Chair’s Practice Roundtable

The Law Society Tribunal Chair’s Practice Roundtable is a forum that meets three times a year, at which the Tribunal Chair obtains feedback from those who regularly practice before the Tribunal on the efficacy of our policies and processes. The Roundtable’s Terms of Reference, below, list its procedures and goals.

The Roundtable is currently composed of the following members:

Tribunal Representatives

Malcolm M. Mercer, Chair

Lisa Mallia, Tribunal Counsel

Celia Lieu, Registrar

Ivy Johnson, Communications Coordinator

Individuals who regularly appear before the Tribunal as counsel

Nadia Liva, Barrister & Solicitor

William Trudell, William Trudell Professional Corporation

Matthew Wilton, Matthew Wilton and Associates

Janani Shanmuganathan, Goddard & Shanmuganathan

Individuals who regularly represent the Law Society of Ontario

Tushar Pain, Manager (and Discipline Counsel), Law Society

Kristina MacDonald, Discipline Paralegal, Law Society

Nadia Musclow, Director, Litigation Services, Law Society

Glenn Stuart, Executive Director of Professional Regulation, Law Society

Stephen Wishart, Discipline Counsel, Law Society

Individuals who regularly appear before the Tribunal as duty counsel

Blair Bowen, Fogler Rubinoff LLP

Norm Emblem, Dentons

Terms of Reference

  1. The mandate of the Law Society Tribunal Chair’s Practice Roundtable is to function as a forum for the Tribunal to consult with and obtain feedback from those who practice before the Tribunal regarding its policies, processes, practices, Rules of Practice and Procedure, and practice directions.
  2. The Roundtable’s focus is on the effectiveness of the Tribunal in conducting its proceedings. The Roundtable is not a forum for the discussion of the merits of individual cases, substantive issues of law, the content of the Rules of Professional Conduct, Law Society processes outside the Tribunal, or proposed or possible by-law changes or legislative amendments.
  3. The Roundtable shall be composed of the following members: a. The Tribunal Chair, the Registrar and the Communications Coordinator; b. Four individuals who regularly represent licensees and/or licence applicants before the Tribunal. These individuals will be selected by the Tribunal Chair following a call for applications; c. Four individuals who regularly represent the Law Society before the Tribunal. These members will be designated by the Executive Director; and d. Two individuals who regularly appear as duty counsel before the Tribunal. These members will be designated by The Advocates’ Society Duty Counsel Program.
  4. The Roundtable will meet at least three times per year.
  5. The agenda for each meeting will be set by the Tribunal Chair, after soliciting proposed agenda items from Roundtable members.
  6. In order that the Roundtable may function in an atmosphere that encourages candour, members will maintain reasonable discretion and confidentiality with respect to Roundtable discussions.
  7. No minutes or votes will be taken at Roundtable meetings.
  8. No members will receive compensation for their participation in the Roundtable.