The Future of Law: Influence, Innovation, and Impact.
Friday, October 16, 2026
Vantage Venues, 150 King St W
Toronto, Ontario
TIME
SESSION
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Registration, Breakfast & Networking
Participant registration, breakfast, and networking.
9:30 AM - 9:35 AM
Conference Opening: A Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgement and brief welcome to attendees and speakers.
9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Garden Hall
30 Years of Advocacy and Justice: The Luamba Case and the Fight Against Racial Profiling
Opening Remarks: Aye-Lama
Moderator: Solomon McKenzie
Speakers: Mike Simeon, Kadene Massop, Sajeda Hedaraly
Join CABL for a morning plenary session on the landmark Luamba case and its broader implications for racial profiling, police discretion, and Charter rights. Through a conversation about the origins of the case, the preparation and litigation strategy, the evidence presented at trial, and the lived realities of racial profiling, this session will explore how an individual experience became a constitutional challenge to random traffic stops.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
F1
The Advocate’s Playbook: Strategy, Judgment, and Practice
Advocacy Stream
Moderator: Lavinia Latham
Speakers: Morris Odeh, Marie-Laure Saliah-Linteau, David Alli, Theresa Donkor
Join CABL for an interactive discussion on the practice of advocacy and the skills that shape effective courtroom and legal practice. Experienced advocates will share practical insights from their careers, including lessons on oral submissions, courtroom strategy, cross-examination, ethics, professionalism, and professional judgment. The session will conclude with an interactive Jeopardy-style game drawing on the panel discussion, giving participants an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the key lessons and insights shared by the panelists. This engaging format will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners while reflecting on and reinforcing practical advocacy skills.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Garden Hall
The Modern Business Lawyer: Strategy, Technology, and the Future of Transactional Practice
Transactional Law Stream
Moderator: Lola Williams-Afolabi
Speakers: Paul Davis, Andrew Alleyne, Danielle Butler, Olayinka Fawunmi
The practice of business law is evolving rapidly as technological disruption, changing regulatory frameworks, and increasingly complex commercial relationships reshape the legal landscape. Clients increasingly look to their lawyers for more than legal analysis and risk identification. They expect commercial judgment, strategic insight, and practical guidance that helps them make informed decisions, execute transactions, manage risk, and pursue opportunities for growth.
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Health Break
11:45 AM -12:45 PM
F1
Beyond the Bar: Charting Your Path in a Changing Legal Market
Young Lawyers Stream
Moderator: Enoka (Baino) Bainomugisha
Speakers: Jessica Eruchalu, Jonathan Wallace, D’antal Sampson, Tracy Ventresca
This interactive panel equips new calls with practical strategies for navigating a competitive job market, from securing their first role to building a sustainable foundation for their legal careers. Through candid discussion and audience engagement, the panel will explore multiple pathways for both internationally trained lawyers and graduates of Canadian law schools, while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing early-career Black legal professionals today.
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Garden Hall
The Next Chair at the Table: Leadership, Influence, and Career Growth for Mid-Senior Lawyers
Mid-Senior Lawyers Stream
Moderator: Sam Tecle
Speakers: Sue-Lynn Noel, Alana Gore, Wura Dasylva, Dr. Charles Osuji, Charlene Theodore
Technical excellence is only part of long-term career success. As lawyers move into more senior roles, leadership, influence, and strategic decision-making become equally important. This panel brings together accomplished lawyers to discuss career advancement, leadership development, business generation, and professional growth across a range of professional pathways. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building influence, expanding opportunities, and positioning themselves for the next stage of their careers while defining success on their own terms.
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:20 PM
Garden Hall
Networking Lunch
Afternoon Keynote: Anthony Morgan
2:20 PM -2:30 PM
Health Break
2:30 PM -3:30 PM
Garden Hall
Building Black Wealth: From Earning to Legacy
Financial Planning Stream
Moderator: Sara Bond
Speakers: Orlando Lopez, Bode Odetoyinbo, Raphael Tachie, Dami Gittens
Building wealth is about more than income. It’s about creating opportunities, making strategic investments, protecting assets, and preparing the next generation for success. This panel brings together leaders from banking, investing, entrepreneurship, and estates law to discuss practical strategies for building, preserving, and transferring wealth. Attendees will gain insights into financial planning, business ownership, investing, and succession planning, with a focus on issues and opportunities relevant to Black professionals, lawyers, and entrepreneurs.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
F1
Wellness in Law: Balancing Advocacy & Well-Being
Wellness Stream
Moderator: Chioma Oriuwa
Speakers: Shanice Prendergast, Carine Diverlus, Solomon McKenzie
The legal profession is demanding, and maintaining your mental health while navigating its pressures is essential to building a sustainable career. This panel will explore the realities of stress and burnout in law, the importance of intentional self-care, and practical strategies for protecting your well-being throughout your career.
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Garden Hall
Justice in Focus: Representation, Purpose, and the Future of the Bench
Moderator: Jacqueline Beckles
Speakers: Justice Donald McLeod, Justice Christopher Uwagboe, Justice Lori Anne Thomas, Justice Darren R. Thorne
This moderated judicial panel will bring together members of the bench for a forward-looking conversation on the future of justice, judicial leadership, and the role of the courts in shaping a more inclusive legal system. Panelists will share insights on pathways to the judiciary, the importance of diversity and lived experience on the bench, and how representation can strengthen public confidence, access to justice, and the legitimacy of legal institutions. The discussion will also explore issues of relevance to Black lawyers, including barriers to advancement, courtroom advocacy, mentorship and sponsorship, and the responsibility of the profession to build a judiciary that reflects the communities it serves.
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Garden Hall
From Insight to Impact: Closing Remarks
Speaker: Ebony Rose
4:45 PM – 6:30 PM
Connect, Convene, Celebrate: Networking Reception
An opportunity for attendees, speakers, sponsors, and community members to continue the day’s conversations, build meaningful connections, and strengthen relationships across the Black legal community and broader profession.
The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario.