University of Windsor Spring 2007 Faculty of Law Alumni Magazine www.uwindsor.ca/nulli Owning IT Spotlight on Intellectual Property and Information Technology Giving Large Setting the Standard for Alumni Giving In Good Company Windsor Law Events and Reunions SPRING | 2007 KEEPING IN TOUCH Contents If we have lost touch with you or your classmates, please drop us a note, send an e-mail or make a phone call to help us keep in touch. Addresses are collected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and are used for the purpose of updating and maintaining FEATURES alumni and donor records, and for publications, invitations and updates Special Feature: Owning IT | 4 on what is new at the Law School. Spotlight on Information Technology and Updates can be sent to: Intellectual Property Karen Momotiuk, LL.B. ’96 Director of Alumni and In Good Company | 18 Fund Development, Faculty of Law University of Windsor Windsor Law Events and Reunions. Lorne Abony ’94, CEO of FUN 401 Sunset Avenue Technologies Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 Class of 1976 ........................... 21 Phone: 519-253-3000 x 2920 Class of 1981 ........................... 22 Fax: 519-561-1431 Giving Large | 24 [email protected] [email protected] Setting the Standard for Alumni Giving Nulli Secundus Updates Editor: Karen Momotiuk ’96 Loss of a legend: Rose Voyvodic ’82 From the Dean | 3 Contributors: Laura Elinson, Thomas Flavin '98, David Smith Law School News/Moot Points | 22 Law III, Grace Macaluso, Michellyne Mancini, Jody Johnson Law III, Professor Jeffrey Berryman Faculty News | 15 Design and Production: Loss of a Legend ....................... 16 Jennifer Barone, Publications Manager / Editor Renee Bombardier, Graphic Designer Advancement News | 27 Public Affairs and Communications, University Advancement Taking Stock Pays Dividends ....... 27 Photography: New Scholarships & Awards ....... 28 Kevin Kavanaugh, James Cochrane Photography, Susan Jacobs (Frozen Images Photography), Presidents with Perspective ........ 29 Karen Momotiuk ’96, Tyler Brownbridge. Canada's Minister of Justice ....... 30 Editorial Correspondence: Editor, Nulli Secundus, Faculty of Law Benchmarks .............................. 31 Telephone: 519-253-3000, Ext. 2920 Fax: 519-973-7071 The Cancer Chronicles ............... 32 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.uwindsor.ca/law Sand, Sun & Fun ....................... 32 Alumni Achievements | 33 Nulli Secundus is made possible by From the Editor | 35 the generous support of Windsor Law Alumni & Friends. ON THE COVER Roma Khanna ’93, Senior Vice President in Charge of Content for CHUM Television in the Much Music Studio, Toronto ON. 2 Nulli Secundus . Spring 2007 From the Dean DEAR Alumni AND FRIENDS: As always, our faculty members have an extensive variety of initiatives they are focusing their energies on, It is with great excitement many of which are featured here. In addition, you’ll find that I bring greetings from the photos and descriptions of our three alumni dinners, office of the Dean here at the held in Windsor, Toronto, and Ottawa in November. Faculty of Law — excitement A good time was had by all, and the photos speak for because there is, as ever, themselves. And speaking of photos, attendees of the so much going on here at 1976 and 1981 reunions will want to check out the Windsor Law that continues photo galleries starting on page 21. to make this a great law school. Not a day has gone Gregory Monforton '79 and Graeme Mew '86, two by during my time as Acting Dean that I have not felt successful Windsor Law grads, also speak frankly in this incredibly proud to be associated with this outstanding issue about what it means to be a lawyer, and the many institution, of which I have been privileged to be a part social responsibilities that come with it. for many years. In addition, we all know how vital philanthropy is This past semester has been a tremendous adventure, today—more than ever before—for the survival of our and I have enjoyed every minute of it. prized institutions. This issue hones in on the importance I have become reacquainted with impressive of ongoing alumni support, showcasing what Windsor successes of so many of our alumni. I never fail to be Law grads are doing to create lasting legacies, and what inspired by all of the extraordinary things our alumni giving back means to them. are accomplishing, by taking leading roles in their It has been a true pleasure for me to serve as Acting professions and their communities. As a professor here Dean, here at Windsor Law, and I look forward to the at the Law School, I find it immensely rewarding to read coming months, as I continue in this position, prior of your achievements. to the return of Dean Bruce Elman. The many of you This, I’m sure, you will find to be an engrossing issue whom I have met and worked with throughout this time indeed of Nulli Secundus, in which our editor, Karen have made this a truly dynamic experience for me. Momotiuk '96, has focused her attention on some of Enjoy this issue of Nulli Secundus—it is your Windsor our alums working in the entertainment, intellectual Law magazine, made for you and by you. property, and information technology industries—some of whom demonstrate that you do not have to be a All the very best, lawyer to be a successful Windsor Law alum. This issue includes a spotlight on the Law School’s ground- breaking Intellectual Property Legal Information Network. As well, Windsor Law is the alma mater to the honourable Robert Nicholson '77, currently Canada’s BRIAN MAZER Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Law III ACTING DEAN OF laW student, Jody Johnson, caught up with him for an interview about life on the Hill. Our alumni are touring the globe, and the first installment of a fun, new series called “Where has your Nulli been?” is débuted here, with class of '04 grad Alwin Kong at Machu Pichu, Peru. Nulli Secundus . Spring 2007 3 SPOTLIGHT ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND Information TechnologY Owning IT BY LAURA EL INSON the door swings open to Lorne Abony’s Toronto office of FUN Technologies, it is appropriate that a ping-pong Astable is the first thing to meet the eye. This is, after all, a company with 25 million registered online users that has built its mega-fortune on the world’s simple desire to play games. Abony '94 was not playing games, however, when he recently sold a 51 percent controlling interest in FUN Technologies to the American media conglomerate, Liberty Media, for US $196 million. Neither was The Globe and Mail when it awarded him a spot on its prestigious Top 40 Under 40 list last year. FUN is a force to be reckoned with. Lorne Abony '94, CEO of FUN Technologies. Nulli Secundus . Spring 2007 5 SPOTLIGHT ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND Information TechnologY FUN Technologies has grown to 350 think about problems, how to challenge employees and occupies six offices in traditional ideas, how to subject Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain. Its thoughts to rigorous scrutiny,” he says. focus is online skill-based (as opposed “My thinking from law school helped to chance-based) gaming and fantasy us build an international business sports. Games are primarily accessible worth over half a billion dollars.” via the Internet, with the venues Abony also appreciated Windsor’s of interactive television and stand- sense of community and the fact that alone kiosks becoming increasingly his professors seemed to care so much popular. FUN’s fantasy sports division, about his education. “It was a small fanball.com, offers league-hosting little place and I loved it. Honestly, I software, real-time sports statistics, went to McGill, Windsor and Columbia and interactive games for the Internet and I loved Windsor. “I thought it was and other convergent media platforms. the best of the three.” In a moment Fanball.com also provides users with of pressure to desperately recall his online fantasy sports contests, and has favourite hang-out as a student at exclusive distribution agreements with Windsor law, Abony admits, however, such organizations as AOL, Microsoft, that he spent relatively little time Disney, and NASCAR.com. It also owns Lorne Abony ’94 was awarded the Globe and Mail's actually at law school when he was a fanball.com Radio and produces such prestigious Top 40 Under 40 distinction. student. He was smitten by business print publications as Fantasy Football at an early age, and ran a company, Weekly, one of America's top-selling called Tickets, which defended people fantasy sports publications. took the form of Petopia.com, a in traffic court. He was already After receiving his J.D./LL.B. in San Francisco-based provider of pet juggling his fledgling business career 1994, Abony earned his MBA from the supplies and services. He sold it to with a law student’s agenda. He Columbia Business School and began PETCO in December 2000. In the wake describes himself as the hardest- to practice securities law at Aird and of his Petopia success, his idea for FUN working human being he knows, but Berlis LLP in Toronto. Abony found a Technologies came to fruition. Today he still manages to keep fun at the top lawyer’s lifestyle too predictable for he is a man who is very happy with of his list. his keenly entrepreneurial taste. As a his decisions. “I love, love, love what I lover of video games and a man with do,” Abony declares. “If I had to do it hen Cyril Drabinsky '81 an eagle’s eye for market opportunities, all over again, I would do it the exact took over a company Abony used his legal education to same way.” called Filmhouse from venture into the world of business.