Speakers

• George Brown, Paralegal President at George Brown Professional Corporation
  

  George Brown, Paralegal

  President at George Brown Professional Corporation

  When the paralegal profession became regulated in 2008, George became a member of the Law Society of Ontario as a paralegal licensee. George has been providing legal services since 1990, and over the years, he has developed considerable experience representing individuals and companies in a wide range of legal matters.

  Along with his practice, George is a member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario. He is the founder and secretary of the Ontario Paralegal Network (“OPN”); and former board member, secretary, and current President of the Ontario Paralegal Association (“OPA”). George is also the former board liaison for OPA’s membership committee.

  George is an active contributor to the professional development of Ontario paralegals. He has taught and assisted in a number of continuing education courses and public information sessions for the Ontario Paralegal Network, “Get Legal” hosted by Roger Dinner, “Toronto Speaks” hosted by Natalka Falcomer, the Ontario Paralegal Association, and the Law Society of Ontario.

  In addition to his commitment to the paralegal profession, George has a passion for music and spent time as a DJ in both New York and Toronto. In his spare time, George enjoys spending time with his son and daughter, practicing yoga, and travelling up north to enjoy nature.

• Naomi Sayers, J.D. Naomi Sayers, Lawyer and Notary Public
  

  Naomi Sayers, J.D.

  Naomi Sayers, Lawyer and Notary Public

  Naomi Sayers is a lawyer who has been praised for being a change-maker in the profession. She runs a Certified Aboriginal Business as per the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. Her areas of expertise include Indigenous, administrative, environmental, energy, mining, criminal, and corporate law.

  Naomi Sayers has experience working with government entities and corporate clients. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa.
  Naomi Sayers currently runs a modern and competitive digital practice. She serves clients in both Alberta and Ontario and is frequently invited by the media to comment on pressing issues and issues of national importance or public interest.

• Robert Burd, Paralegal Bencher and Chair of the PSC at Law Society of Ontario
  

  Robert Burd, Paralegal

  Bencher and Chair of the PSC at Law Society of Ontario

  Robert Burd has been a paralegal bencher since 2010. He has sat on the Professional Regulation Committee, Access to Justice Committee, Government Relations Committee, Tribunal Committee, Professional Development and Competency Committee, Challenges Facing Racialized Licensee working group, Mental Health working group and Paralegal Standing Committee. During his seven years as a bencher, he has chaired and sat on numerous discipline hearings and good character hearings.

  Robert is grandparented paralegal licensee. He has been providing legal services in the area of Municipal, Provincial and minor criminal matters for over 25 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.

• Stephanie Krug, LL.B Criminal Defence Lawyer, In Private Practice, Waterloo Law Association Member
  

  Stephanie Krug, LL.B

  Criminal Defence Lawyer, In Private Practice, Waterloo Law Association Member

  Stephanie Krug is a criminal defence lawyer with over 25 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has handled many high-profile criminal cases serving the Region of Waterloo and Wellington County. She is one of the first three women to practice criminal law in the region. Additionally, she is a member of the Waterloo Region Law Association.

  She focuses on challenges facing racialized communities and youth in the community. She is the director of the Waterloo Region Boxing Academy. Stephanie Krug is a graduate of the University of Ottawa law school.

  Stephanie Krug is regularly invited by media stations such as CTV News and CBC News to comment on criminal law matters.

• Ted Claxton, LL.B Lawyer and Program Coordinator - triOS College Kitchener, Hamilton and, London at triOS College Business Technology Healthcare
  

  Ted Claxton, LL.B

  Lawyer and Program Coordinator - triOS College Kitchener, Hamilton and, London at triOS College Business Technology Healthcare

  Ted Claxton has been a lawyer for over 40 years, a graduate of the University of Ottawa; his primary practice areas include criminal law, family law and personal injury litigation. He has been a legal educator for many years. Currently, he is an instructor and program coordinator for the law clerk and paralegal program at triOS College for the South West Ontario Region.

  He has published works in journals such as the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, and most recently, he worked on Justice Ed Salhany’s Practical Guide to Criminal Evidence as an editor.

  Ted Claxton gives back to his community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy and has acted as a leader for 25 years at Scouts Canada.

• Teresa Donnelly, LL.B Treasurer, Law Society of Ontario
  

  Teresa Donnelly, LL.B

  Treasurer, Law Society of Ontario

  Teresa Donnelly was elected as Treasurer by the Law Society’s governing body (Convocation) on June 26, 2020. The Treasurer is the top-elected official of the Law Society, which regulates Ontario’s lawyers and paralegals in the public interest. She is the fifth woman Treasurer in the 223-year history of the Law Society.

  Treasurer Donnelly was elected as a bencher in 2015 and 2019. She has served as Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee, Chair of the Human Rights Monitoring Group (Equity) and Chair of the Program Review Task Force. She also served on numerous other Law Society committees, task forces and working groups. She is on the faculty of the National Criminal Law Program, Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

  As a Prosecutor with the Ministry of the Attorney General for 26 years, Treasurer Donnelly has dedicated her career to providing access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence – the majority of whom are women and children. As the West Region Sexual Violence Crown with the Sexual Violence Advisory Group with the Ministry, from 2015-2020, she was one of seven prosecutors in the province dedicated to enhancing the quality of sexual violence prosecutions and the victim’s experience in the criminal justice system.

  Her community work focuses on contributing to the lives of children, families, the elderly and people with developmental disabilities.

  Treasurer Donnelly is a member of the Huron Law Association, the Ontario Association of Senior Crown Attorneys, the Advocates Society, the Women’s Law of Ontario Association and the Southwest Region Women’s Law Association.

  In 2018, the Sexual Violence Advisory Group that she was a member of, won the Excelsior Award for Innovation and Transformation. In 2014, she was named the Most Inspiring Women in Huron and in 2012, she received the Deputy’s Award for Excellence in the Aftermath of the Goderich Tornado. She has received several other awards and honours from the Ministry of the Attorney General during her career.

  She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1991 after receiving an LLB from the University of Toronto (1989). She also holds a B.A. (Hons) from McGill University (1986).