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The South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Toronto was launched in June 2005 as the 21st chapter of the North American South Asian Bar Association, an organization of lawyers of South Asian origin across North America (www.na-saba.org). SABA now has numerous members across the Greater Toronto Area and continues to expand rapidly. SABA has continued to build itself admirably over the course of the last year. There have been many events for its members, it has been profiled in a national newspaper and it interacts with organizations like the Law Society of Upper Canada on a regular basis with the aim of involving itself actively in the legal community. SABA also has established connections with various law schools across Ontario and other Indo-Canadian organizations. Today SABA is a dynamic organization representing the breadth of the South Asian legal community in the Greater Toronto Area. Our Launch:
The South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of Toronto was launched in June 2005 at a reception hosted by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. Many senior and junior members of the legal community attended the launch of the Toronto chapter. Gracing the occasion were Professor Vern Krishna, former Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada and Justice Russell Juriansz of the Ontario Court of Appeal. Mr. Raj Anand, a senior South Asian member of the Ontario Bar was also present, as were the Consul-Generals of India and Nepal.
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Executive Committee
Subrata Bhattacherjee
Subrata Bhattacharjee is Co-Chair of Heenan Blaike's National Trade and Competition Group and a partner in the Toronto Litigation Group. Subrata focuses his practice on all aspects of competition/antitrust law, foreign investment law and regulatory litigation, including quasi-criminal and constitutional matters. He regularly provides counsel on merger clearance, cartel and other contentious and compliance matters under the Canadian Competition Act. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and before all levels of court in the Province of Ontario. Subrata has considerable experience in the media, entertainment and pharmaceutical industries. Subrata carries on an extensive foreign investment practice, and advises non-Canadian investors on Canadian foreign investment issues under the Investment Canada Act and other federal legislation. In this regard, he has advised foreign buyers, including state-owned enterprises, on some of the most high profile foreign takeovers in recent years. He is actively involved in the firm’s International Business practice, and leads its India initiative. Subrata teaches competition law at the Dalhousie Law School, Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he has held a part-time faculty appointment since 2001. He was also appointed as a Special Lecturer in trial advocacy at the Faculty of Law, Queen's University (1999-2001). He publishes and speaks widely on competition/antitrust law issues, foreign investment regulation and related topics, both domestically and internationally. Past speaking engagements have included the Annual Antitrust Spring Meeting of the American Bar Association, the Annual Fall Conference on Competition Law organized by the Canadian Bar Association and numerous other programs. Subrata is an active member of the American Bar Association (Antitrust and Litigation Sections) and the Canadian Bar Association (Competition Law Section). Subrata is currently Chair of the Criminal Matters Committee of the CBA Competition Law Section, Vice-Chair of the Competition Law and Policy Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and a Vice-Chair of the Distribution and Franchising Committee of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association. As a 1995 recipient of a Harold G. Fox Scholarship, Subrata spent a year in London, UK at the Inns of Court (Brick Court Chambers and 4 Pump Court). Subrata has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in his areas of expertise in the most recent editions of Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Chambers Global The World’s Leading Lawyers, Practical Law Company's Cross-Border Competition and Cross-Border Leniency Handbooks, and other peer-rated surveys. Subrata was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 in 2006 by Lexpert Magazine, and as one of the “Litigation Lawyers to Watch” (Competition Law) in the 2007 Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada. In 2008, Subrata was named by the Global Competition Review as one of the world’s top 40 competition lawyers under 40. Education
Post Graduate Diploma in EU Law, Kings College, 1996 LL.B., Dalhousie University, 1993 B.A., Dalhousie University, 1990 B.Sc., Dalhousie University, 1989 Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association Canadian Bar Association International Bar Association The Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) |  |
| | Executive Committee
Sanj Mitra Sanjeev Mitra is a partner and member of the Aird & Berlis LLP Financial Services Group.
Practice
Sanj's practice focuses on bankruptcy and insolvency law. He advises and acts for both Canadian and international financial institutions on a variety of matters. In addition, Sanj acts for Receivers, Trustees in Bankruptcy and Court Appointed Officers in matters involving both commercial and consumer insolvency. A number of the matters in which Sanj has been involved are now precedents in the area of insolvency law.
MembershipsThe Advocates' Society
Cambridge Club
Canadian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Professionals, Editorial Advisory Board
Canadian Insolvency Foundation
Canadian/Ontario Bar Association (Executive of the Insolvency Law Section)
International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL International)
Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association
The National Club
South Asian Bar Association of Toronto, VP and Director
Professional Activities
Sanj is called upon regularly to speak at industry seminars and conferences. He has presented to fellow experts of the Ontario and Canadian Bar Associations, the Canadian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Professionals and the Canadian Institute.
Education
LL.B, Osgoode Hall Law School, 1994
B.Sc., University of Western Ontario, 1990
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President
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi is a member of the Insurance Defence Group at Torkin Manes LLP. She is also Director of Student Programs at the firm. In addition, Sudevi is on the executive of the Insurance Section of the Ontario Bar Association and a member of the Advocates’ Society. Sudevi was called to the Ontario Bar in February 2002. She received her BA (Honours), with a Specialization in Political Science at York University, followed by law school at the University of Western Ontario. While at Western, Sudevi participated in the Niagara Moot Competition and successfully argued in the final round earning the Niagara Moot Trophy. She has working knowledge of both French and Bengali. |  |
| | Co-Treasurer
Thomas Santram Thomas Santram is in-house Legal Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Cineplex Entertainment LP. Cineplex Entertainment is Canada’s largest motion picture exhibitor, serving approximately 64 million guests annually, and operating from British Columbia to Quebec. Practice
Thomas is involved in all aspects of Cineplex Entertainment’s operations, including real estate law, commercial law, privacy law and government relations. Immediately prior to joining Cineplex Entertainment, Thomas practiced commercial real estate law with a business law firm in the western GTA.
Education
B.F.A. (Hons.), York University (1988)
LL.B., University of Western Ontario (1993)
Called to the Ontario Bar (1995)
Memberships
South Asian Bar Association
Ontario Bar Association
Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
Association of Corporate Counsel |  |
| | Co-Treasurer
Puja Varma Puja Varma is an associate and member of McMillan LLP’s Debt Products Group. Her practice focuses on assisting clients with domestic and cross-border debt financing transactions including corporate lending, syndicated financing and asset-based lending. Puja has also been involved in a number of public private partnership transactions.
Puja joined McMillan LLP as a summer student in 2005 and completed her articles with the firm in 2007. She has also participated in secondments at Royal Bank of Canada and Honda Canada Finance Inc. Education
B.B.A. (Hons.), Schulich School of Business, York University (2002)
LL.B., University of Western Ontario (2006)
Called to the Ontario Bar (2007) Professional Memberships
South Asian Bar Association
Ontario Bar Association
Women in Capital Markets
Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce |  |
| | Vice President, Events and Sponsorship
Shahana Kar Shahana is a member of the Ontario and Alberta Bars. In 1993, she began her career as a commercial litigator at Wilson, Vukelich, a boutique firm in Markham. She then joined Cassels, Brock LLP where she practiced insolvency law and worked on complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, many of which had cross-border elements. Shahana then worked as in-house counsel at Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and Manulife Financial before joining the Recovery Group of the Tax Law Section at the Department of Justice where she currently practices insolvency law. | |
| | Vice President, Law School Liaison & Memberships
Sona Sood
Sona Sood is an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Downtown Toronto office. She has been practicing there since her call in 1999, after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. As former president of the South Asians’ Professional Networking Association (SAPNA), Sona has had an opportunity to be very involved with the South Asian community as well. She also volunteers her time with high school children involved in the LAWS programme, Osgoode Hall Law School students, as well as the Canadian Cancer Society. | |
| | Vice President, External Relations
Sundeep Sandhu Sundeep is an associate in the Corporate/Commercial Group at Blaney McMurtry LLP in Toronto. She articled with Blaney McMurtry LLP in 2006-2007, and returned to the firm after her call to the Bar in 2007. Her current practice involves providing advice on corporate governance, divestitures and restructurings, secured lending and mergers and acquisitions. Sundeep represents a wide-range of clients including entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, multinational corporations and not-for-profits.
Sundeep obtained a Specialized Honours in Public Policy and Administration from York University. She also obtained her LL.B from the University of Windsor where she was the recipient of the McTague Law Firm LLP Award for excellence in Business Law.
Professional Memberships:
South Asian Bar Association
Ontario Bar Association
Law Society of Upper Canada
Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association |  |
| | Director, GTA Affairs
Rishi Bandhu
Rishi is a lawyer with Crawford Chondon & Partners LLP, which provides legal services exclusively in the area of management-side labour and employment law. He has practiced there since 2004, when he was called to the Bar. Rishi provides counsel and advocacy services to employers on all facets of the individual employment relationship and union-management issues. He has particular expertise in wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights matters, union certification issues and employment standards litigation. Rishi is a graduate of the University of Toronto (1998) and Osgoode Hall Law School (2003). |  |
| | Director and Secretary
Sheizana Murji Sheizana is currently an associate in the Business Law Group at McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Toronto. She has a general corporate and commercial practice that includes corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. Sheizana completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Political Science (2001) and an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in Economics (2002) at the University of Ottawa. In 2007, she completed a Joint LLB/MBA at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution from Carleton University.
Memberships
South Asian Bar Association
Ontario Bar Association
Law Society of Upper Canada |  |
| | Director, Legal Liaison
Dal Bhathal Dal joined The Counsel Network® in 1998 and currently serves as Chief Executive Office and Managing Director, Eastern Canada. Her focus is on providing strategic advice relating to the successful recruitment of partners, general counsel and senior associates at premier law firms and major corporations in Eastern Canada and around the world. Dal graduated with an LL.B. in 1989 and is a former member of the Law Society of England and Wales. Prior to joining The Counsel Network®, she practiced employment law and civil litigation with one of the UK’s largest law firms. Dal has extensive experience in the selection, management and training of lawyers. She has completed a series of professional courses on effective management, team building, interview techniques, presentation skills and project management. She has been retained by counsel to provide expert opinion on compensation for in-house counsel as well as being retained by counsel on a number of occasions to provide expert opinions relating to lawyer career issues and lawyer employability. She has spoken at CBA conferences and section meetings, Canadian Corporate Counsel and IBA conferences, CLE seminars and law schools. She has been instrumental in producing The Counsel Network®’s Annual In-House Counsel Compensation and Career Survey in association with The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Ipsos Reid. Dal specializes in providing expert legal recruitment services for local and national firms at the partner level. Some of her accomplishments include successful placements at Blakes, McCarthy Tetrault, Borden Ladner Gervais, Aird and Berlis and Lang Michener to name but a few. Dal also provides specialist recruitment services for in-house counsel positions across Canada and internationally. She has worked with some of Canada’s most prominent companies including, Telus, Methanex, Placer Dome, Shoppers Drug Mart, Patheon, VANOC 2010 and RBC Financial Group. She has placed lawyers of all levels and has an expertise in placing Senior and General Counsel. |  | | | |
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South Asian Bar Association of Toronto
The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is the GTA’s premier legal organization dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. Members of SABA include lawyers that self-identify as South Asian or are of South Asian origin, and lawyers that advocate on issues of relevance to the South Asian community. Our membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes lawyers from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies and departments, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA.
SABA-Toronto was created in 2005 by a small group of volunteers. In the years since its inception, SABA’s membership and activities have grown exponentially. Our current activities include advocating for greater South Asian representation in the judiciary, interacting with the Law Society of Upper Canada on the licensing and accreditation process in Ontario, membership on the Equity Advisory Group of the Law Society, interacting with, mentoring and promoting law students in Ontario’s law schools, promoting the cause of South Asian legal professionals in positions of responsibility and involving ourselves with the provincial bar association and corporations to promote the needs of our members.
We serve as a networking forum, an advocacy group and an employment resource. We promote diversity, employment opportunities and where appropriate, social reform. We have also funded a bursary at the University of Western Ontario School of Law. SABA recognizes the achievements of South Asian members of the legal community through its Annual Awards, presented each year at its Annual Gala. Awards are presented in the categories of Lifetime Achievement, Male and Female, and Young Practitioner. The SABA awards are extremely successful and attracts numerous nominations for each category.
SABA also holds a number of events throughout the course of the year other than the Annual Gala and Awards. These include the popular “pub night”, an event that allows our members to interact and network in an informal atmosphere, events designed for law students, social forums, and networking opportunities. |
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