Board Members
The WLAO Board is comprised of members who volunteer their time and leadership to govern the organization and lead initiatives to ensure its mandate is fulfilled.
Erin O’Donovan – President
Erin is a seasoned securities law regulator with substantial policy and operational expertise. Erin is a manager in the Corporate Finance Division at the Ontario Securities Commission, leading a team of professionals focused on the crypto, real estate and
syndicated mortgage sectors and the exempt market for securities.
Erin holds a Certificate in Canadian Financial Services Regulation, Analysis and Decision Making from Osgoode Professional Development, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University. Erin also has expertise in M&A matters, having spent more than 10 years as senior legal counsel in the Office of Mergers & Acquisitions at the Ontario Securities Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, she practiced securities law in the Toronto office of an international law firm.
Erin is a past-President of the Toronto Lawyers Association and served as a Director of the TLA from 2014-2024. Erin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, and is called to the Ontario Bar.
Fariya Walji – Vice-President
Fariya is a leader, litigator, public speaker, and volunteer. As Senior Program Director, Fariya is responsible for the development, implementation and management of the Law Practice Program (LPP): a high-quality, innovative, skills-based program for licensing candidates in Ontario. In this role, she is responsible for overall program quality and delivery, academic excellence, and collaboration with hundreds of members of the legal profession, who serve as subject matter experts, mentors, and assessors. She also identifies areas for innovation and implements change.
Previously, Fariya was the Assistant Director of Professional Development and Work Experience at the LPP. As a litigator, Fariya’s work was in the public sector as a Crown Counsel. She focused on trial and appellate level files (primarily in civil law) and contributed to special projects including a legislative amendment, branch policy documents, vendor procurement, and media releases.
As a speaker, Fariya presents on substantive topics – such as training police officers on civil forfeiture and expert witness testimony – and non-substantive topics, including diversity in the legal profession, building equity in hiring, the licensing process, career planning, application materials/interview skills, litigation and oral advocacy, alternate career paths, and more.
As a volunteer, she serves her community by mentoring junior members of the legal profession. She also sits on the Board of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario. Fariya enjoys adventures with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time, she likes to create things with her hands (painting, cake decorating, etc.), exercise, and read a delicious thriller or mystery novel with a hot cup of tea.
Emily Kostandoff – Treasurer
Emily is an associate at Quinn Family Law. She represents clients on issues including divorce, custody and access of children, child and spousal support, and division of property. Emily regularly appears before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Before joining Quinn Family Law, Emily summered and articled at a large boutique litigation firm in downtown Toronto. She obtained her Juris Doctor and her Honours Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Music and French Studies from the University of Ottawa. While attending the University of Ottawa, Emily competed in several oral advocacy competitions. She won first place in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition in Winnipeg. Her performance led her to the International Negotiation Competition in Oslo, Norway, where she competed against more than 30 teams from around the world and was awarded second place.
Emily has been a member of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario since her articles when she was an active member of the Articling Chapter. She has since sat on several committees including Communications and Programming. Emily joined the Board of Directors in 2020. Emily Kostandoff Quinn Family Law 416-551-1025 [email protected]
Vagmi Patel – Secretary
Vagmi practices Civil Litigation with an emphasis on subrogated claims involving construction-related litigation and contractor’s negligence, environmental disputes, product liability, and property damage. Prior to joining Mason Caplan Roti LLP, Vagmi articled and practiced at a prominent insurance defence firm in Toronto, assisting counsel in defence of personal injury, occupier’s liability, and contractor negligence. She has appeared in front of the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Justice, the Small Claims Court, the Social Benefits Tribunal, and the Landlord Tenant Board.
Vagmi obtained her law degree from the University of Windsor. While at Windsor, she worked as a litigator at the community legal clinic in Windsor representing underprivileged clients in civil, criminal, and residential tenancy matters. Vagmi completed a semester at the University of Mannheim in Germany through an exchange program. Prior to attending law school, Vagmi completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and worked as a research assistant in Molecular Biology and Pathology. During articling, Vagmi was Co-Chair of the Articling Chapter of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario. She now sits on the Mentoring and Social Committee. Education: Honours Bachelor of Science, McMaster University, 2012 Juris Doctor, University of Windsor, 2016 Professional Affiliations: Law Society of Ontario Women’s Law Association of Ontario Ontario Bar Association
Jocelyn Tatebe – Immediate Past President
Jocelyn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and International Relations from the University of British Columbia. She then attended McGill university where she completed a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B). As a lifelong learner, Jocelyn successfully obtained a CIPP/C privacy designation in 2022.
Jocelyn is a civil litigator whose practice is now focused on estate litigation. Prior to her current role, Jocelyn worked for 10 years as a civil litigator in the insurance defence industry where she developed a particular interest in coverage issues. Jocelyn also has experience working as an in-house counsel for an insurance company. Jocelyn has appeared before the Superior Court, various tribunals including the License Appeal Tribunal and the Divisional Court.
Jocelyn is an active member of the legal community in Ontario. She is the immediate Past President of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, an active mentor, and a regular speaker and moderator at continuing professional development seminars.
Najma Jamaldin – Director
Passionate about Canadian law and history, Najma has accumulated over 20 years of court expertise. With a deep belief in individual rights, she will apply herself to your case with professionalism and dedication. She engages in open communication with the client to ensure that you are kept updated throughout the process. She has experience dealing with complex matters before all levels of court and regularly appears in the appellate courts.
Najma has frequently participated as a panelist for several legal education conferences held by Ontario Bar Association, Osgoode Hall Professional Development Program and the Criminal Lawyers Association. She serves on committees for the Advocates’ Society and Women’s Law Association of Ontario. Najma works with a network of lawyers in shared chambers to ensure you are served from all angles. Najma Jamaldin Barrister & Solicitor 1702 – 180 Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8 [email protected]
Jacqueline Palef – Director
Jacqueline M. Palef is a Senior Litigation Associate at Branch MacMaster LLP. She joined the firm’s Toronto office in November 2022. Prior to joining Branch MacMaster LLP, Jacqueline practiced with a leading regional law firm in their Class Actions and Appellate Advocacy practice groups. Jacqueline has built a diverse class actions practice that includes both plaintiff and defence class actions and appeals. Her practice is not exclusive to Ontario, Jacqueline has worked on national class actions and advised clients internationally. She is admitted to practice law in Ontario, British Columbia, New York, and the District of Columbia. She holds law degrees from both American and Canadian universities.
Trained in both legal systems, Jacqueline brings a unique perspective to her files. She stays abreast of the developments in the law on both sides of the border to best serve the needs of her clients. Jacqueline has worked on a wide array of complex class actions including issues involving administrative law, commercial/contract law, constitutional law, cybersecurity and privacy law, insurance law, municipal law, product liability and tort law. She is well versed in the intricacies involved in each province’s legal system from certification to settlement. Her litigation experience includes cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Jacqueline is one of the co-editors of the textbook “Class Actions in Canada” authored by the Honourable Justice Ward Branch. Jacqueline sits on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Law Association of Ontario (WLAO). She also sits on the executive of the class action section of the Ontario Bar Association. Outside of the office, you will find Jacqueline on long walks with her miniature poodle Winnie. She enjoys reading, musicals, and is a proud Peloton enthusiast.
Kaitlyn Perrotta – Director
Kaitlyn completed her LL.B. in a Masters program at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. She received her NCA Certificate of Qualification from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in 2017 and was called to the Ontario Bar in January 2019. She also received a B.A. Honours from the University of Toronto. Kaitlyn completed her articles at a boutique law firm in downtown Toronto.
Her holistic approach to her practice is due to her diverse legal background which includes experience in real estate, estate planning and corporate law. Kaitlyn continues to cultivate her legal knowledge and enhance her practice by enthusiastically taking on future-oriented challenges, innovating efficient methods and providing quality service. She is committed to a thoughtful, respectful and communicative method in order to achieve the best outcome for her clients.
Outside of the office Kaitlyn is always planning an adventure to a new travel destination, but from day to day, she can be found spending time with family, walking her dog outside or running to catch the last empty bike at her local spin class.
Pearl Rombis – Director
Called to the Ontario Bar in 1994, Pearl has developed a diverse civil litigation practice in many areas of insurance and commercial law. Her insurance practice includes coverage matters for Canadian, US & UK insurers, reinsurers, self-insured corporations, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations as well as professionals. When acting as coverage counsel, Pearl drafts opinions, reservation of rights and position letters, and defence cost-sharing agreements. She also represents clients in court applications, at trial and on appeal, in cases involving coverage disputes over issues ranging from the duty to defend, additional insured rights, equitable contribution, breach of conditions and relief from forfeiture to bad faith conduct. Her insurer clients have benefited from her strategic counsel including securing favourable costs awards.
She also advises and represents commercial and residential property insurers in coverage disputes involving Builder’s Risk/COC, and equipment breakdown claims. In her insurance defence practice, Pearl is retained to defend a wide array of complex and large loss liability claims for wrongful death, premises and taverners’ liability, municipal and road design liability, product liability, construction defect, fire and water damage, railway derailment, environmental contamination, defamation, aviation, marine and automobile accident claims. Her commercial litigation and counsel practice includes handling employment law and wrongful dismissal claims, advising and representing commercial landlords in lease disputes and negotiations, as well as other commercial transactions including reviews of contracts and service agreements. While in-house counsel at an insurer, internally she led continuing education programs for client handlers and junior counsel and externally led programs for the insurer’s brokers.
Pearl continues to pay it forward. A lifelong learner, she remains active in attending, organizing and chairing continuing development programs for the profession, including the following roles: Board Member, Canadian Defence Lawyers Association, Past Chair of the CDL Women’s Caucus and Chair of the 2023 CDL Women’s Caucus Retreat, Chair of CDL’s 2023 Professional Liability Program, Panelist on Discovery at CDL’s 2022 Boot Camp, Co-chair of CDL’s 2022 Annual Insurance Coverage Symposium, Co-chair of CDL’s Pay Equity Issues facing Women in Law webinar, Speaker for the Ontario Bar Association – Insurance Section’s 2021 Additional Insured issues webinar, Civil Procedure Practitioner / Mentor for the TMU Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Principal / Assessor of Candidates for TMU’s Law Placement Program, Member / Mentor for the Women’s Law Association of Ontario and Coach / Advisor for the Law Society of Ontario’s Coach and Advisor Network, and is a member of both the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and Insurance Supper Club of Canada.
Mirilyn Sharp – Director
As lead counsel in one of the first class actions brought in Ontario, Mirilyn’s expertise and experience uniquely position her at the top of her field. Following her graduation from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, Mirilyn began work at a large Bay Street firm, where she remained as a partner for over 25 years. Mirilyn was the Chair of the Ontario Class Action Bench-Bar Liaison Committee in 2022, working with class action judges and lawyers on issues related to Ontario class action practice and procedure.
Mirilyn’s experience in class actions includes claims involving pharmaceuticals, insurance coverage, explosions, property damage, product liability, environmental contamination, investment advice, medical treatment, auto insurance, a water shortage in Cuba, and financial services advice. While a class action lawsuit can be disastrous for a defendant, not only in terms of time and money, but also in terms of reputation, Mirilyn is skilled at minimizing the disruption by guiding the case through all phases of the dispute. She does not employ huge teams of lawyers, but prefers to handle her files in an efficient and cost effective manner. Her goal is to move the matter to resolution as quickly and successfully as possible. The result is that her clients have been let out of proposed class actions either before the certification hearing and/or without ever having to participate in a trial.
Mirilyn’s extensive experience in reaching class wide settlements protects her clients from future claims, unwieldy costs, and the loss of reputation that often follows a public trial. In many cases, Plaintiffs will commence litigation in several jurisdictions. Because Mirilyn has significant experience litigating class actions in Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, her clients do not need to hire separate counsel to represent them in each Province. Having one lawyer capable of appearing in those jurisdictions is more cost effective than bringing on several senior litigators to appear in each jurisdiction.
Mirilyn also has experience in Federal Court and various provincial Courts of Appeal. She has been involved in several Leave applications to the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to her class action practice, Mirilyn acts for both commercial and insurance clients in various types of claims including professional liability, commercial litigation, contract disputes, and coverage matters.
Rebecca Shoom – Director
Rebecca Shoom is a Partner at Lerners LLP in Toronto. She acts as counsel in a wide variety of disputes, including commercial arbitrations, appeals, shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, employment litigation, defamation, education law, securities litigation, and professional liability disputes. She also offers dispute resolution services as a neutral arbitrator in commercial arbitrations, and has been accredited as a Qualified Arbitrator (Q. Arb) by the ADR Institute of Canada. She has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada, private commercial arbitration panels, and various administrative tribunals. She is the Chair of the Advocates’ Society’s Arbitration and Mediation Practice Group, and a Director of the Women’s Law Association of Ontario.
Maura Thompson – Director
Maura is a partner at Shillington McCall LLP. With over 27 years of legal experience, Maura is highly specialized in public entity litigation and catastrophic automobile/personal injury claims. Maura’s practice is particularly focused on defending claims involving historical sexual abuse, municipal liability and medical/professional/school board negligence. Her clients include insurance companies, municipalities, and public entities such as CASs, schools, group homes, service clubs, paramedic services, LTC facilities and hospitals.
Maura also provides legal services involving Human Rights Tribunal matters. In 2018 she became certified in conducting workplace harassment and violence investigations and in 2023 she obtained an advanced certificate. Maura completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University followed by her law degree at the University of Windsor and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1997. Maura is a frequent chair and dynamic speaker at legal industry programs. She is on the Board of Directors for Canadian Defence Lawyers, the Chair of Canadian Defence Lawyers Women’s Caucus and on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Law Association of Ontario.
Maura was a longstanding Trustee of the Middlesex Law Association. She is a member of Canadian Defence Lawyers, the London Claims Association, The Advocates Society and Women’s Law Association of Ontario. Maura volunteers for Anago, sitting on the Third Party Rights Review Committee. Maura was selected by her legal peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers In Canada (Insurance Defence).