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Me Geeta Narang

Executive Director

Geeta has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2002. After practicing aboriginal and public law at a Montreal law firm, she began her own practice in 2008, focusing on civil litigation, tenancy law and constitutional issues. In 2009, the Young Bar Association of Montreal named Geeta the “Leader de demain” in the Pro-Bono / Social Involvement category. She sits on the Committee on Cultural Communities which advises the Quebec Bar Association on equality, cultural and race issues. While a student, Geeta completed the McGill Legal Information Clinic at “Dans la rue”, providing legal information to homeless youth. She also acted as Coordinator of Legal Services at Head & Hands, an organization dedicated to youth issues. Before coming to law, Geeta taught in Val d’Or, Guangzhou and New Delhi. She lives in the neighbourhood in a house full of children.

Me Colin Irving

President of the Board

Me Irving has been a member of the Bar of Quebec since 1959 and the Bar of Ontario since 1981. He currently practices law at Irving Mitchell Kalichman. He has lectured at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, published articles on various legal topics and argued constitutional cases at the Supreme Court of Canada. Me Irving was recently involved in one of the cases arguing for the recognition of same sex marriages. As well as having a long and illustrious legal career, Me Irving has remained involved in his community with organizations such as the Tyndale Saint-Georges Center.

Me Azim Hussain

Vice president of the Board

Azim has been a member of the Bar of Quebec since 2001 and the Bar of Ontario since 2002. He practises general commercial litigation at Ogilvy Renault with a focus on arbitration, foreign state liability, and jurisdictional and constitutional issues. While a student, Azim worked for a semester at the Native Friendship Centre. After completing his legal studies at McGill University, Azim articled at the Supreme Court of Canada with Justice Charles Gonthier. Azim is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners. Before starting his legal education, Azim completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology.

Me Barbara Cuber

Board member, Secretary

Barbara has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2008. She clerked at the Court of Appeal of Quebec and her practice since then has focused on various aspects of public law. During her studies at McGill, she completed the Legal Information Clinic course at the Mile End Legal Clinic and was its first student. Barbara has co-authored articles on environmental law and access to justice and has volunteered with several Montreal social justice groups. Before starting her legal education, Barbara obtained a Master's degree in History at McGill, where she studied colonial medicine in Africa.

Me Aisha Topsakal

Board member, Treasurer

Aisha has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2004. She holds a Masters in International Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and a B.C.L./LL.B. from McGill Law. After articling at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, Aisha worked at Éducaloi as a Project Coordinator. She has also interned with AMERA (Africa and Middle East Refugee Assitance) in Cairo. Aisha is currently the Interim Director of the Career Development Office at the McGill Faculty of Law.

Ms. Carole Gougeon

Board member

Carole has been a social worker in the field of mental health since 1998. She received both a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a certificate in mental health intervention from the Université de Montréal. She is actively involved with her local community, trying to improve the lives of people afflicted with mental illnesses. When she is not working or helping out others, Carole enjoys practicing yoga, doing activities outdoors and traveling.

Prof. Alana Klein

Board member, McGill law professor

Alana Klein is an Assistant Professor at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. She teaches in the areas of criminal law, constitutional law, administrative law, and human rights law, with a focus on poverty and marginalization. Alana was previously a senior policy analyst with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, where she worked on HIV/AIDS and immigration, legal and other barriers to harm reduction programs for people who use illegal drugs, and law reform to promote the rights of women and girls in the context of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. She has also been a law clerk to former Supreme Court of Canada justice Louise Arbour and a commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Me Josie Goffredo

Volunteer Lawyer

Josie was called to the Quebec Bar in 2006 and has since practiced in various areas of civil and administrative law. She practices disciplinary law for the office of the Syndic of the Order of Engineers of Quebec. Josie was previously an attorney at two small Montreal law firms where she practiced general civil litigation, aboriginal law and professional liability. She processed citizens' complaints against various provincial government offices as a delegate of the Quebec Ombudsperson. While a student, she worked for the Attorney General of Quebec. Josie is also involved with the youth in her community as a member of the corporation of a community youth leadership center. She is also a volunteer jurist on the Research Ethics Committee at the Jewish General Hospital. (photo by Ron Diamond)

Me Carole Biot-Stuart

Volunteer Lawyer

Carole Biot-Stuart has received a Bachelor of Civil Law (1993) and a Master of Business Law from the University of Bourgogne in Dijon, France (1994). She has also received a Masters decree in Environmental Law from Sorbonne-Panthéon University, Paris, France (2002). She has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1999 and a solicitor in England since 2008. She practiced law in England as the legal counsel for Global Witness, a solicitor with Environmental Law Foundation, and a legal adviser a the Fulham Legal Advice Center. She has recently moved to Montreal with her husband and two children, and is currently setting up a private practice on the plateau focused on environmental law and family law.

Simon Dupuis

Coordinator

After having completed an undergraduate degree in International law and relations, Simon is one semester away from finishing his degree in Law at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). With a keen interest in human rights, he has been actively involved with the UQAM’s International Clinic for the Defence of Human Rights since 2007. It is upon more local issues, however, that he currently hopes to focus his efforts. Beyond law, his principal interests are music, sports and travelling.

Narimane Nabahi

Articling Student

Narimane recently finished his law degree at McGill University. He was an executive editor for the McGill Journal of Law and Health, volume III. He is articling at the Mile End Legal Clinic. In his spare time, he loves to play around with new computer technologies.

Sarah Afshari

Intake Coordinator

Sarah finished a bachelor in psychology at McGill University in 2009. She is currently pursuing law studies at University of Ottawa. She is interested namely in criminal law, family law and property law. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and practicing outdoor activities.

Noelle Sorbara

Volunteer

Noelle Sorbara is in her final year at Mcgill Law School. Her primary interests are entertainment law and intellectual property. In 2002, she founded Pop Montreal International Music Festival, and served as the Executive Director until 2006. Her undergraduate and masters work focused on East Asian Philosophy and Mandarin. Noelle is a yoga teacher in her spare time.

Emma Siemiatycki

Volunteer

Emma just finished her second year at the McGill Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Development Studies, and a Master’s in Environmental Studies. She was the 2009-10 National Francophone Coordinator for Pro Bono Students Canada, and she has worked as a student advisor at the McGill Legal Information Clinic and Project Genesis. She is interested in environmental law, animal rights, poverty law and questions of access to justice. In her spare time, Emma is an avid foosball player.

Aiden Talai

Volunteer

Aiden recently completed the 2nd year of his law degree at McGill University. He served as co-President of the McGill Entertainment and Sport Law Association and helped coordinate a tutoring program for young athletes. He currently interns at the World Anti-Doping Agency and is a research assistant for a local attorney. In his spare time he plays hockey, is an avid wood turner, tends to his garden and walks his dog Shelby.

David Laflamme

Volunteer

David finished his law degree at McGill University in 2009. During his studies, he worked at Union des producteurs agricoles, working namely on issues related to agricultural trade policy. He later worked at a small law firm specializing in environmental and aboriginal law. David is involved at the Mile End Legal Clinic since 2007. He is a cycling aficionado and enjoys learning and practicing foreign languages in his spare time.