Women in Law: Building Your Full Circle Leadership

For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

Catherine DiMarco has more than 17 years of construction and general civil litigation experience. Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in construction law, with a deep understanding of the industry, Catherine provides practical guidance on managing risks during contract negotiations, and assists with project delivery plans. When disputes arise, she represents different sectors of the construction industry on claims, or on the defence of claims. These include owners, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, as well as design and engineering professionals. Clients appreciate her ability to distill and prioritize key issues and salient facts that arise in complex construction disputes. Her practical and creative approach to dispute resolution is guided by both business drivers and legal remedies. Catherine has also defended public authorities, including municipalities, in matters involving allegations of negligent design, supervision and inspection. She regularly attends at the Superior Court of Justice and before arbitrators on a variety of construction and civil matters. Recognized by the Best Lawyers of Canada™ as a leading lawyer in construction law, Catherine is also a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers’ Society of America. In addition, she is vice-chair and executive member of the Ontario Bar Association Construction and Infrastructure Law Section. Previously, she served as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Canadian Construction Association. A frequent speaker at industry and client seminars, Catherine has also taught on construction law at the George Brown College School for Architectural Studies and Construction Management and Trades. She is a volunteer with ProBono Ontario, assisting low-income Ontarians in addressing legal problems that interfere with their ability to lead secure, healthy, and productive lives.

Kenneth J. Fredeen held the position of General Counsel, Deloitte (Canada), and was a member of the Deloitte Leadership Team. In June 2020, he was appointed General Counsel Emeritus and Senior Partner. Ken is now a Managing Partner at Return on Disability. The Return on Disability Group works with companies to better understand and serve customers and employees with disabilities. In June 2021 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and also the RV Jones Award for his service to the inhouse bar. Three years earlier, he was recognized as Canada's top General Counsel. He has also received numerous awards for his work related to creating a more inclusive legal profession, including the Catalyst, David C. Onley and South Asian Bar (SABA) awards. Mr. Fredeen was chosen as one of Canada's top 25 most influential lawyers in 2013 by Canadian Lawyer magazine. In 2012 he was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for his leadership on diversity and community service. In the same year he was appointed Chair of a Federal Government Panel which reported on best practices and barriers associated with hiring people with disabilities in the private sector. In 2015 Mr. Fredeen was appointed by the Province of Ontario to serve on the Steering Committee established to review business law in Ontario. Mr. Fredeen is a frequent speaker on leadership, the role of General Counsel and Diversity. Mr. Fredeen is a founding member and past Chair of the Legal Leaders for Diversity (LLD) and served as Board Chair of The Learning Partnership and the Ethics Centre. Mr. Fredeen is a trained professional coach and has extensive mentoring and coaching experience. He has also attended Harvard twice for training on mediation and solving complex, multi-party, public disputes through mediation. Mr. Fredeen is married with three children and two dogs, and coaches Special Olympics basketball and track in Oakville.

Atrisha Lewis is a litigation lawyer based in Toronto, Ontario, practicing at McCarthy Tetrault LLP. She has a diverse practice that covers commercial litigation, intellectual property, administrative, and professional negligence mandates. She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal. In addition to her legal practice, Atrisha is also an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where she coaches the Grand Moot team and frequently lectures on topics such as motions and litigation strategy. She is passionate about promoting diversity in the legal profession and has written and spoken extensively on the subject. Atrisha is a 2018 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow and a 2018 Precedent Setter Award Winner. She graduated with honours from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law in 2012, where she received numerous leadership and academic accolades, including the Dean’s Key and the class of 1967 prize. Fluent in French, Atrisha is also a bencher for the Law Society of Ontario.

Kadey Schultz is an award-winning Canadian litigator, with a focus on insurance law. She has been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for Insurance Law every year from 2019 to 2023, and has also received the Lexpert Zenith Mid-Career Excellence Award for Commercial Insurance in 2018. In addition, Kadey has been named a Lexpert Rising Star: Top Lawyer under 40 in 2015, and has been included in Lexpert's US/Canada Litigators to Watch list in 2014. She was also the recipient of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Exceptional Young Lawyer Award in 2010. With significant trial, arbitration, and appeal experience at various courts and tribunals, including the Ontario Superior Court, Divisional Court, Court of Appeal, FSCO, the LAT, and WSIAT, Kadey's law practice focuses on anti-fraud investigations, defending and prosecuting against opportunistic and organized auto, property, life and health fraud, accident benefits defence, tort coverage and defence, and cyber coverage and litigation. She is frequently retained as appellate counsel. Kadey is also an adjunct professor at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and a corporate trainer in the fields of negotiation, dispute resolution, insurance, and risk management. She is a keynote speaker on topics related to business, entrepreneurship, leadership, and not-for-profit organizations, and has published and lectured extensively. In addition to her legal work, Kadey is a passionate volunteer and is involved with several organizations, including the WICC Gala Committee, where she is a member, and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital, where she works to raise funds for the Biggar Endowment to end Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital Foundation and serves as Vice President of the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto. Kadey believes that success comes from the alignment of optimism, hard work, and community, and she loves what she does.

Hilda Wong is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for First National and oversees all aspects of First National’s legal affairs including formation of legal policy and strategy, compliance and regulatory matters, board and governance matters, contract negotiation and documentation. She is also First National’s Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Anti Money Laundering Officer. Prior to joining First National in 2007, Ms. Wong was a partner with the national law firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and an associate with the law firms of Smith, Lyons LLP and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. Ms. Wong holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto and has been in practice since 1993. Ms Wong also serves as a director on the boards of The Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and the Women General Counsel Canada Network.