BA (Hon)(Waterloo). JD (Osgoode), Law Society of Ontario
Lisa Johnson is an associate at Kastner Lam LLP. She practices in criminal defence.
Prior to joining Kastner Lam, Ms. Johnson was an associate at a well-respected and very busy criminal defence firm in downtown Toronto. She has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, and has drafted materials for all levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Ms. Johnson has an undergraduate degree in Honours English – Rhetoric and Professional Writing from the University of Waterloo and worked in arts and entertainment as a publicist, writer, editor, and music booker before turning to the law. She earned her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, where she also worked for the Osgoode Hall Innocence Project, drafting a leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, investigating cases of alleged wrongful convictions, and filing applications to the Minister of Justice for post-conviction review. Ms. Johnson was also honoured to work with Professor Alan Young as a Research Assistant. She was selected to represent Osgoode Hall at the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association Cup, and participated in the Criminal Law Intensive Program where she completed a placement working in appellate law at the Crown Law Office – Criminal.
Ms. Johnson volunteered her time generously, including as an Osgoode Hall Ambassador, as well as for the Transnational Human Rights Review, Community & Legal Aid Services Programme (CLASP), OutLaws, the Entertainment & Sports Law Association, Osgoode Peer Support Centre, Out on Bay St., and Flip Your Wig For Justice. She is currently a member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) and sits on the CLA Women’s Committee.
A fierce advocate, tenacious litigator, and persuasive negotiator, Ms. Johnson often secures positive outcomes for clients, such as acquittals, withdrawals of charges, bail releases on consent, and favourable sentences. She is passionate about her clients’ rights and about equality, diversity, and inclusivity.