourne in Australia before returning to Ontario to complete his Juris Doctor at the University of Windsor. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition to his legal practice, Bill serves as the Real Estate Chair on the Toronto Law Journal Editorial Board, published by the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA).Outside of work, Bill enjoys both traditional and digital competition—balancing his passion for hockey with his love for high-level competitive gaming. He is also an avid traveler, with recent trips to England and Scotland.