Distinguished Research Professor Allan C. Hutchinson – one of Canada’s most influential legal theorists – continues to leave his mark on legal scholarship with the publication of his 33^rd book, Rethinking Legitimacy: Courts, Constitutions and Politics.

In this latest work, Professor Hutchinson critically explores how courts assert and maintain their legitimacy within democratic societies. He challenges readers to rethink the foundations of judicial authority and the assumptions behind constitutional interpretation.

“The legitimacy of judicial authority is not a static concept but one that evolves with the dynamics of democracy, politics, and the shifting demands of society,” says Hutchinson. “In this book, I aim to explore how courts must navigate these complexities to remain relevant and credible in the eyes of the public they serve.”

With over three decades of experience, Professor Hutchinson has solidified his reputation as a leading voice in legal theory. His critical approach to law has positioned him as a key figure in progressive legal scholarship, with his work frequently cited by legal scholars and practitioners examining the relationship between law and broader social structures.

Rethinking Legitimacy is available for pre-order through Hart Publishing.

Osgoode congratulates Professor Hutchinson on this remarkable achievement and celebrates the ongoing impact of his thought-provoking scholarship.

Ten graduating Osgoode students have been honoured with the 2025 Dean’s Gold Key Awards for their exceptional contributions to the law school.

Presented at a special event on March 26, this distinguished award celebrates students who have made a meaningful impact on Osgoode through their leadership, initiative, and commitment to enhancing the school and its community.

“These students have shaped Osgoode in ways that will be felt long after they graduate,” said Dean Trevor Farrow. “Their dedication, engagement and contributions have left a meaningful mark, and I’m delighted to recognize their achievements with this award.”

2025 Dean’s Gold Key Award Recipients:

Eric Charters
Julie Choi
Sahar Fatima
Dalraj Gill
Sage Hartmann
Calvin Lei
Dalton Liggett
Chioma Oriuwa
Karel Peters
Grace Rao

Osgoode Hall Law School continues to set the gold standard in advocacy, with our students demonstrating extraordinary skill, dedication, and legal acumen in moot court competitions across Canada and beyond. Dean Trevor Farrow praised their achievements, stating:

“Our students continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to excellence in advocacy. These successes are a testament to their hard work, the dedication of their coaches, and the strength of our advocacy program. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and excited to see them represent Osgoode on the national and international stage.”

This year, our teams have achieved remarkable success, further solidifying Osgoode’s reputation as a powerhouse in legal advocacy.

Victories and Standout Performances

Davies Annual Corporate/Securities Law Moot – Corporate Law Champions

Excellence in corporate and securities law advocacy was reaffirmed with a victory at the Davies Annual Corporate/Securities Law Moot. This win highlights our students’ ability to navigate complex financial regulations and business law disputes with sophistication and clarity.

Top Oralists:
First – Louis Althaus
Second – Darya Rahbar

Team: Louis Althaus, Alvina Liang, William Languedoc, Linda Manziaris, Darya Rahbar
Coaches: Michael Byers, Alexandra Grishanova ‘16, David Noseworthy

Gale Cup Moot – A Strong Second-Place Finish

In one of Canada’s most competitive moot courts, our students demonstrated superior legal reasoning and advocacy, securing an impressive second-place finish. Their ability to argue complex constitutional issues with precision and confidence reflects the rigorous training and preparation they undergo at Osgoode.

The Dickson Medal for Exceptional Oralist: Avery Wilson
The McLaughlin Prize for Best Female Mooter: Eyitayo Kunle-Oladosu

Team: Erik Glasford, Dinithi Jayasuriya, Eyitayomi Kunle-Oladosu, Avery Wilson
Researcher: Jakob Wenzel
Coaches: Ryan Cookson, Hannah Freeman

Jessup Moot – Advancing to the International Stage

Our team delivered an outstanding performance at the regional rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Ottawa, securing a decisive victory and earning a spot at the prestigious international rounds in Washington, D.C., from March 29 to April 5, 2025. Competing against top law schools worldwide, they are poised to showcase their exceptional talent on the global stage.

First-place Applicant memorial
Second-place Respondent memorial
Top memorial pair
Top Oralists: 2nd place – David Jones, 5th place – Shahbaz Khan, 10th place – Lochlann Kerr

Team: David Jones, Lochlann Kerr, Shahbaz Khan, Patrick Weston
Researcher: Seliya Mawani
Coaches: Jason Alsbergas ’18, Alexandra Robbins ’24, Nolan Wilson ’18

Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Cup – Individual Advocacy Excellence

Osgoode competitors stood out for their compelling arguments and courtroom presence, reflecting the strength of the school’s trial advocacy program. Six law schools from across Ontario gathered in Ottawa, where participants demonstrated exceptional trial advocacy skills, including witness examinations and persuasive statements.

Best Overall Advocate: Christopher Roberts
Best Closing: Antonia Solmito

Coaches: Ryan Breedon’03, Ngai On Young ‘04

Price Media Law Moot Court Competition – Heading to Oxford

Success at the Americas Round of the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition in New York City secured a second-place finish and advancement to the international rounds at the University of Oxford from April 21 to 25. This competition, which addresses global issues of media law and human rights, highlights our students’ ability to engage with critical legal and ethical challenges on an international scale.

Best Memorial Applicants: James Staines, Yale Sussman (with assistance from Damon Lokos)
Top Oralist: Ebun Akomolafe
Second: Alyssa Muzyk
Third: James Staines

Team: Ebun Akomolafe, Damon Lokos (researcher), Alyssa Muzyk, James Staines, Yale Sussman
Coach: Christopher Dias ’20

Tort Law Moot – Champions Once Again

A resounding victory for Dominique Goolsarran and Shruti Khurana, who won the moot, which promotes advocacy in tort, insurance, and health law. The team’s ability to craft persuasive arguments and apply legal principles with precision set them apart from the competition.

Top Oralist: Dominique Goolsarran

Team: Micaela Corcoran, Dominique Goolsarran, Shruti Khurana, Tegan Wilson
Coaches: May Elajami, Neil Wilson ’10

Wilson Moot – Another Podium Finish

Strength in constitutional and equality law was on full display at the Wilson Moot, where our team placed second overall. Their articulate advocacy and deep understanding of human rights law reinforced Osgoode’s leadership in public interest litigation.

Facta Award (3rd Place)

Team: Danielle Friedman, Lina Kohandani, Xinyang (Daniel) Liu, Sarah McPherson
Researcher: Sindhoora Ravichandran
Coaches: Uttra Gautam, Joshua Ng

Winkler Class Action Moot – Champions in Complex Litigation

Dominance in class actions was undeniable as our team claimed first place at the Winkler Class Action Moot. Their ability to navigate complex procedural and substantive issues showcased superior litigation skills and strategic thinking.

Top Team Moot Champions
Top Overall Defendant Team
Top Oralist: Eric Charters

Team: Ziv Barancik, Eric Charters, Conner Lowes, Ryan Pedersen
Defendant Team: Eric Charters, Conner Lowes
Coaches: Jody Brown, Devon Kapoor ’19

WeirFoulds-Arnup Cup – Winning and Moving Forward

A strong performance at the WeirFoulds-Arnup Cup secured victory and the right to compete at the prestigious Sopinka Cup in Ottawa on March 14–15, 2025. Though they did not claim the top prize, their advancement to this elite national competition underscores their exceptional trial advocacy abilities.

Team: Bahar Taherian, David Townshend
Coaches: The Hon. Robert Goldstein, The Hon. Mohammed M. Rahma ‘96, The Hon. Kelly Slate

A Tradition of Advocacy Excellence

These achievements reflect not only the talent and dedication of our students but also the strength of Osgoode’s advocacy training, mentorship, and commitment to experiential learning. The moot program continues to produce some of the finest legal advocates in the country, equipping them with the skills and confidence to excel in any courtroom or boardroom.

As our teams prepare for upcoming international competitions, we celebrate their successes and look forward to even greater achievements ahead. Congratulations to all our advocates, coaches, and faculty who make Osgoode a force to be reckoned with in legal advocacy!

The Osgoode Hall Law Journal (OHLJ), one of Canada’s prominent peer-reviewed law journals, hosted its 10th annual JD Research Symposium last week, continuing its long tradition of supporting legal scholarship at Osgoode Hall Law School.

The full-day Symposium provided a platform for JD students to present their research and engage in discussions with faculty members. The event allowed students to receive valuable feedback and insights on their work, contributing to their academic development. The Symposium showcased a wide range of student research, with topics addressing various legal issues such as class actions, copyright, poverty regulation, and constitutionalism.

Keynote speakers included Professor Anthony Sangiuliano ’15, who shared his research on Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, and Valeria Danieli ’27 and Lindsay Jennings, who discussed their project on data-driven advocacy, Tracking (In)Justice and Deaths in Custody Across Canada. Dean Trevor Farrow closed the event by emphasizing its impact stating, “The Osgoode Hall Law Journal is a world class law journal that for generations has been shaping legal thought and policy in Canada and around the world.  The Symposium plays a vital role in fostering intellectual engagement, and the Journal’s dedication to supporting students helps shape the next generation of legal professionals.”

Jacob Stickel ’25, OHLJ Executive Editor, remarked, “This event not only enhances students’ scholarly development but also contributes to Osgoode’s esteemed tradition of academic excellence. We are proud to continue this legacy and look forward to another decade of meaningful discourse and intellectual growth.”

Danyal Maqbool ’25, Symposium director, said, “With over 50 articles submitted for consideration this year, I’ve been constantly amazed at the immense talent possessed by Osgoode students, and I am confident that the future of legal scholarship is in good hands at Osgoode Hall Law School.”

The Symposium showcased a wide range of student research including:

• “Is the ‘A-List’ Getting Less Exclusive? Assessing the Impact of Atlantic Lottery Corp Inc. v Babstock on Certifications Dismissed on the Cause of Action Requirement” – Alyssa Muzyk
• “Moral and Economic Perspectives on Opportunistic Breach and Exclusion Clauses” – Patrick Weston
• *“Language Models’ Verbatim Copying: Copyright Infringement Analysis through the Lens of The New York Times Co. v. Microsoft Corp., OpenAI, Inc. et al.” – Tony Chen
• “Regulating Poverty: Canada’s Jurisprudential Dilemma” – Johan Strombergsson-DeNora
• “A Living Tree Approach: Rebuilding Treaty Relationships, Reorienting Canadian Constitutionalism, and Reconciling Charter Remedies for Breach of Treaty Claims” – Athaven Nithianantha
• “Amending Article 17 of the Montreal Convention: The Need for Uniformity and Fairness” – Alexandra Nicu

The Osgoode Hall Law Journal remains dedicated to providing JD students with opportunities to share their research, supporting the academic community at Osgoode, and contributing to legal discourse beyond the classroom.

Osgoode Hall Law School’s PhD program continues to shape the future of legal academia, with two of its PhD candidates recently hired as full-time faculty members at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, starting July 1, 2025.

Deanne Sowter, Assistant Professor
Professor Sowter’s research focuses on family law, gender-based violence, feminist legal theory, and legal ethics. Her work critically examines the role of lawyers in the family justice system and explores ways to make legal principles more responsive to gender-based violence. A recipient of multiple national research awards, she has published 11 peer-reviewed articles, with her scholarship cited by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Simon Wallace, Assistant Professor
Professor Wallace specializes in artificial intelligence and law, using computational methods to analyze legal texts. He developed Obiter.ai, an open-source Python library for legal research, and BenchBabble.ca, which tracks Supreme Court of Canada decisions. A former immigration lawyer, he has litigated cases at all levels of court.

Dean Trevor Farrow noted, “Professor Sowter and Professor Wallace have made major contributions to Osgoode over a number of years, and I look forward to their continued contributions to the Canadian legal academy. I am also proud of Osgoode’s world class graduate program, which celebrates the appointments of these excellent Osgoode doctoral students.”

They join Osgoode PhD alumni Jake Effoduh, Assistant Professor, and Graham Hudson, Associate Dean, Academic, further demonstrating the program’s impact. As Canada’s largest PhD in law, Osgoode’s rigorous, research-intensive program prepares scholars for academic leadership.