Our Summer Students

Aidan summered at the firm in 2024. He recently completed his second year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. At law school, Aidan worked as a research assistant for Dr. Shanthi Senthe in the areas of corporate and privacy law. He participated in several competitive moots, including the Zuber Moot and the Transnational Windsor-Detroit Mercy Moot. In his first year, Aidan’s academic performance placed him in the top 10 per cent of his class. Aidan graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University with a major in political science and a minor in history. He played varsity rugby at Queen’s and, during a semester abroad, at the University of Sheffield. Prior to law school, Aidan worked as a project manager for several years at a development company, leading multiple construction projects in Toronto. Outside of school and work, Aidan is a musician and an avid adventure traveller. He enjoys playing amateur rugby, backcountry skiing, technical wreck diving and playing guitar.

Victoria recently completed her second year at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. At law school, she served as a peer mentor for first year law students and participated in a Pro Bono Students Canada project, where she researched professional breaches in privacy and confidentiality in health care facilities. Prior to law school, Victoria earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from King’s University College at Western University, graduating with Distinction. She received several awards for student leadership and strong academic performance. During her undergraduate studies, she was President of the King’s Political Science Student Association, an orientation leader and an academic mentor. To help finance her undergraduate education, she worked as a server and bartender at a local restaurant. Prior to joining Aird & Berlis, Victoria spent a summer working at a real estate law firm. Outside of school and work, she enjoys running, reading and spending time with family.

Jake recently completed his second year at Western University’s Faculty of Law. At Western, Jake worked as a Student Coordinator for the Dispute Resolution Centre, a teaching assistant in the Legal Research and Writing course, a Managing Editor of the Western Journal for Legal Studies and a Student Editor of the faculty-run Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence. In summer 2024, Jake worked as a summer law student in the Parry Sound Crown Attorney’s Office. Earlier this year, Jake was awarded the Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award from Pro Bono Students Canada for his work with the N’Amerind Friendship Centre. Jake holds a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia, where he was awarded a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship, and a Bachelor of Arts  from the University of Ottawa, with a major in political science and a minor in Indigenous studies. In his free time, Jake enjoys being outdoors – biking, hiking or running.

Lawson recently completed his first year at Western University’s Faculty of Law. He has an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University, where he graduated in the top 10 per cent of his class. At law school, Lawson has participated in several moots and is actively involved with Richmond Capital Partners, one of Western’s leading investment clubs. He is also a member of the Western Varsity Tennis team, serving as captain for the past two years. Prior to law school, Lawson worked at Britehorn Partners, a mid-market investment banking firm in Denver, Colorado, where he advised on sell-side M&A transactions ranging in value from US$40 million to $100 million, and at RBC Wealth Management in Toronto, where he assisted clients with their investment portfolios. Outside of school and work, Lawson enjoys travelling, playing sports, volunteering at his local tennis club and supporting a charitable foundation through his roles on the audit and impact investment committees.

Deborah recently completed her second year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University. During her second year, Deborah participated in the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot and was named Top Oralist. Deborah also worked as a research assistant, with a focus on the intersection of technology and law. Her work examined pressing issues in algorithmic accountability, data privacy and the ethical and legal implications of artificial intelligence. Deborah is an active member of the Black Law Students’ Association, serving as Chief Returning Officer and as a member of the Advocacy Committee for her school’s chapter. In addition, she was a case worker at the school’s Pardons Clinic, assisting individuals applying for criminal record suspensions. Before law school, Deborah earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree at Queen’s University, graduating on the Dean’s List. She is also deeply invested in local community initiatives and oversees the financial operations of a charity supporting marginalized communities. In her downtime, Deborah cherishes spending quality time with her family and friends.

Matthew recently completed his second year of the JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto. At law school, he worked as an associate researcher in the Future of Law Lab’s Artificial Intelligence and Client Services working group. He currently serves as President of both the JD/MBA Association and the Faculty of Law Athletic Association, and sits on the Executive of the Rotman Indigenous Business Association. Prior to law school, Matthew spent several years as a Collections Analyst at TD Bank, helping restructure and collect on delinquent accounts. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Vancouver Island University, where he was a member of the varsity men’s volleyball team. Outside of school, Matthew worked as a bartender in Toronto’s financial district and as a teaching assistant in the Department of Economics. When he’s not working or studying, he enjoys watching live sports, playing volleyball and running.

Shanaya recently completed her first year at Osgoode Hall Law School. During this time, she worked as a Junior Caseworker in the Criminal Law Division at the Community & Legal Aid Services Program. Shanaya also competed in several moots, including  the Frozen Open Osgoode Moot (finalist and Distinguished Oralist), the Lerner’s Cup Moot (First Place Oralist) and the Annual Cassels Cup. Prior to law school, she earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary. Upon admission to law school, Shanaya was awarded the Osgoode Centennial Scholarship for Alberta in recognition of her undergraduate academic achievements. She served as President of the University of Calgary Moot Court Society, Marketing Director of the Canadian Law Review and led student research on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on long-term care residents. Each year of her undergraduate studies, Shanaya helped organize the National High School Model United Nations, held annually in New York. She has also worked as a social worker with marginalized youth at the Elizabeth Fry Society, appearing in court to support Indigenous clients navigating the criminal justice system. Outside of work and her studies, Shanaya enjoys reading murder mysteries, taking her dog on long walks and capturing life’s moments through her digital camera.

Shanna recently completed her second year at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She developed her advocacy skills as a caseworker at Queen’s Legal Aid through the Clinical Litigation Practice course, representing Queen’s students and low-income Kingston residents in matters ranging from landlord and tenant disputes to criminal charges for summary offences. She was recognized with the Dan Soberman Award for excellence in clinical file work. At law school, Shanna works at the front desk of the Lederman Law Library and as a Teaching Assistant for undergraduate courses, including Aboriginal Law and Introduction to Canadian Law. In her final year, she will serve as a founding Co-President of Queen’s Municipal Law Club, an initiative inspired by her previous experience as a summer intern in the legal department of her hometown of Fort Erie. Prior to  law school, Shanna earned an MA in Classics and Archaeology from Queen’s University, where she focused on the iconography of ancient Greek pottery. She participated in several archaeological excavations in Italy, collaborating with international teams to investigate and document historical sites. She also served as Editor-in-Chief of Ceres, the academic journal for graduate students in the Classics program. Shanna  holds a BSc in Biology from McMaster University, where she graduated summa cum laude. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts and watching movies at local independent theatres.

Hannah recently completed her first year at Western University’s Faculty of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Certificate in Law from Queen’s University, where she graduated with Distinction. During her time at Queen’s, she was active on campus, serving as a Director of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Club, volunteering with Queen’s for the Community, and participating in the Queen’s Dance Club. At Western Law, Hannah worked as a Caseworker with the Intellectual Property and Innovation Legal Clinic, providing legal support to clients regarding trademark and copyright matters. She also participated in several moots,winning the BLG/Cavalluzzo Labour Law Moot – where she was also named Top Oralist – and placing first in the Legate Medical Malpractice Moot. In addition, Hannah volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada, working with the Parkinson’s Society of Southwestern Ontario to create a plain-language legal resource for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys going on walks with her dog, reading and binge-watching reality TV shows.

Helen summered at the firm in 2024. She recently completed her second year at Osgoode Hall Law School after transferring from the University of Ottawa. This past year, she volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada, working with KPMG’s Tax Clinic to assist low-income clients. Helen was born and raised in South Korea and is active within the Korean legal community. Leveraging her fluency in Korean, she  worked as a translator at Toronto’s Korean Legal Clinic. Helen is also a student member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Psychology from Ewha Womans University in Seoul. At Ewha, Helen served as the student president of her program. Following graduation, she worked as a paralegal at two multinational firms: Kim & Chang, a Korean firm based in Seoul, and Covington & Burling LLP, a large U.S. firm based in Washington, D.C. Her work focused on international arbitration, cross-border litigation and general corporate matters. Outside of law, Helen enjoys performing at open mic nights, running and hosting friends for dinner.

Suzy recently completed her first year at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. At law school, she competed in the Nelligan Moot Court Competition, where she won the Best Factum Award, and served as an Assistant Editor for the Ottawa Law Review. Suzy was recently elected as the Co-President of the Ottawa Legal Innovation Hub after previously serving as the Vice-President of Equity. Prior to law school, Suzy earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from Queen’s University, majoring in Political Science with a Certificate in Law. During her undergraduate career, she was the Co-President of the Queen’s Chapter of HanVoice, a national organization focused on improving human rights in North Korea. She also participated in the United Nations Online Volunteer Program, writing publications about empowering youth through sport. In addition, Suzy gained valuable public sector experience working as a Business Support Intern for the City of Kingston. Outside of work and school, Suzy enjoys making matcha lattes, reading fiction, tackling escape rooms and fostering cats.

Rachel recently completed her first year at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. She served as an Assistant Editor for the Ottawa Law Review and competed in the Nelligan Moot. In her second year of law school, Rachel will be returning to the Ottawa Law Review as an Associate Editor and will  serve as Treasurer of her school’s chapter of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund. Rachel earned her A.B. in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University, where she wrote her senior thesis on diversity rationales in U.S. Supreme Court decisions. At Princeton, she served as a Young Alumni Trustee on the Graduate Board of Cannon Dial Elm Club and was the Philanthropy Director for the Epsilon Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Rachel captained the NCAA varsity hockey team, was named to the All-Ivy First Team and was a semi-finalist for National Goalie of the Year. She also received numerous awards for being a successful scholar-athlete. After graduating, Rachel played professional hockey with the Ottawa Charge during the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League, while also working in operations and business development for early-stage startups. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys reading fiction, mentoring young athletes and walking her dog.

Racheal obtained her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, graduating with Honours. She practised law in Nigeria for seven years before moving to Canada. Racheal briefly worked as a junior associate at a large full-service law firm in Nigeria before leaving to pursue a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Law at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, where she graduated with commendation. Shortly after completing her postgraduate degree, Racheal returned to Nigeria and joined a mid-sized full-service law firm with offices in several major cities in Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja. She specialized in corporate/commercial and energy matters, advising and assisting local and international businesses with corporate formation and governance, compliance, transactional support and regulatory support. After two years, Racheal relocated to the firm’s office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, to manage that office’s operations. In this role, she managed the day-to-day affairs of the office and supervised the junior lawyers and support staff. Upon moving to Canada, Racheal completed her Canadian equivalency examinations and obtained her Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation. Before joining Aird & Berlis LLP as a Summer Student, she was a Legal Assistant (Floater) at the firm, supporting lawyers in various practice groups. Outside of work, Racheal enjoys cooking, her book club, long walks and amateur photography.

Sonali summered at the firm in 2024. She recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. At law school, Sonali served as the Co-President of the Privacy and Cyber Security Law Group. She is also a board member of the Business Law Society and the Women and the Law club. Sonali served as the Editorial Manager of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review. She was invited to be a Junior Fellow at Massey College, an intellectual community that fosters cross-disciplinary thought and dialogue. Prior to law school, Sonali earned a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, a women’s university near Boston, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Thereafter, she earned a PhD in French literature at Princeton University. Sonali’s doctoral dissertation focused on humour in postcolonial cultural productions of the Francophone world. Her research has been published in leading academic journals. Sonali developed and taught French language and literature courses at Princeton. She is fluent in English, French, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Gujarati and Arabic. Sonali is an avid dessert-maker and enjoys watching French and English stand-up comedy.

Leonie recently completed her first year at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. Before attending law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies at Queen’s University, with a minor in Global Development, and was awarded a major scholarship for academic merit in each of her four years of study. During her undergraduate studies, Leonie served as Co-President of the Queen’s University branch of Amnesty International, leading initiatives to promote social justice and global awareness. She participated in the Tri-SEP exchange program, allowing her to study abroad in Singapore and Scotland. Throughout her first year of law school, Leonie was involved with Pro Bono Students Canada as a Project Lead for a public legal education initiative to assist employers seeking to hire international workers. She also contributed to the Queen’s Law Journal as a Volunteer Editor, assisting in the peer review and editing of legal articles. Additionally, Leonie worked part-time as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, where she co-authored a paper on the Danske Bank money-laundering scandal. This paper examines the implications of financial misconduct on international regulatory frameworks. Outside of law school, Leonie is an avid reader, enjoys watching true crime documentaries and has a passion for travel, which fuels her curiosity and appreciation for diverse cultures.

Celina summered at the firm in 2024. She recently completed her second year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. Celina obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in English from the University of Ottawa, graduating summa cum laude. During her undergraduate career, she represented the Faculty of Arts on the University of Ottawa Senate and its Executive Committee, served as a vice-president of the Communication Student Association, and worked as a hockey referee. In her first year of law school, Celina attained an academic standing that ranked her second in her class of 188 students. She was the 1L Representative for the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and competed in the semi-finals of the Canadian and American Transnational Law Moot between the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy. In second year, Celina competed in the Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada and the Canadian National Negotiation Competition, where she won the Spirit of Negotiation Award. She was also a peer mentor for first-year law students, a research assistant for a sports law course, and completed an academic placement as a senior caseworker at Windsor’s Community Legal Aid. On campus, Celina can be found working as a Sports Information Assistant for the Windsor Lancers or playing intramural basketball and volleyball. In her spare time, Celina enjoys exploring new running routes and solving the daily New York Times Connections puzzle.

Taylor recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. In her first year of law school, she was a working group member for the Future of Law Lab, conducting research on contractual disputes in the e-sports industry. In second year, Taylor served as Co-President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and volunteered at Artists’ Legal Advice Services, a legal clinic dedicated to providing creators with access to summary legal advice. She spent the summer of 2024 working at a boutique estate litigation firm. Prior to law school, Taylor studied film and creative writing at The University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduating with High Distinction. She was elected as an executive for The UBC Film Society, where she ran the campus movie theatre and produced student films. After graduating, Taylor spent a year working as a script consultant for a film production company, and as an usher at the Toronto International Film Festival cinemas. Taylor enjoys going to the movies, playing guitar and piano, and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Hannah recently completed her first year of law school at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. Throughout the year, she worked as a volunteer caseworker at Community Legal Aid, a legal aid clinic affiliated with the University of Windsor, served as a junior editor for the Windsor Law Review, competed in the Transnational Law Moot between the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy, and held the role of Vice President of Communications for the Environmental Law Society. Hannah earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, with a double major in Political Science and History. While at the University of Toronto, she was a varsity rower for the Varsity Blues Rowing Team, serving terms as both the President and Alumni Relations Coordinator. She also worked as a compliance analyst with the University of Toronto’s G20 Research Group, and as a research assistant to a professor specializing in climate politics. Prior to law school, Hannah worked as a legal administrative assistant at Aird & Berlis LLP, supporting the firm’s condominium group. In her spare time – and depending on the season – Hannah enjoys exploring new cycling routes, running, skiing, hiking, and camping.

Ella summered at the firm in 2024. She recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. During her time at law school, Ella served as the 1L Executive on the Criminal Law Students’ Association and participated in the Hamish Stewart Cup, a criminal and constitutional law moot for first year students. Ella also volunteered as an intake committee member at Downtown Legal Services (a legal aid clinic affiliated with the University of Toronto) and conducted research for the clinic’s Refugee and Immigration Division. Prior to law school, Ella obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a minor in political studies at Queen’s University, graduating with Distinction. At Queen’s, Ella was the Co-President of Queen’s Correctional Services Volunteers. She led a team of 25 students working with federal inmates (including those in isolation units) at Millhaven’s maximum security prison, conducting skill-building workshops and assisting in rehabilitation efforts. Ella was also a general member of Queen’s Feminist Leadership in Politics and the Queen’s Chapter of Women in International Security. Prior to joining Aird & Berlis, Ella worked as an Account Associate at a full-service financial marketing agency, nurturing client relationships and coordinating multiple projects. She also worked as a Project Management Intern at a contact center. Outside of work and school, Ella enjoys working out, baking, and playing trivia with her friends.

Blair summered at the firm in 2024. She recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. At law school, Blair served as the President of the Women and the Law club, participated in the Hamish Stewart Cup, a criminal and constitutional law moot for first-year students, and volunteered as a student caseworker at Downtown Legal Services, a legal aid clinic affiliated with the University of Toronto. Blair obtained her Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University, graduating with Distinction. At Ivey, Blair was elected as Vice President of Communications for Ivey’s student government and served as Vice President of Events for the Ivey Law Club. During her undergraduate program, she published a political theory research paper on the philosophies of punishment and co-authored an organizational behaviour case study for Ivey’s Executive MBA program. Prior to joining Aird & Berlis, Blair spent summers working at a full-service law firm based in Barrie and coaching at a wakeboarding school in Muskoka. In her free time, Blair loves to waterski, run, and golf. She also enjoys caring for her hive of bees and making honey with her family.