This issue of the alumni magazine, Catalyst, explores the forces that drive change within the legal profession and the Faculty community — how ideas, institutions, and relationships shape what comes next. As the Faculty enters a new era under its current leadership, we reflect on the many ways its influence extends beyond the classroom, through both the evolution of legal thought and the people who help open doors for others.
Across these stories, the catalyst for change takes different forms. In some cases, it appears in the gradual transformation of legal systems and the ways constitutional meaning shifts over time. In others, it is found in mentorship, access, and guidance — moments of connection that expand opportunity for the next generation. It also emerges in the day-to-day practice of law, where ways of thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving are learned, applied, and passed on. Together, these perspectives show how change is not only something that happens to institutions and individuals, but something shaped by them in turn.
Table of Contents
History of the Faculty: Tracing defining moments in the Faculty’s evolution and the ideas, people, and decisions that have shaped its identity over time.
In Conversation with the Dean(s): A reflection with Dean Christopher Essert and Dean Emeritus Robert Sharpe on leadership and the evolution of the Faculty across time.
Meeting the Moment: Q&A with President Melanie Woodin: A conversation with President Melanie Woodin on the role of universities in a changing world and how institutions respond when the moment demands more of them.
Opening Doors to Law Through Opportunity and Mentorship: Alumna Amma Anaman reflects on how access, guidance, and early professional experiences shape the beginning — and development — of a legal career.
The Quiet Transformation of the Rule of Law: Professor David Dyzenhaus explores how legal principles evolve through gradual shifts in interpretation, practice, and context.
Finding Family Law Through Unexpected Turns: Alumna Alyssa Weinerman reflects on a career shaped less by linear planning and more by discovery and the clarity that emerges through experience.
The Jackman Family: A Legacy of Leadership and Civic Spirit: A generational story of law, public service, and institutional stewardship — beginning with early ties to the Faculty and culminating in a gift that reshapes its future.
At One Table: A Celebration of Five Decades of Leadership and Friendship: In March, past and present Deans of Jackman Law came together in a rare gathering that reflected more than fifty years of institutional leadership and continuity.
Alumni Reunion 2026: Highlights from Alumni Reunion 2026, where Jackman Law graduates from across generations came together to share memories, reconnect with classmates, and revisit the place where so much of their story began.
Class Notes: Updates from alumni across cohorts, highlighting personal and professional milestones across the community.
History of the Faculty
Explore key moments in the Faculty’s history, from its earliest foundations to today. This timeline traces how legal education, institutional growth, and the people behind it have shaped its evolution.
[Listen] In Conversation with the Dean(s)
As the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law enters a new chapter, Dean Christopher Essert speaks with Dean Emeritus Robert Sharpe about what it means to step into the role of Dean — from its public-facing nature to the experience of leading former teachers and long-time colleagues, and what it means to guide a Faculty community from one generation of leadership to the next.
Meeting the Moment: Q&A with President Melanie Woodin
by Alicia Fung & Annette Paul
As the University of Toronto approaches its bicentennial, it enters a new chapter under new leadership. In this conversation, President Melanie Woodin reflects on her first year in the role, the responsibilities of a research-intensive university in a rapidly evolving world, and the role of community — on campus and beyond — in shaping what comes next.
You're coming up on one year since you stepped into the role as U of T's president. What has stood out to you most in this first year leading the University?
I can hardly believe it’s been almost a year — time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been an incredible year.
In my installation address, I spoke about the moment we’re in and the responsibility the University has to meet that moment for Canada. Looking back over nearly 200 years, U of T has consistently stepped up during times of challenge — whether during economic crises, world wars, or periods of uncertainty. We find ourselves at another defining moment now, and we have a responsibility — as we have many times in our long history — to step up for our country.
What has inspired me most this year is seeing how much our community is already doing that. I initially thought we might need a strategic plan to figure out how to “meet this moment,” but the community already was way ahead of me. Across our campuses, our students, staff, and faculty are contributing their expertise, advancing research, and bringing ideas into the world — whether through public engagement or entrepreneurship.
Having been a student, a scholar, dean and now president of U of T, what does the institution mean to you personally?
It means so much to me. I first came here when I was 18 knowing I wanted to be a scientist, but not entirely sure what that would look like. What I did know was that this was a research powerhouse.
From the moment I arrived, I felt at home. With the exception of some time away for my PhD and postdoctoral work, I’ve spent my entire adult life here. So it’s much more than a place where I studied or work — it's part of who I am.
Even now, coming onto campus each day — ideally by bike — I feel an immense sense of pride in the work being done here and the community I’m part of.
You've had a distinguished career in neuroscience and academic research. How does your experience as a researcher and scholar influence the way you think about the university's role in fostering research and innovation across disciplines?
There’s often a moment that most researchers and scholars can look back on as a defining moment, and for me it came during my time as a postdoc at Berkeley. I had developed a detailed hypothesis and research plan that I was quite proud of. My supervisor agreed it was well thought out, but then asked a simple question: why focus on these details when we should be asking the bigger questions?
That moment stayed with me. It doesn't mean that we don't have to figure out how the whole system works, but when you want to stay at the at the forefront of your research field, you need to be asking the big questions.
At U of T, that mindset translates into how we approach research and innovation. Our strength lies in bringing together talented people across disciplines to tackle complex challenges — challenges that no single individual or field could solve alone. We’ve seen this in areas like sustainability. We went from being one of the top carbon emitters in the province to being well-ahead of schedule to becoming climate positive — demonstrating how research can be applied in practice at an institutional scale.
We’re seeing a similar opportunity now in areas like artificial intelligence (AI). We have a responsibility to help shape how it’s developed and applied, and that includes working across disciplines — including with Jackman Law — to ensure it’s used responsibly and for the public good.
During your tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, you mentioned that you were motivated by community building and wanting people to feel a sense of belonging to Arts & Science. How do you think that focus on community has shaped your approach to leadership at the university level?
Well, I would say it's kind of selfish, because I feel like I'm at my best in leadership when I have a sense of belonging and I feel tightly connected to the community — that's when I feel that I can be the best leader I can. I say that, of course, with some humour in it, because I also want everyone to have the same experience.
Early in my time as Dean of Arts & Science, we undertook a large consultative process to develop an academic plan. What stood out to me wasn’t just the outcomes, but the process itself — bringing students, staff, and faculty together in conversation. Many people told us it was the first time they had engaged with others across roles and departments in that way. That sense of shared purpose was incredibly powerful.
I saw something similar during the early days of the pandemic. Communication became critical, and what began as a simple effort to reach out to students evolved into an ongoing dialogue. Despite the challenges, many students expressed a stronger sense of connection to the community than they had before.
Those experiences reinforced for me that creating opportunities for people to come together — to listen, reflect, and engage — is essential to building a strong and resilient institution.
What role does an engaged alumni community play in shaping the life and impact of a university like U of T?
We have one of the largest and most engaged alumni communities in the world, with more than 700,000 graduates globally. Their impact is significant.
Alumni contribute in many ways — through mentorship, through sharing their professional experience, and by helping shape how we prepare students for what comes next.
President Melanie WoodinOne of the most consistent messages I hear from alumni is how well U of T prepared them for their careers. While the academic experience can be demanding, that academic rigour is often what sets them apart later on.
That perspective is incredibly valuable for current students. Hearing directly from alumni about the long-term impact of their education helps provide reassurance and context, particularly in a time of rapid change.
In that sense, alumni play a vital role in extending the university’s impact beyond campus.
Given the rapidly changing world that we're experiencing, what role do you think that the U of T community – including faculty, students, alumni, and staff – can play in shaping future societies?
I see this as very much our moment. The more complex the world becomes, the more important the role of institutions like ours.
Universities bring together trusted voices and deep expertise to address complex challenges — from public health to climate change to emerging technologies. We saw that clearly during the pandemic, and we continue to see it today.
In times of uncertainty, people look to institutions they trust. That places a responsibility on us — not only to advance knowledge, but to help guide society forward.
Looking forward over the next five years, what are the most exciting opportunities and the biggest challenges you see?
Well, I’m an optimist. I often have rose-coloured glasses on — quite literally. So I see a tremendous amount of opportunity ahead. As we approach our bicentennial and enter our third century, it’s a moment to think carefully about where we want to go next.
We often talk about rankings, and while they are important, I also see them as a prompt to ask bigger questions. We are already among the top public universities in the world, but what would it take to go further?
We have many of the ingredients — an exceptional academic community, a diverse and dynamic city, and a strong national context. The opportunity is there. The challenge is determining how we realize that potential, which will require focus and ambition.
Opening Doors to Law Through Opportunity and Mentorship
Amma Anaman (JD/MBA ’12) on her legal career, student outreach, and creating pathways into the profession.
by Alicia Fung
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“My dad is a dentist, and my mom’s a dental assistant,” Amma Anaman (JD/MBA ‘12) recalls. “I thought I would grow up to be a dentist or orthodontist.”
It was a natural starting point — but not the path she ultimately followed. Over time, Anaman's interests shifted, shaped by the mentors, experiences, and opportunities that helped her see what else was possible.
A key influence came from her father’s hobby: options trading during the dot-com boom. Through him, she was introduced early to the world of finance, even managing a small portfolio of her own. That curiosity led her to the University of Saskatchewan, where she pursued a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in finance and developed an interest in corporate transactions.
Law entered the picture somewhat unexpectedly. A business law course, taught by a former judge, introduced her to case law and the interpretive nature of legal reasoning.
“I loved working through case law,” she says. “It showed me that there isn’t always a black-and-white answer. There are different ways to reason through a problem.”
It was also her first experience learning from someone who helped her see law as a way of thinking, not just a profession, and it became a turning point. Anaman decided to pursue law, eventually choosing the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, now known as the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, and enrolling in the JD/MBA program. It was during her time at Jackman Law that Anaman began to more consciously recognize the role that mentors and learning environments played in shaping her trajectory, and the responsibility she would later feel to provide that same access to others.
At U of T, she found that the dual degree reflected the kind of work she wanted to do in practice. Law sharpened her analytical thinking, while the MBA component strengthened her ability to communicate, collaborate, and translate complex ideas into practical solutions.
Amma AnamanI loved the duality. Law changed how I think, and business school changed how I communicate.
She also credits her professors with shaping how she approaches her work today. Their ability to distill complex issues, communicate clearly, and centre empathy in legal reasoning left a lasting impression — one that continues to inform how she engages with clients and colleagues.
After graduation, Anaman began her career in private practice before moving in-house, first at Nasdaq and now at American Express. Her work spans corporate governance, sustainability, and regulatory matters, often requiring her to translate complex legal frameworks into practical guidance for business leaders.
But when asked what has been most meaningful in her career, she does not point first to transactions or policy work — she points to mentorship.
“One of the most meaningful parts of my career has been the mentorship opportunities,” she says.
That commitment began during her time at Jackman Law, where she served as co-chair of the Black Law Students’ Association. There, she helped lead an initiative designed to introduce prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds to legal education.
Originally focused on Black students, the program expanded as organizers recognized that many others also lacked exposure to law as a potential path.
“We realized there were so many students who hadn’t really seen themselves in that space,” she says. “We opened it up.”
What began as a small initiative quickly grew into a broader outreach program, offering opportunities for students to engage with law school through mock lectures, panels, and conversations with current students and alumni.
For Anaman, the experience reinforced something she had already noticed in her own journey: access often begins with visibility.
That insight continues to shape how she approaches mentorship today. She participates in formal alumni programs and regularly connects with students and early-career lawyers who reach out informally, often through LinkedIn.
“I remember what it felt like to reach out to people when I was a student,” she says. “It can feel like you’re imposing. I try to be very open now.”
Over time, her understanding of mentorship has broadened. While she once sought out mentors who shared similar backgrounds, she now sees its value as far more expansive.
Amma AnamanThe people who have had the biggest impact on me didn’t necessarily look like me. They were people who saw my work, supported my growth, and gave me opportunities.
For Anaman, mentorship is not separate from her career — it is part of how the profession sustains itself over time.
“The conversations I had with people made a real difference in how I moved forward,” she says. “And I think it’s important to keep that going.”
As the legal profession continues to evolve, she sees mentorship as one of the ways it maintains continuity — connecting past experience with future potential and ensuring that knowledge and opportunity are carried forward.
Her own path reflects that continuum. The guidance she received as a student navigating new environments continues to shape how she supports others today.
Sometimes, she suggests it begins with something simple: a conversation, an introduction, a moment of encouragement. And often, that is enough to change what someone believes is possible.
The Quiet Transformation of the Rule of Law
by Alicia Fung
The rule of law is often contrasted with the rule of men — the idea that societies governed by law are governed by stable rules rather than individual discretion. But as David Dyzenhaus, a professor at the University of Toronto Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, notes, even under the rule of law it is still people who rule; the difference lies in how their decisions are constrained by legal and institutional frameworks.
That distinction, he suggests, becomes more complex when legal systems begin to change not through breakdown, but through shifts in the political culture that underpins the formal institutions, including shifts in judges’ interpretative methodology.
In his upcoming book, The War against Law: What’s Wrong with Common Good Constitutionalism, Dyzenhaus explores how contemporary debates about judicial authority, executive power, and the "common good" are reshaping how the rule of law is understood in modern democracies. Focusing on developments in the United Kingdom, the book explores how the legal arguments that appear to defend constitutional order can also, over time, shift how limits on government power are interpreted and applied.
A central concern in his book is that the language of the “common good” is, on its face, difficult to oppose. It appears neutral and inclusive, yet it is precisely because of its openness that it can be used to justify very different — and in some cases illiberal — understandings of government authority and legal constraint, including ones that significantly expand executive power.
This leads to a deeper tension at the heart of his analysis: the rule of law can function both as a constraint on power and as a means through which power is exercised. Dyzenhaus describes law as operating in this dual capacity — at times as a shield protecting individuals from arbitrary authority, and at times as a sword that can be used to enforce political decisions that trample on legally protected rights.
In a recent conversation, he suggested that contemporary democratic stress rarely resembles the abrupt breakdowns or major regime changes associated with the twentieth century. Instead, institutions typically remain in place: courts continue to function, elections proceed, and constitutional frameworks appear stable, even as their practical meaning shifts.
“Nothing seems to change on the surface,” he says, pointing to countries where institutional structures remain intact even as debates intensify about the role of courts and the scope of executive authority. “But at the same time, there are warning signs of stress.” He warns that the Canadian legal order already shows signs of this stress with some lawyers and politicians advocating a version of the common good in the cause of what Victor Orbán, Hungary’s former leader, called ‘illiberal democracy’.
He develops this argument through a detailed case study of the United Kingdom’s Rwanda Act, which proposed relocating certain asylum seekers abroad for processing. For Dyzenhaus, the debates surrounding the Act illustrate how governments can advance significant expansions of executive power while continuing to operate within existing legal frameworks, framing such measures in terms of necessity, public interest, or the “common good.”
Throughout his book, his argument returns to a consistent theme: the rule of law does not only depend on formal institutions, but also on how legal limits are interpreted over time. As a result, constitutional change does not always require dramatic rupture. Instead, it can occur incrementally — through shifts in legal reasoning, evolving understandings of authority, and changing expectations about the role of courts.
Looking ahead, Dyzenhaus suggests that the central challenge for democratic societies is not only preventing institutional breakdown, but recognizing how change can occur within institutions themselves. As he put it, it is possible for there to be “a wholesale change in how our constitutional order works, even though the institutions themselves would remain in place.”
As democracies continue to navigate these pressures, Dyzenhaus’s analysis suggests that the durability of the rule of law cannot be measured solely by whether institutions remain in place. Just as important is how those institutions are understood, interpreted, and gradually reshaped through legal and political argument.
The challenge, then, is not only to preserve constitutional structures, but to recognize when their meaning is being quietly redefined — often in ways that are difficult to see until they have already taken hold.
Finding Family Law Through Unexpected Turns
Alyssa Weinerman (JD ’08) on building a career in family law and her work with students through the Family Justice Centre.
by Alicia Fung
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“I loved my law course in high school,” Alyssa Weinerman (JD ’08) recalls. “But I hated the mock trial — I was terrified. My teacher told me, ‘You’d make a great lawyer, but maybe don’t be a litigator.’”
Ironically, she is now a partner at Epstein Cole LLP, where she helps clients navigate complex family disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and, of course, litigation.
Weinerman initially pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration at Western University’s Ivey Business School and briefly considered accounting as a potential career path. But a summer internship at a large accounting firm quickly clarified her direction. “I hated it,” she says. “I knew accounting wasn’t my future.”
With accounting no longer a fit, she returned to an earlier interest in law and began to consider law school more seriously. This eventually led her to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, now known as the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, expecting to pursue a corporate path as many students with a business background often do. Family law was something she had encountered in her coursework but had not yet considered as a career.
That shifted during recruitment, when she applied to Epstein Cole LLP on an impulse.
“I knew I liked family law from my courses,” she says, “but I didn’t think it would end up being my career.”
What she found at the firm was a practice that brought together analytical structure and human complexity. Rather than feeling like a departure from her business training, it gave her a space where structured thinking could be applied to emotionally and financially complex situations and where she really felt she could make a difference in her clients' lives. She summered and articled at Epstein Cole and has remained there ever since, building a practice focused on resolving complex family disputes.
Today, Weinerman works with clients on a broad range of family law matters, helping them navigate separation, parenting arrangements, and financial issues with a focus on clarity, strategy, and resolution.
Alongside her practice, she also remains involved with Jackman Law through the Family Justice Centre, where she supervises students providing summary legal advice to members of the public. The clinic gives students the opportunity to work directly with real client issues under supervision, translating classroom learning into practice in real time.
For Weinerman, one of the most meaningful parts of the work is the teaching that happens in the process itself.
“I enjoy it in large part because of the involvement of the students,” she says. “You don’t get a lot of information at the start — you’re kind of thrown into it. The students start asking questions about the file, and you work through the legal issues with them step by step.”
She sees that dynamic as closely tied to how she herself learned to practice law. Early in her career, she worked with senior lawyers who did more than assign tasks — they invited her into the reasoning process.
“When people asked me what I thought, even when I was very junior, that stayed with me,” she says.
Alyssa Weinerman (JD ’08)You don’t just learn what to do – you learn why you’re doing it.
For her, that distinction is what makes mentorship meaningful in practice. It is not about instruction, but about creating space for judgment to develop.
“It was a really important part of how I came up,” she says. “So I try to do the same thing now — whether it’s with students or junior lawyers — making sure they understand not just the answer, but how we got there.”
Looking back, Weinerman does not describe her path as linear, even though she has been at the same firm for her entire career. Early interest in law existed alongside a parallel pull toward business, followed by a brief detour into accounting that ultimately clarified what she did not want. Law school then became the space where those threads began to converge and ultimately shaped the course of her career.
Some of that convergence was shaped by the people she encountered along the way — professors who introduced her to family law in the classroom, and practitioners who demonstrated how legal reasoning translates in real-world settings.
“You don’t always know exactly where you’re going to end up,” she says. “But it is important to find what resonates with you as you decide how you want to build your legal career.”
The Jackman Family: A Legacy of Leadership and Civic Spirit
by Marcela Roman
For the Jackman family, the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto is more than an institution — it is part of a legacy that spans generations. As Victoria Jackman reflects, the family’s connection to the Faculty is rooted in a long tradition of legal education, public service, and civic responsibility.
“My father is a proud graduate of this Faculty. Although he ultimately built his career in business and public service, his years here were formative.
Victoria JackmanThis Faculty instilled in him a discipline of thought, an ethical foundation, and a civic spirit that guided the course of his life.
His later role as U of T’s Chancellor further deepened his lifelong bond with this institution.”
That bond is part of a much longer family story. Hal Jackman’s father, Harry Jackman, also studied law at the University of Toronto and made a lasting contribution to the Faculty by funding the conversion of the original Flavelle House solarium into what is now the Rowell Room.
The family’s connection reaches back even further. Hal Jackman’s grandfather, Newton Rowell, was an eminent lawyer and statesman who helped shape Canada’s democratic institutions and played a role in the historic Persons Case, which secured the recognition of women as “persons” under Canadian law. His legacy, as Victoria Jackman emphasized, reflects a broader understanding of legal education — not simply as the study of law, but as a force for building a more just and inclusive society.
Seen in this context, the family’s most recent act of giving emerges as the latest chapter in a long-standing relationship — one that brings that history back to the place where it began.
Historic Milestone
In September 2025, the University of Toronto officially renamed its Faculty of Law the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, in recognition of a historic $80-million gift from Henry N.R. “Hal” Jackman — bringing his total support to $100 million. This gift, the largest ever to any law faculty in Canada, marks a defining moment for legal education at the University and across the country.
It also builds on decades of philanthropy and leadership by Hal Jackman, whose contributions have supported scholarships, infrastructure, and innovation across the Faculty. Among its many impacts, the gift includes $35 million dedicated to scholarships and student-centred programming, expanding access to legal education and supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds. It also funds new academic initiatives, including endowed chairs in critical areas of legal scholarship and expanded experiential learning opportunities.
For the Jackman family, however, the significance of the gift goes beyond its scale. As Victoria Jackman describes it, it represents something more personal — a return to where it all began.
“This gift is, in many ways, a homecoming. It is my father’s way of giving back to the institution that shaped him. His hope is that future generations of students — whether they go on to practice law, lead in business, serve in government, or contribute in other fields — will have the opportunity to become the leaders and innovators who will help define Canada’s future.”
Today, the impact of that vision is already shaping the Faculty’s future. With expanded support for students and new academic initiatives, the Jackman gift strengthens the Faculty’s global reach and reinforces its position as one of the world’s leading law schools.
Reflections on Legacy
Victoria Jackman returns to this idea of legacy — not only as something inherited, but as something actively carried forward.
“On behalf of the entire Jackman family, I want to express our gratitude to the University of Toronto, to its leadership both past and present, and to this esteemed Faculty for welcoming this partnership, and for allowing us the privilege of giving back in this lasting and meaningful way.”
Victoria JackmanFinally, I want to say how proud we are of my father — for his vision and generosity, and for reminding us that the true measure of a legacy is the future it makes possible.
In this sense, the gift is not only a milestone — it is a homecoming, and a continuation of a legacy that will shape generations to come.
At One Table: A Celebration of Five Decades of Leadership and Friendship
by Alicia Fung & Annette Paul
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Past and present leaders of the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law gathered around a single table this past March for an evening of conversation and reflection, bringing together more than five decades of leadership in one room. The occasion marked both a celebration and a transition: an opportunity to thank outgoing Dean Emerita, University Professor Jutta Brunnée, and to welcome Professor Christopher Essert as Jackman Law’s new Dean, with former deans Edward Iacobucci, Mayo Moran, Ronald J. Daniels, J. Robert Prichard, Martin L. Friedland, Frank Iacobucci, and Robert Sharpe also in attendance.
“It’s not often that you have the opportunity to bring together so many former deans in one room,” says Dean Christopher Essert, noting the sense of history and collegiality that shaped the evening.
Those around the table have gone on to play influential roles well beyond the Faculty, as leaders of major institutions, senior public servants, academics, and members of the judiciary, including appointments to the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. As Dean Emeritus Robert Prichard noted ahead of the gathering, it brought together "a pretty exceptional group of leaders who have all had interesting, successful, and diverse careers."
Against that backdrop, the evening’s conversation revolved around both institutional memory and shared experience. At a time of significant change in legal education and the profession, the opportunity to exchange perspectives, across different eras and challenges, offered both continuity and insight as the Faculty moves forward under Dean Essert.
A graduate of the Faculty, Dean Essert brings a strong personal connection to the Faculty, as well as advanced degrees from Yale and a distinguished record as a scholar of property law, tort law, and legal philosophy. His appointment brings both continuity and a fresh perspective at this pivotal moment.
The Faculty enters this next chapter with renewed momentum, thanks to its recent transformational gift from Hal Jackman and his family to advance student scholarship, research, teaching, and experiential learning. The gift strengthens the Faculty's capacity to shape academic and legal debates in Canada and internationally, and to continue preparing its graduates to make meaningful contributions across the legal profession and beyond.
As the evening concluded, what stood out was less a sense of occasion than of connection in a group shaped by a common commitment to the Faculty and to one another. That kind of connection extends beyond the deans to students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and to their shared purpose in legal education.
“Seeing these eight amazing individuals together in one place really brought home how impressive they all are and how big the shoes are that I have to fill,” says Dean Essert. “At the same time, what stood out was a sense of community and of an unwavering commitment to the Faculty. I think those things really show how valuable this institution is and provide a foundation that I am really looking forward to building on over the course of my term.”
Alumni Reunion 2026
Alumni Reunion 2026 brought together Jackman Law graduates from across generations to share memories, reconnect with classmates, and revisit the place where so much of their story began.
Class Notes
Donald Granatstein - LL.B '64
I have written a book about my Aunt Leah, who came to Canada from Poland in 1923 and was sent back in 1926. She was a family secret. The book is about my search, what I found out about why she was sent back and what happened to her. It is available for sale through me or Indigo and other book stores.
Martin Rumack - JD '71
After nearly 50 years at Yonge and St. Clair, Martin Rumack has moved his office to a new location. His contact information and professional details can be found at martinrumack.com. He is also pleased to share that the fifth edition of his co-authored book, Legal Responsibilities of Real Estate Agents, is now available through LexisNexis.
John Gregory - LL.B '74
I have re-retired - from nearly a decade of post-government legal consulting, mainly for international clients, on the laws relating to e-commerce and digital trade. The final project was a new Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade, including a guide to its enactment (2025). It replaces a Model Law on Electronic Commerce that I helped prepare in 2002.
Brian Hoyes - LL.B '78
Brian Charles Hoyes (Class of 1978) passed away in Budapest, Hungary, at age 74. Born in Brampton, Ontario, Brian’s sharp intellect led him from a brief teaching career to a distinguished path in law, practicing at McMillan Binch and serving as Corporate Counsel at The Rose Company.
In 1992, Brian moved to Budapest as a World Bank advisor. There, he met his lifelong partner of 34 years, Maria, and raised their daughter, Kata. Brian was a man of immense character and devotion, spending a few years back in Canada as a dedicated caregiver for his brother and mother. Known for his calm wisdom and wry humour, he found great joy in Murakami novels and a good slice of cake.
Brian is survived by Maria and Kata and rests at St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest.
Nella Cotrupi - LL.B '80
I am pleased to announce that my new book, "La Poesia di Carol Shields" was released in April of 2026. Internationally acclaimed writer Carol Shields was not only a Pulitzer and Governor General's Award-winning novelist; she was first, and powerfully, a poet. This bilingual collection, published by I Quaderni del Bardo Edizioni di Stefano Donno, includes the original poems in English from the collections "Others", "Intersect" and "Coming to Canada" as well as my Italian translations. It is now available in Canada.
George S. Takach - JD '83
Having retired from the law at the end of 2022 (after 37 years of tech law at McCarthy Tétrault), now, as Senior Fellow at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History at the University of Toronto, writing non-fiction about tech and geopolitics for a general audience. Recent books: Cold War 2.0: Artificial Intelligence in the New Battle Between China, Russia and America (Pegasus Books, New York City, 2024 - Commonwealth Publishing, Taipei, Chinese language edition 2025); and Inspired By Taiwan: Why Supporting Taiwan Matters for Global Democracy (Sutherland House Books, Toronto, 2025).
Susan Kushneryk - LL.B '00
I am delighted to be practicing in association with SkyLaw Professional Corporation, consistently rated as one of Canada’s leading corporate boutique firms. I am able to draw on my experience in litigation and securities prosecution, together with my more recent focus on corporate governance advisory work, to provide strategic, timely, and effective advice to companies and individuals. I am, by turns, shocked and bemused to find myself more than 25 years out of law school. I am, however, grateful to be able to draw on that experience to find practical solutions to legal and business problems for my clients - and to have encountered so many innovative companies and lovely and remarkable people along the way. I look forward to the next…well, probably not 25 more years, but we’ll see!
Leena Grover - LL.B '03
As of 1 August 2025, Leena Grover is Full Professor and Chair of Public International Law at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, focusing on the law of international peace and security. Leena was previously Associate Professor of Public International Law at Tilburg Law School in the Netherlands (2019-2025). She is the author of Interpreting Crimes in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and Interim Constitutions: Legal Nature and Performance (Cambridge University Press, September 2026). Leena has combined her academic work with more than a decade of legal practice. Her research has been cited inter alia by the Supreme Court of Canada, Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, and UN International Law Commission.
Marco P. Falco - JD '04
Congratulations to Marco P. Falco (JD ‘04) for receiving the Ontario Bar Association's 2026 Joel Kuchar Award. Exemplifying the highest standards of the Bar, Marco demonstrates exemplary commitment to the ideals of the profession and civility in the practice of law, acting as a formidable, yet courteous litigator, as well as a devoted and an unwavering mentor to law students and young lawyers.
Dr. Jennifer L. Schulz - SJD '06
Prof. Schulz finished her term as Associate Dean (Academic) at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba and began a Visiting Fellowship at the Faculty of Law, University of Lucerne, Switzerland. At Lucerne, she was affiliated with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Legal Studies, researching images of Canadian-ness in legally themed popular culture. She will go back to fulltime teaching at the University of Manitoba in September 2026.
Vanita Goela - LLM '08
I am bilingual Crown Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC). I am also a member of the PPSC Official Languages Committee and the newly formed Working Group to promote Indigenous Languages. I encourage law students to try to work in both official languages and to help preserve Indigenous Languages.
Emma White - JD '12
I am a research lawyer by day and a thriller author by night. My debut novel, VENOM LAKE, will be published by HarperCollins Canada on June 2, 2026. Publication in the US/UK/ANZ (under the title THE WIVES OF MURDER CLUB) to follow later this year!
Hana Dhanji - JD/MBA '17
Hana Dhanji (JD/MBA ’17) is the Founder & CEO of Cognitrex Inc., a Toronto-based enterprise SaaS company focused on workforce capability and learning systems in regulated industries. Cognitrex provides a LearningOS platform and content development services designed to improve onboarding speed, operational readiness, and compliance outcomes across large-scale organizations.
Prior to founding Cognitrex, Hana practiced corporate law at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York and London, and at Hogan Lovells LLP in Dubai, advising on cross-border transactions and complex commercial matters.
She holds a JD/MBA from the University of Toronto and is actively engaged in building Cognitrex’s enterprise client base across healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services.
Claudio Klaus - GPLLM '25
I am pleased to be returning to Northview Law as an Associate Lawyer. My practice focuses on corporate law and commercial real estate. Alongside my legal work, I continue to host Studying Law Around the World, a podcast featuring conversations with lawyers, judges, academics, and students about legal education, career development, and the practice of law across different jurisdictions.
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