Our Professionals

By the time I was sixteen, I’d already developed a keen sense for environmental and social justice issues. I don’t know exactly how the environment became my passion – we don’t choose our passions, they choose us – but by the end of high school I’d decided to become an environmental lawyer.

My plan was to do an undergrad in science and then go to law school. The degree in science was meant as a grounding for my legal practice. However, my undergraduate degree turned into a Master's degree in developmental genetics and I came very close to becoming a lifelong academic. I was on track to get a PhD before realizing that I was much more interested in how society governed itself than in I was in lab work.

After my first year of law school at Dalhousie I realised law and policy was indeed my calling. I graduated with a specialisation in environmental law and for my first five years of practice I practised environmental law exclusively. I served commercial and industrial clients, as well as public interest clients.

After five years as an environmental lawyer I began to question whether the practice of environmental law, as it existed, was really the right path for me. For the most part, I’d come to see the practice not as "environmental law" and all that entails, but as the regulation of pollution. I wanted to be working with a bigger, more holistic perspective. Social justice and other aspects of environmental concerns had to factor into the equation.

At Iler Campbell, I’ve been able to continue the public interest aspects of my environmental legal work while expanding my practice to more broadly serve the not-for-profit sector and the co-operative movement. As a long-time volunteer with various organisations and current member of Sierra Club Canada’s board of directors, I understand the needs and goals of the "third sector", both organizationally and in program work.

I’m fortunate to be part of the team at Iler Campbell – there’s no other practice in the City of Toronto I know of that would allow me to practise law as this practice does.