The 53rd annual Criminal Lawyers’ Association Fall Conference is scheduled for November 21-22, 2025. Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto The Annual Criminal Lawyers’ Association Fall Conference is Canada’s largest criminal law conference attracting more than 700 defence lawyers, judiciary, educators, reporters and other prominent guests from across Canada. Note, the Fall Conference is an in-person format only.
CPD Confirmed!
- Two hours and 10 minutes of Professionalism
- One hour and 10 minutes EDI
- Substantive Hours: Seven hours and 35 minutes (if hours are not needed for professionalism and/or they can be added to substantive)
Plus: Approved for LAWPRO’s Risk Management Credit. Participants who attend the full two days of the program can claim the Risk Management Credit twice. Those attending for one full day can claim once ($50).
AGENDA AND SPEAKERS
Friday, November 21, 2025
8:30 to 8:45 a.m. – Welcoming from Boris Bytensky, President, CLA
8:45 to 9:25 a.m. – Traumatic Brain Injury & Defendants
Featuring:
9:25 to 10:05 a.m. – Constitutional Challenge to Legislation - a Practical Walk-Through
Featuring:
10:05 to 10:45 a.m. – What is a “record”? An update on 278.1 case law
Featuring:
10:45 to 11:15 a.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK
11:15 to 11:45 a.m. – Accessing Youth Records
Featuring:
- Honourable Justice Brett Moodie, Ontario Court of Justice (Cayuga)
- Emma Rhodes, Defence Lawyer (Toronto)
- Alana Pasut, Assistant Crown Attorney (Toronto)
11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Sopinka Lecture featuring Mark Sandler, Cooper Sandler Shime & Schwartzentruber LLP (Toronto)
12.15 to 1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK
1:30 to 2:15 p.m. – The New Miscarriages of Justice Review Commission
Featuring:
2:15 to 3 p.m. – Corbett Applications in the Wake of King and Hussein
Featuring:
- Owen Goddard, Crown Law Office-Criminal (Toronto)
- Monte MacGregor, MacGregor Warth Criminal Law (Toronto)
- Jonathan Shime, Cooper Sandler Shime & Schwartzentruber LLP (Toronto)
3 to 3:15 p.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK
3:15 to 4 p.m. – Investigative work for defence lawyers
Featuring:
4:15 to 5 p.m. – Jail litigation/issues – solitary; strip searches
Featuring:
- Alison Craig, Posner Craig Stein (Toronto)
- Adriel Weaver, Goldblatt Partners (Toronto)
- Honourable Justice R. Philip Campbell, Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Toronto)
5 to 5:45 p.m. – CLA Annual General Meeting and Presentation of the 2025 Ricky Goldman Mensch Outstanding Member Award to Glenn Sandberg
6 to 8 p.m. – Cocktail Reception
Saturday, November 22, 2025
8:40 to 8:45 a.m.: Welcome from Adam Weisberg, Vice President, CLA
8:45 to 9:45 a.m. – Top 5 Cases – OCJ; SCJ; OCA
Featuring:
- Honourable Justice Bruce Durno, Retired, Superior Court of Justice
- Associate Chief Justice Michal Fairburn, Court of Appeal for Ontario
- Honourable Justice Mara Greene, Ontario Court of Justice
9:45 to 10:15 a.m. – Effectively representing Indigenous Clients
Featuring:
10:15 to 10:45 a.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITOR WALK
10:45 to 11:45 a.m. – Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers
Featuring:
11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Closing to the jury
Featuring:
- Honourable Justice Russell Silverstein, Ontario Court of Justice (Toronto)
- Moderated by Laura Metcalfe, Metcalfe Law (Toronto)
12:15 to 1 p.m. – Special Keynote featuring Brian Banks (USA)
1 p.m.: Closing by CLA Vice President, Adam Weisberg
Navigating Diversity in the Legal Profession: A Bird’s Eye View (recorded presentation)
A recorded presentation to be made available on the Conference Hub to all registration to access 48 hours prior to the Conference start date. This video will explore the personal experiences of criminal defence lawyers of diverse backgrounds in all aspects of their practices. Through a series of interviews, you will hear firsthand accounts of both the challenges and triumphs faced by these individuals. Employment and human rights lawyer, Wade Poziomka provides commentary on the legal implications for navigating some of the scenarios that arise and actionable insights to promote cultural competency in all aspects of our practices and become better employers, colleagues, and allies.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Includes access to on Online Hub with links to panel materials. The Saturday Martin Medal Awards Luncheon is an extra fee. Recordings of presentations will be made available to all registrants by December 10 PENDING QUALITY of recordings at no extra charge. If recordings are not available, there are no credits or refunds.
MEMBERS FROM THE GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA) AS PER ADDRESS LISTED IN THEIR MEMBER PROFILE. This includes members from the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York:
- $450 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members
- $300 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
- $285 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
- $175 plus HST: Student members currently enrolled in law school
MEMBERS FROM OUTSIDE THE GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA) AS PER ADDRESS LISTED IN THEIR MEMBER PROFILE:
- $400 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate members
- $265 plus HST: Junior Active & Junior Observer members
- $250 plus HST: Articling Student members & members on parental leave
- $160 plus HST: Student members currently enrolled in law school
NON-MEMBERS:
- $755 plus HST: Non-member legal professionals
- $370 plus HST: Non-member students
Register for the main Fall Conference online by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/event-6307902. Registrations over the phone are also accepted if paying by credit card. Call 416-214-9875, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no one-day rate or sharing of registrations. Extra Options:
- FREE to all registrants: CLA Friday Social, Friday, November 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Come and go as you please during the time period noted.
Extras:
Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations will be accepted in writing if received by 12 noon (ET) on or before November 1, 2025. Cancellations are to be sent to support@criminallawyers.ca. A $50 admin fee will apply. No refunds will be accepted on or after November 2. The substitution of registrants is not accepted unless emailed to support@criminallawyers.ca 72 hours prior to the event start time. The sharing of registrations is not permitted. The CLA reserves the right to alter or cancel, without prior notice, any of the arrangements relating directly or indirectly to an event, for any circumstances beyond the CLA’s reasonable control. If the CLA cancels the event, registrants will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date. In the case of inclement weather, unless otherwise notified by CLA, the event will still take place. When an event proceeds as planned, there will be no refunds should attendees not be able to attend as a result of weather. The CLA will also not be liable to refund registration fees should the event be impacted by a transit strike, strike lock-out, accident, civil disturbance or any other cause whatsoever beyond their control.