Kimberly Hyslop, LLB '10, is receiving the Gordon F. Henderson Award, which recognizes a lawyer who has made a significant contribution to the welfare of the community through charitable services on behalf of the community.
https://www.instagram.com/unitedwayeo/ Hyslop is a criminal lawyer and partner with Russomanno Hyslop Law, who was a co-founder and the driving force behind Barristers for a Better Bytown, a charity focused on raising funds to support charitable causes in the Ottawa area with projects and initiatives that help at-risk children and youth, people experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable groups within our community.
She has been a dedicated community volunteer and leader, organizing food drives, fundraising events, and community outreach programs benefiting local charities and individuals in need and has been a volunteer with ABLE2ott, a local organization that works to support and connect people with disabilities.
The CCLA says Hyslop “demonstrates extraordinary compassion, humility, and commitment to improving the lives of others, often working behind the scenes without seeking recognition. She is respected across the criminal justice system by defence counsel, Crown attorneys, and members of the judiciary for her integrity, leadership, and community service.”
James Plotkin, LLL '12, JD '13, LLM '15, will be honoured with The Regional Senior Justice Award. It recognizes a lawyer who has been in practice for 10 years or less who has made an outstanding contribution through their excellence as a professional, as well as outside the profession by making an outstanding contribution to the community.
Plotkin is a bilingual litigation and disputes partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration (international and domestic), intellectual property litigation and administrative law.
“He has made significant contributions to the development of commercial arbitration law through numerous publications, co-authored books, and scholarly articles,” says the CCLA.
“He exemplifies the qualities of leadership, professionalism, and excellence that strengthen and elevate the legal profession.”
His graduate work at the Faculty focused on the implications of 3D printing on Canadian trademark law. While in law school, he competed on the University of Ottawa's Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, which he now assists in coaching,
Justice Julie Audet, LLL '95, LLB '96 will receive the Hon. Heidi Levenson Polowin Award for Family Law for someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the practice of family law through their career, whether as a litigator, solicitor, judge and/or alternative dispute resolution neutral.
Audet was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2017. She graduated from the National Program with the highest honours in 1996 and completed an LL.M. in family law at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2011.
Justice Audet has taught family law at the Faculty; led the family law component of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Law Practice Program (in French); and co-authored a textbook, L’essentiel du droit de la famille dans les provinces et territoires de common law au Canada, with the late Professor Nicole Laviolette.
“She is a distinguished family law leader who has earned widespread respect as a lawyer, mediator, innovator, and judge, recognized for her professionalism, integrity, and dedication to justice.
“She is recognized for her commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, creating processes and initiatives that have benefited litigants, lawyers, students, colleagues, and the broader justice system.”
Alum Janice Payne, LLB ‘74 addressed the CCLA Awards Gala guests on behalf of this year’s Umbrella Recipients celebrating their 50th year since their Call to the Bar.
Payne is a partner at Nelligan Law where she was hired as the firm’s first female lawyer. In addition to being a trailblazer for women in law, she has been an active member of the legal community, sitting on various boards and participating in countless legal events and initiatives, including her ongoing participation in the annual Lawyer’s Play.
Many at the Faculty will know Payne from her longstanding support of the annual Nelligan first-year Moot Court Competition, which is going into its 19th year.
The local bar held a “swearing out” ceremony for retiring Justices of the Ontario Superior Court Charles Hackland and Heather Williams.
Hackland, LLB ’75, was appointed a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2003 and Regional Senior Judge of the East Region in 2008. Williams served on the Court since 2017 and prior to her appointment taught trial advocacy at the Faculty for many years.
Both were active in the CCLA and its signature Civil Litigation Conference and both were chairs of the local Judicial Advisory Committee which vetted applicants for judgeships.
Sadly, a day before the ceremony, a funeral was held for the Honourable Denis J. Power.
Power, LLB ’63, was one of the founders of the prominent Ottawa law firm Nelligan Power. In November 2000, he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice and served until his retirement in 2012.