Jacquelyn is a partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Jacquelyn is designated as a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Jacquelyn has significant expertise representing a wide range of clients in environmental civil litigation, defence of prosecutions by environmental regulators, and at administrative appeals and hearings.

Jacquelyn also provides effective advice and solutions for environmental due diligence and compliance, brownfields/contaminated site remediation, and environmental approvals for air, odour, noise and waste. Jacquelyn has a separate practice advising both First Nations and private sector clients on Aboriginal environmental law issues. In addition to her law degree, Jacquelyn has a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences from Dalhousie University, a M.Sc. in Geology from St. Francis Xavier University, and a Master of Environmental Law & Policy from Vermont Law School. Jacquelyn is called to the bar in Ontario.

Jacquelyn Stevens, B.Sc., M.Sc., M.S.E.L., LL.B.
Jacquelyn Stevens
Partner Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP
4 King Street West, Suite 900
Toronto, ON M5H 1B6
Tel: 416-862-4828 | Fax: 416-863-1938
jstevens@willmsshier.com

Ronda Bessner is the Past President of the WLAO and was formerly Chair of the Mentoring Committee. Ronda has been involved in a wide range of areas of the law, practice, academia, and policy work. She currently teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School and is an adjudicator on the Consent and Capacity Board. Her areas of teaching are Evidence, Criminal Law, Youth Justice and Public Inquiries. She was formerly Assistant Dean at Osgoode. Ronda has also worked on a number of public inquiries and in law reform. She has held the position of Senior Legal Analyst at five public inquires including the Walkerton Inquiry (contamination of drinking water) and the Ipperwash Inquiry (the death of Dudley George in a land claim protest and occupation by Aboriginal people). She was also counsel to the Ontario Law Reform Commission and wrote several reports including Child Witnesses and Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace.

Ronda is the author of many published articles and has made numerous presentations including at the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, for the Ontario Court of Justice (Justices of the Peace), and at hospitals, universities, and conferences. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Gatehouse (child abuse), and served on the Clinical Ethics Committee at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and as an adjudicator on a university tribunal. She has been interviewed on numerous occasions by the media. Ronda received her Bachelor of Common Law (LLB) and Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) Degrees from McGill University and her Masters of Law (LLM) from Harvard University. After receiving her Masters Degree, she was a Visiting Researcher at Harvard where she researched and wrote on the admissibility of novel scientific techniques in criminal trials.

Ronda Bessner
rbessner@osgoode.yorku.ca

Kathryn received her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science. She began her first career in Marketing and Public Relations working for Canada's oldest and most diversified property management firm. She returned to law school in 1998 obtaining her degree from Osgoode Hall in 2001. She was called to the Bar in 2002. Kathryn articled at a large boutique litigation firm in downtown Toronto and began practicing at a full service litigation firm in 2004. In 2006 she chose family law as her specialty and has practiced exclusively in family law since that time.

Areas of Practice
Kathryn is focused on family law. She has trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Collaborative Family Law methods. She restricts her practice to family law as it is a complex multidiscipline area of law that requires knowledge of tax law, estates law, and corporate law. Kathryn has a passion for family law and focuses her efforts on efficient settlements. She helps families during difficult transitions with issues of custody and access of children, parenting plans, high conflict separations, child support, spousal support, property division, pension division and separation agreements.

Professional Experience
Kathryn has managed complex litigation files in all areas of family law. She has experience working with related experts including business valuators, financial advisors, income valuators, accountants, forensic accountants corporate counsel, criminal counsel, family counselors, custody/access assessors, family therapists, reintegration therapists and private investigators. She has managed high conflict files achieving resolution and closure for families.

Professional Activities
Kathryn is the past President of the Women's Law Association of Ontario has been a Board member of WLAO since 2002.

She has been a speaker at the Ontario Bar Association Institute, moderated panels at the Law Society of Upper Canada and adjudicated the WLAO/McCarthy and Aird & Berlis Student Awards.

She has been quoted in the Globe and Mail and Canadian Lawyer Magazine and has contributed to numerous programs and events. Her 2012 paper "Creditors and Family Law, with a focus on Bankruptcy" presented at the Ontario Bar Association Institute in 2013 was published by Money and Family Law by Carswell Legal Publishing.

Kathryn is a member of the Toronto Lawyers Association, Toronto Family Lawyers Association, and the Ontario Bar Association.

She is active on the Law Society Treasurer's Liaison Group, the Law Society Equity and Advisory Board, the Round Table of Diversity Association.

Kathryn's role with WLAO has been instrumental in forming partnerships with other women's groups such as Women in Capital Markets, Women in Mining, WeConnect Canada and the Canadian Association of Executives and Entrepreneurs.

Kathryn is also an Assessor for WeConnect Canada, an association dedicated to advancing the success of certified women business enterprises and corporate members to drive economic growth and prosperity through supplier diversity.

In the Media

• May 2014
  Speaker and Presenting Paper "Adult Child Support: Oxymoron? Definitely, Maybe", Institute of Law Clerks, 24th Annual Conference, Deerhurst Resort.
• May 2014
  "Sharing Success Strategies" Panelist in Windsor, ON, program jointly presented by OBA, WLAO, WLF, Networking breakfast and inspirational speakers.
• March 2014
  "Lean In to Articles" Panelist, joint program between LSUC and WLAO
• January 2014
  "The Case for Ladies Only" Jennifer Brown, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, quoting Kathryn Hendrikx
• Dec 4, 2013
  "Female lawyers leaving firms for key corporate in-house roles" Janet McFarland and Jeff Gray, Globe and Mail, quoting Kathryn Hendrikx
• July 2013
  "Creditors and Family Law, with a Focus on Bankruptcy - Part 2" Money and Family Law, Founding Editors, Barry Corbin and Lorne Wolfson, Carwell, Thomson Reuters, June 2013, issue 28 - 7
• June 2013
  "Creditors and Family Law, with a Focus on Bankruptcy - Part 1" Money and Family Law, Founding Editors, Barry Corbin and Lorne Wolfson, Carwell, Thomson Reuters, June 2013, issue 28 - 6
• May 10, 2013
  "Sage Advice for Women Lawyers" Law Society Gazette, quoting Kathryn Hendrikx
• June 18, 2012
  Law Times, Michael McKiernan
• April 16, 2012
  "New Coaching program really filling a gap" Law Times, Meredith Morrison, quoting Kathryn Hendrikx
• April 11, 2011
  Law Times, Michael McKiernan
• May 3, 2010
  Law Times, Michael McKiernan

Kathryn Hendrikx
HENDRIKX FAMILY LAW
Kathryn Hendrikx Professional Corporation
330 Bay Street, Suite 210, Toronto, ON M5H 2S8
T: 416-361-3231 F: 416-361-3472
Email: kathryn@hendrikxfamilylaw.ca
www.hendrikxfamilylaw.ca

Linda J. Wolanski was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1983. Linda has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of personal injury litigation. She is a member of the Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association and the Metropolitan Toronto Lawyer’s Association. She also serves on the executive of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario.

Bogoroch & Associates Barristers & Solicitors
150 King St. W., Suite 1707
Toronto, ON M5H 1J9
Office: (416) 341-5602 Fax: (416) 599-1800
lwolanski@borgoroch.com

Jennifer graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English and Psychology and holds an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was called to the Bar in 2002. She is a member of the Peel Law Association and the Women’s Law Association of Ontario. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for North York Women’s Shelter. She has a keen interest in feminism, equity and diversity issues as well as grassroots advocacy relating to these issues. When Jennifer is not practicing law and managing a law firm, she enjoys spending time with her family, and singing with a competitive women’s barbershop chorus, where she enjoys her role as Team Leader to the chorus management team.

Jennifer Gold
Partner
Wood Gold LLP | www.woodgold.ca

Audrey was called to the Ontario bar in 1995. She received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree (Political Science and French) from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1989 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from Ottawa University in 1993.

Since her call to the Bar, she has handled a broad range of insurance defense work including property and casualty, professional negligence, commercial and automobile insurance.

Audrey is involved in a number of professional organizations, and has served as a member of the Ontario Bar Association Board of Directors, Chair of Professional Development, OBA Chair of Sections, OBA Chair of Insurance Law Section, OBA Chair of Civil Litigation Section, Vice-Chair, OBA Insurance Law Executive, Public Affairs Liaison on the Insurance Law Executive, member of OBA Council and Chair of Counsel Forum at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

Audrey was awarded the Linda Adlam Manning Award in 2010 for volunteerism by the OBA. She has written articles, presented and chaired continuing legal education seminars organized by the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. She was an instructor for the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course, and Skills and Professional Responsibility Licensing Program.

She is a past newsletter editor for both the Ontario Bar Association Insurance and Civil Litigation section newsletters. She has been a contributor to Briefly Speaking Magazine, the Insurance Law Newsletter and the Civil Litigation newsletter. Audrey has written many articles and spoken regularly at seminars on a range of topics. She has organized, chaired or presented at a number of continuing legal education programs.

Outside of work: Audrey enjoys travelling, spending time with family and friends, and getting involved in charitable organizations.

Audrey’s Recent Successes:

Congratulations to Blouin Dunn Lawyer, Audrey Ramsay on her Lexpert Zenith Award Celebrating “Women Leaders in the Legal Community”

T. 416.365.7888 ext.119
E. aramsay@blouindunn.com

Nicole is an associate lawyer practicing environmental, Aboriginal, and energy law at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Nicole advises a wide range of clients including Indigenous communities, government, individuals and the private sector.

Nicole regularly advises and assists clients with natural resource project issues, including the duty to consult, environmental assessment and building impact agreements. Her practice encompasses environmental law issues including flooding, contaminated soil and groundwater, spills response and discharges. She assists clients with the environmental aspects of corporate and commercial transactions including property transactions, leases and tenant issues. Nicole helps clients with all aspects of environmental litigation, from environmental civil litigation and defence of environmental regulatory prosecutions to administrative hearings. Nicole obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School where she completed an Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources and Governments.

Jocelyn joined Dutton Brock in 2013. Jocelyn's insurance defence practice focuses on first party accident benefits disputes. She has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice as well as the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

Called to the Bar in 1993, Cynthia is highly respected, ethical and principled.

Trained in Collaborative Practice, Cynthia is dedicated, wherever possible, to using the collaborative model to help her clients achieve a fair resolution in a timely manner.  While focused on the big picture in order to reach a conclusion that allows her clients to move on with their lives, Cynthia pays careful attention to the law and to the details that are important to her clients, ensuring that their views are heard and respected.

Cynthia believes that most families don’t need to go to Court and, using the Collaborative Practice Model, can successfully achieve fair and satisfactory results in a cost-effective manner that is faster and less stressful than going to court.  When court proceedings cannot be avoided, Cynthia advocates for her clients in a manner that focuses on effectively working towards a resolution.

Known in the Family Law Bar for being a strong advocate, Cynthia is efficient, knowledgeable and compassionate.   She is competent in all issues that arise when spouses separate and is also able to advocate effectively when Marriage (“pre-nup”) Contracts or Co-habitation Agreements need to be prepared.

With over 25 years of experience, Cynthia has also developed an expertise in complex family law jurisdictional issues, particularly in the area of child abduction by a parent and the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

A component of Cynthia’s practice involves all matters relating to estate litigation, will contestation and power of attorney review and court challenges.

In addition to her busy legal practice, Cynthia is the current Secretary of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, was past Co-chair of the Family Lawyers Association of Ontario, mentors many young lawyers and supports continuing legal education, including presenting at various events.