(***)****-**242
116 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario
Melanie has been practicing criminal law since 2008. She received her law degree from the University of Toronto in 2007, her Master’s degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004, and an Hons. B.Sc. and Diploma in Music Performance from McMaster University in 2002.
Melanie practiced with senior counsel Alan Gold and Leo Adler for several years, before establishing her own practice in 2016.
IN-DEPTH LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Throughout her career as a criminal lawyer, Melanie has defended clients on a wide array of complex matters. Her breadth of experience includes the most serious offences in the Criminal Code at trial and appellate levels. She has represented clients on murder, criminal organization, and large-scale drug and fraud prosecutions, and is frequently retained on sexual offences. She has a particular interest in search warrant litigation and constitutional issues.
Melanie has successfully argued cases at all levels of court in Ontario. She has represented individuals in cases out of province, and before a variety of tribunals and commissions, including the Toronto Police Service Tribunal, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Law Society Tribunal, and the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
Melanie is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's Extremely Serious Criminal Matters (ESM) panel, and can accept certificates for the most serious criminal offences at trial and on appeal. She is also a member of the Pro Bono Ontario Supreme Court of Canada Leave to Appeal Project roster.
ADVOCACY WORK & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Melanie is the Immediate Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, and has served as an executive member since 2013. She is a co-chair of the annual OBA Criminal Justice Institute, and is an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section.
In the course of her work for the OBA, Melanie engages in significant advocacy work on matters affecting the criminal bar and the legal profession. Such work includes liaising with government and other stakeholders, drafting submissions on legislative and policy issues, and organizing continuing professional develoPMent programs for defence and Crown lawyers. She has both chaired and been an invited speaker at numerous professional and educational events. Melanie presently sits on the OBA Access to Justice and Law Day standing committees, and maintains a strong commitment to mentoring junior members of the profession. She is also a long-standing member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and Toronto Lawyers Association.
Melanie has published a number of articles on criminal law issues and regularly provides legal commentary and brief updates on her blog.
In service to the community at large, Melanie also sat on the Board of Directors of Breakaway Addiction Services from 2011 to 2020.
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Melanie has been practicing criminal law since 2008. She received her law degree from the University of Toronto in 2007, her Master’s degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004, and an Hons. B.Sc. and Diploma in Music Performance from McMaster University in 2002.
Melanie practiced with senior counsel Alan Gold and Leo Adler for several years, before establishing her own practice in 2016.
IN-DEPTH LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Throughout her career as a criminal lawyer, Melanie has defended clients on a wide array of complex matters. Her breadth of experience includes the most serious offences in the Criminal Code at trial and appellate levels. She has represented clients on murder, criminal organization, and large-scale drug and fraud prosecutions, and is frequently retained on sexual offences. She has a particular interest in search warrant litigation and constitutional issues.
Melanie has successfully argued cases at all levels of court in Ontario. She has represented individuals in cases out of province, and before a variety of tribunals and commissions, including the Toronto Police Service Tribunal, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Law Society Tribunal, and the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
Melanie is a member of Legal Aid Ontario's Extremely Serious Criminal Matters (ESM) panel, and can accept certificates for the most serious criminal offences at trial and on appeal. She is also a member of the Pro Bono Ontario Supreme Court of Canada Leave to Appeal Project roster.
ADVOCACY WORK & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Melanie is the Immediate Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, and has served as an executive member since 2013. She is a co-chair of the annual OBA Criminal Justice Institute, and is an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section.
In the course of her work for the OBA, Melanie engages in significant advocacy work on matters affecting the criminal bar and the legal profession. Such work includes liaising with government and other stakeholders, drafting submissions on legislative and policy issues, and organizing continuing professional develoPMent programs for defence and Crown lawyers. She has both chaired and been an invited speaker at numerous professional and educational events. Melanie presently sits on the OBA Access to Justice and Law Day standing committees, and maintains a strong commitment to mentoring junior members of the profession. She is also a long-standing member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and Toronto Lawyers Association.
Melanie has published a number of articles on criminal law issues and regularly provides legal commentary and brief updates on her blog.
In service to the community at large, Melanie also sat on the Board of Directors of Breakaway Addiction Services from 2011 to 2020.
