Evidence Colloquium 2016

Evidence Speakers’ Bios

Graham Jenner – Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP

Graham practices exclusively criminal law with the offices of Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP throughout Northeastern Ontario, with a focus on controlled substance and impaired driving matters. He has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Federal Court of Canada. Graham also teaches part-time as an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, in the area of statutory interpretation. Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Graham was a partner at Heller, Rubel Barristers, in . Before being admitted to the Bar, Graham earned his undergraduate degree at McMaster University, and his juris doctor at Osgoode Hall. He also clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario for Justices David Doherty and Gloria Epstein. Graham is an active member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Cochrane Law Association, and is the defence bar representative on the Timmins Criminal Justice Modernization Committee.

Matthew Leef – Weaver, Simmons LLP

Matthew Leef is an associate at Weaver, Simmons LLP. Since being called to the bar in 2013, Mr. Leef's practice has focussed on civil litigation, the majority of which involves insurance related claims. He has successfully appeared as counsel for motions, trials, and hearings at the Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, and Ontario Court of Appeal.

Tom Mann – Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP

Tom Mann was born and raised in Cochrane. After graduating from high school, he attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he received his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in 2009 and his law degree in 2012.

Tom articled at a leading national law firm in Ottawa and was called to the Bar in June 2013. He then joined the long-established practice of David Lanthier as an associate in August 2013, and merged his practice with Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP following Mr. Lanthier’s appointment to the Ontario Municipal Board in May 2016.

Tom is happy to be back in his home town where he enjoys fishing and spending time at the cottage.

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Tom’s law practice covers a variety of areas with a focus on family law. Tom also provides services in wills and estates, estate administration, real estate, commercial law and municipal law.

Tom is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Cochrane Law Association. He is also a member of the Arctic Bathing Club and sits on the Board of Directors of the Minto Counselling Centre.

The Honourable Justice David J. Nadeau – Superior Court of Justice

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Justice Nadeau received his Bachelor of Law from the University of Western Ontario (Dean’s Honour List) in 1983. He has 10 years of experience in general private practice of Criminal, Family, Corporate/Commercial, and Real Estate Law. Additionally, he was a Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court and the Crown Attorney for Cochrane North in the Northeast Region for 7 years. Justice Nadeau was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario at Cochrane-Timmins in 2001, and now presides in North Bay.

Ron Podolny – Siskinds LLP

Ron Podolny is a lawyer in the Class Actions group of Siskinds LLP in Toronto. Ron’s practice is focused on class action litigation, including securities, competition, environmental, consumer protection and product liability matters. Ron has written and spoken widely on topics in commercial litigation. His articles have been cited with approval by Canadian courts, including the . He has been interviewed on legal matters by The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC and other media outlets. Ron is an adjunct professor at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and at the , Faculty of Law.

Melissa M. Sagat – Wallace Klein

Melissa M. Sagat was born and raised in North Bay. In 2007, she completed an Honours degree in Law and Society at York University. Melissa then moved to Europe for eight years and lived between Czech Republic and England. In 2010, she obtained an Honours Master’s degree in International Business at the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic, and in 2013, she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leicester, in Leicester, England.

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After graduating, Melissa accepted a job in the Office of the General Counsel for Deloitte Central Europe in Prague, and worked there while getting her Law degree recognized in Canada.

In May 2015, Melissa returned to North Bay and completed her Articles at Wallace Klein, where she had previously been a summer student. She was called to the Bar in January 2016.

Melissa presently sits on the Community Living Board and enjoys participating in local fundraising events as well as spending time with her family. Her recreational interests include, traveling, yoga, baseball, swimming, rollerblading, and hockey.

Melissa maintains a general practice in the following areas of law:  Family Law (including, Collaborative Family Law)  Civil Litigation (including, Small Claims Court)  Real Estate  Wills and Estates

Ted Tichinoff – Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP

Ted was called to the Bar in 1982 and is a Partner with Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan LLP. He attended University of Western in Ontario and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Ted divides his practice between criminal defence and civil litigation, primarily personal injury. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants at all levels of Court and has conducted numerous trials. He is a former board member of the Advocates’ Society and a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the Criminal Lawyers Association, the Canadian Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.

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