Osgoode Hall Law School is pleased to announce the Domenic Crolla Scholarship in Health Law, established and supported by the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).

The award recognizes the career of Domenic Crolla (JD ’85), whose leadership in medical liability, privacy, and the implications of emerging technology has made him a trusted figure in the health law community. Beginning this year, the scholarship will support two JD students who demonstrate strong academic promise and a genuine interest in health law or related areas.

“We are grateful to Gowling WLG and the CMPA for honouring Domenic Crolla’s contributions. This scholarship will open doors for students committed to improving health care through informed legal work,” said Dean Trevor Farrow.

The scholarship arrives at a pivotal moment for York University, as the new School of Medicine prepares to welcome its first class in 2028. With a community-focused, primary care model and an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, the medical school will create new opportunities for collaboration across the University. For Osgoode, this will include engagement in health governance, data and privacy, clinical risk, and regulatory innovation-fields where legal expertise is essential.

Osgoode is already well positioned for this work with its long standing history of excellence in health law, the Law School continues to offer a strong suite of upper-year seminars in areas such as consent and capacity, medical malpractice, privacy, and the governance of health care. Together, these courses equip students to engage thoughtfully and effectively with a health care sector that is rapidly changing and increasingly influenced by technology, regulation, and new models of care.

By supporting students drawn to this work, the Domenic Crolla Scholarship ensures the next generation of lawyers is prepared to strengthen and modernize Canada’s health care systems.

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly transforms workplaces around the world, Osgoode Hall Law School, in partnership with Unifor, hosted the Artificial Intelligence at Work International Conference on January 22–23, 2026. The event brought together scholars, labour leaders, policymakers, and legal practitioners from around the globe to examine how AI is reshaping work, employment relationships, and labour regulation.

Organized by Professor Valerio De Stefano, Canada Research Chair in Innovation, Law and Society, the conference tackled pressing questions around algorithmic management, workplace surveillance, and collective responses to emerging technologies.

“Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how work is organised, monitored, and governed,” said De Stefano. “At this moment of rapid technological change, we need legal and institutional frameworks that ensure these systems are fair, protect fundamental labour rights, and give workers a meaningful say in how AI is used in their workplaces.”

Across two days, participants from leading institutions worldwide explored the legal and practical challenges posed by AI, including its impact on hiring, job design, discipline, and worker representation. Discussions emphasised the need for transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policy to ensure technology enhances fairness rather than deepening inequalities.

Reflecting on Osgoode’s role in convening this global dialogue, Dean Trevor Farrow noted that the conference “demonstrates Osgoode’s long-time expertise and impact in labour and employment law, and its leadership at the intersection of law, technology, and work. Bringing global experts together ensures the dialogue is informed by both research and real‑world practice.”

Associate Dean of Research François Tanguay‑Renaud highlighted the scholarly impact, observing that “the discussions advance critical research on technology regulation and workers’ rights, supporting evidence-based approaches to AI governance.”

Conference recordings are now available online.

On January 23, 2026, the 29th Annual Business and Law Conference, brought together students, academics and industry leaders at Thomson Reuters. Hosted by Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business’s Hennick JD/MBA program, the conference has for nearly three decades served as a forum for forward-looking dialogue at the intersection of business, law, and policy, addressing some of Canada’s most pressing economic and structural challenges.

This year’s theme, Venturing into the Unknown, explored the dynamic world of venture capital, focusing on the strategic and legal frameworks required to build, finance, and scale innovative businesses. As the Hennick JD/MBA program enters its 50th anniversary year, the conference highlighted the program’s enduring commitment to developing leaders who can navigate complexity across disciplines.

Hosted by JD/MBA students, the event opened with welcoming remarks from Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick and Osgoode Dean Trevor Farrow, who underscored the value of interdisciplinary thinking in an era of rapid innovation. Reflecting on entrepreneurship and decision-making, Dean Zwick shared a memorable insight from Seymour Schulich’s Get Even Smarter: “It’s not a tragedy to strike out,” he quoted, “but it is a tragedy to stand at the plate and never swing.” The advice resonated strongly with the conference’s venture-focused theme.

The keynote address was delivered by Dan Tzotzis (BBA ’02, MBA ’10), Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AWAKE Chocolate. Drawing on his experience building a brand around a functional product, Tzotzis offered a candid look at the challenges of scaling a vision, the importance of disciplined execution, and the critical role that legal and financial strategy plays at every stage of growth.

The conference’s main panel, Maple Capital – The Canadian Venture Capital Landscape, brought together leading voices from law, finance, and entrepreneurship. Panelists included Jeremy Lin, Associate in Emerging and High Growth Companies at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Konata Lake (BBA ’03, JD/MBA ’08), Partner at Torys LLP; Jeanette Wiltse, Chairwoman of the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association; and Shay Nulman (iBBA ’04), Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Mantaro and Instructor at Schulich. Moderated by Schulich Professor Majid Majzoubi, the discussion explored what investors seek, how deals are structured, and the evolving legal and economic considerations shaping Canada’s venture capital ecosystem.

Complementing the panel, an interactive venture capital workshop, challenged participants to role-play as investors, selecting and scaling a firm based on real-world scenarios. Hosted by Shay Nulman alongside Marshall Eidinger, Partner at Bennett Jones, the workshop gave attendees a hands-on opportunity to apply strategic judgment while navigating legal, financial, and operational constraints.

For attendees, the conference offered more than theoretical insight—it provided a rare opportunity to engage directly with professionals shaping Canada’s venture landscape. Students left with a deeper appreciation for the courage required to “take the swing”—supported by disciplined strategy and thoughtful legal counsel. These values continue to define both the conference and the Hennick JD/MBA program.

Written by Karl Furtado, JD Candidate and Student Caseworker at CLASP

It’s early morning in Toronto, and I’m sitting in a Federal Court breakout room, waiting for my client’s judicial review hearing to begin. I’m only weeks into my role at CLASP—the Community and Legal Aid Services Program at Osgoode Hall Law School—and the stakes are high.

Our case hinges on a principle established decades ago in Maldonado: that in immigration and refugee proceedings, a claimant’s sworn evidence should generally be accepted as truthful unless there is reason to doubt it. This principle has been cited in numerous Federal Court decisions and remains central to credibility assessments. For our client, whose claim involves multiple grounds of persecution—including ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religious conversion—this principle is critical to establishing credibility in court.

As I reviewed my materials, I pulled up the original Maldonado decision. It was decided in 1980 by the Federal Court in Toronto. The solicitor for the applicant? Paula Knopf (LLB ’75), then counsel for CLASP. At that moment, I realized the principle that could decide my client’s case had originated in the very clinic where I now work.

I sent Ms. Knopf a note to share the connection. She replied:
“It was an honour to work for CLASP. The law can do good things for good people… We helped mentor a fine group of young lawyers who had a quest for justice and a desire to practice with integrity.”

When review counsel began submissions, he noted to the judge:

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the Maldonado principle was established in a case argued by CLASP.”

Justice Grant responded, “Of course. It’s probably CLASP’s single greatest contribution to the legal world.”

The hearing concluded with a decision in our client’s favour. Maldonado had not only influenced refugee law but had also shaped the work of generations of lawyers committed to justice.

CLASP’s work demonstrates that student legal clinics do more than teach law; they contribute to precedent and provide practical support in complex cases. For me, this was more than a successful hearing—it was a story coming full circle, connecting decades of CLASP’s work to the present day.

Osgoode Hall Law School proudly congratulates 19 alumni recognized as Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40. This achievement reflects their leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence in the legal profession.

Our 2025 Rising Stars:

• Natasha Banka (LLB ’05)
• Alessandro Bozzelli (JD ’14)
• Dorothy Charach (JD ’11)
• Amanda Cohen (JD ’11)
• Reshika Dhir (JD ’11)
• Andrew N. Disipio (LLM ’12)
• Maureen Doherty (JD ’12)
• Emmanuel Grondin (LLM ’17)
• Cheryl Labiris (JD ’17)
• Amy Maginley (JD ’11)
• Margaret Robbins (JD ’15)
• Madison Robins (JD ’15)
• Elliot P. Saccucci (JD ’12)
• Maria Sagan (JD ’10)
• Chanakya A. Sethi (JD ’12)
• Divya Shahani (JD ’12)
• Aaron Sigal (JD ’11)
• Jared Solinger (JD ’11)
• Karen Vadasz (JD ’11)

Read more: Lexpert Rising Stars Winners