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Our 2020 Summer Students

Christian Airhart
Short Bio

Christian summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Scien...

Christian Airhart

Summer Student

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Christian Airhart

Christian summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University. Over the past year, he served as a Senior Editor on the Osgoode Hall Law Journal and worked as a Research Assistant to Professor Karen Drake. Christian received the McCarthy Tétrault LLP Prize and the Aird & Berlis LLP Prize for standing first in the first year class at Osgoode Hall and first in his section, respectively. In addition, he was awarded the Ivan Cleveland Rand Prize for highest standing in Public and Constitutional Law, and the Fasken Prize in Torts for highest sectional standing. Prior to law school, Christian was a senior law clerk in a debtor/creditor litigation practice, working on behalf of large Canadian financial institutions. Outside of work and school, Christian is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys rock climbing, weightlifting, and distance running. Christian has run in dozens of road races and has raced in seven marathons to date, including the 2015 Boston Marathon. Christian is spending the first part of his summer working for the New York office of Paul, Weiss before returning to Aird & Berlis for the latter part of the summer.

Portia Biswas_web
Short Bio

Portia summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honou...

Portia Biswas

Summer Student

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Portia Biswas

Portia summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours) from Ryerson University. During her first year at Osgoode, Portia participated in multiple moot and negotiation competitions, placing as a quarter-finalist in the Lerners Moot and a top oralist in the Frozen Open Osgoode Moot.  Portia currently volunteers as Director of Operations with Fair Change Legal Clinic, supporting formerly street involved individuals charged with provincial offences and representing them in court. Outside the legal sphere, Portia also volunteers as a crisis responder with Crisis Services Canada. Prior to law school, Portia worked in development and fundraising for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a national organization founded by the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. During her time at the Institute, she supported the launch of 6 Degrees, an international thought leadership program, managed relationships with multiple national corporations and coordinated events featuring speakers such as the Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Kweku Mandela. Honouring her background in performance arts, Portia loves exploring Toronto’s cultural scene and fills her time with concerts, plays, breweries and Raptors games.

Simon Dugas_web
Short Bio

Simon recently completed his second year of law school at Western University. He graduated With Distinction from Western University, receiving a Bache...

Simon Dugas

Summer Student

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Simon Dugas

Simon recently completed his second year of law school at Western University. He graduated With Distinction from Western University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and the Public Interest, as well as a Certificate in Ethics. Simon is actively involved in the law school community at Western. In his first year at Western Law, he served as an Associate Caseworker for the Community Legal Services Clinic. He currently volunteers as a Case Manager for the AthletesCAN Sport Solution Legal Clinic, helping Canadian Olympic and National Team athletes across the country resolve sport-related legal issues. He sits as Speaker for the Western Law Student Legal Society. Simon is also a Western University varsity athlete. As an undergraduate, he spent two years on the Western varsity rowing team before switching, after a serious injury, to the sport of water polo. In the fall, he will be entering his fifth season as a member of the Western varsity water polo team. Simon is an avid mooter. He placed first in the Lenczner Slaght Legal Ethics and Professionalism Moot and he represented Western against other Canadian law schools in the 2020 Warren K. Winkler Class Action Moot Competition. Simon spent several summers as the Camp Director for Camp University of Toronto Mississauga before retiring his camp uniform to work at a litigation boutique in Toronto last summer. In his free time, Simon enjoys trying out new recipes and restaurants, going for trail runs, and playing board games with friends. He is also a Toronto sports enthusiast, escape room fanatic and film buff. Simon is thrilled to be joining the team at Aird & Berlis this summer.

Corey Fletcher
Short Bio

Corey summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. He has a Bachelor of Medical Science (with an Ho...

Corey Fletcher

Summer Student

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Corey Fletcher

Corey summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. He has a Bachelor of Medical Science (with an Honours Specialization in Physiology) from Western University, where he graduated as a Western Scholar and with Distinction. He also completed his thesis in Pancreatic Cancer Research at Robarts Research Institute at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. While at Western, Corey worked as an emergency responder  and also consulted with UWO Campus Police and community services to create student-friendly safety policies. He successfully advocated on behalf of Ontario students for increased tuition support for low-income students, as well as greater mental health resources for all students. Corey was awarded the Katherine Stayshyn Heart of Gold Award for leadership and community service. Most recently, Corey worked as an intern at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva, helping to implement initiatives to encourage less developed states to adopt human rights mechanisms. At Osgoode, Corey is active in his school’s chapter of the Black Law Students Association and is a member of the 1L Curriculum Review Steering Committee. He is currently an executive on Osgoode’s Student Caucus and helps represent the academic interests of all students. He is also caseworker at Osgoode’s Venture Capital Clinic. Outside of law school, Corey is a member of the legal and risk team at William Osler Health System, where he is helping develop consent and capacity frameworks and legislation. He enjoys sports and has an unhealthy obsession with karaoke.

Jose_Garcia_web
Short Bio

Jose recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to attending Osgoode, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (with an Honou...

Jose Garcia-Bonilla

Summer Student

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Jose Garcia-Bonilla

Jose recently completed his second year at Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to attending Osgoode, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (with an Honours Specialization in Genetics) from Western University. At Osgoode, Jose is the Vice President (Internal) of Osgoode Latin American Students where he works to promote Latin heritage on campus and in the legal profession. Jose recently completed his clinical placement at the Community and Legal Aid Services Programme (CLASP) as an Administrative Law division leader. In this role, he represented and assisted clients with a wide range of legal issues such as disability benefit appeals, human rights, criminal injury compensation and academic misconduct. He will be returning to CLASP as a student representative on the clinic's Board of Directors. Outside of law school, Jose enjoys weightlifting, swimming and running through High Park. As a coffee enthusiast, he also enjoys re-creating specialty coffees from countries around the world such as Cuba, Spain and South Korea.

Maria Gonzalez_web
Short Bio

Maria recently completed her first year at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology and Cognitive ...

Maria Gonzalez

Summer Student

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Maria Gonzalez

Maria recently completed her first year at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology and Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto, where she graduated with Distinction. Following her undergraduate degree, Maria completed an accelerated post-graduate program in Paralegal Studies and became a licensed paralegal. Maria spent two years working as a paralegal at a criminal law firm in Toronto. She regularly handled procedural matters on her own at the Ontario Court of Justice and worked with counsel on complex homicide, drug-trafficking and organized crime cases. Before attending law school, Maria spent a summer working as a Legal Assistant in our firm’s Municipal and Land Use Planning Group. Maria has also volunteered for legal clinics, boutique law firms and the Toronto Police Service. Maria speaks Spanish fluently and is an active member of her law school’s Latin American Law Students’ Association. In her spare time, Maria is completing an Interior Design certification and taking fashion management courses remotely. She loves watching basketball, is passionate about cooking, and has a personal goal of visiting every city on the western coast of California.

Samantha Hans_web
Short Bio

Samantha recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in I...

Samantha Hans

Summer Student

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Samantha Hans

Samantha recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in International Development and Political Science. During her undergraduate years, Samantha worked at McGill’s Sexual Assault Centre, creating and leading workshops on consent for junior high and high school students. She interned with the United Nations Development Programme in Barbados, assisting grassroots community organizations in applying for UN funding. After graduation from McGill, she spent a year working full-time for a boutique real estate law firm, with a focus on commercial leasing. In her first year of law school, Samantha volunteered with the International Human Rights Program and shadowed an immigration lawyer on a Group of Five refugee claim through the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program. More recently, at law school Samantha has served as a Senior Editor on the Critical Analysis of Law Journal and worked as a Family Law caseworker at the school’s legal clinic. This past year, Samantha also served as the Program Coordinator Pro Bono Students Canada, managing the U of T Chapter, comprised of over one hundred law students working on over fifty pro bono community projects. Samantha enjoys travelling and has lived and studied in New Mexico, Barbados, Calgary, Montreal and now Toronto. 

Jaclyn Jesin-Neuberger_web
Short Bio

Jaclyn recently completed her first year at Osgoode Hall Law School. She has a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies (with a specializatio...

Jaclyn Jesin

Summer Student

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Jaclyn Jesin

Jaclyn recently completed her first year at Osgoode Hall Law School. She has a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies (with a specialization in Consumer Behaviour) from Western University, where she graduated with High Distinction. While at Western, Jaclyn volunteered with Hope for Relief, tutoring grade 11 and 12 students who were learning English as a second language. Prior to law school, Jaclyn worked for two summers as a receptionist at Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg LLP. She also spent two years working full-time as a recruitment consultant for two large executive search firms, where she established and maintained her own book of business and trained and mentored new team members. At Osgoode, Jaclyn is an active member of the Jewish Law Students Association and was also involved in the Women’s Network and the Business Law Society. Jaclyn participated in the 2019 Dentons Cup, sharpening her negotiation skills in a competitive setting. Outside of school, Jaclyn regularly volunteers with Lawyers Feed the Hungry, and enjoys travelling and immersing herself in different cultures. She is an avid skier and looks forward to her annual family ski trips. Jaclyn is also a fitness enthusiast and stays active with regular workouts.

Aiden Katz_web
Short Bio

Aidan recently completed his first year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University ...

Aidan Katz

Summer Student

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Aidan Katz

Aidan recently completed his first year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Regina, graduating with Distinction. Prior to attending law school, Aidan competed internationally at the professional level in triathlons. His personal highlights include representing Canada at the 2014 professional Duathlon World Championships and winning a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games. As well, Aidan worked as the Senior Policy and Communications Advisor to two Deputy Premiers of Saskatchewan. During his time at the government Aidan wrote over forty speeches, including the 2018 Budget Reply speech, and advised the Deputy Premiers through two budgetary cycles and three legislative sessions. In law school, Aidan worked for the Faculty of Law Review as an associate editor and was also selected for the Faculty’s Cassels Cup competitive mooting team. Aidan enjoys exploring Toronto with his fiancée and his dog Ollie, and especially enjoys cooking with whatever looks good at the farmer’s market that day.

Brodie Kirsh
Short Bio

Brodie summered with the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. She ranked second in her cla...

Brodie Kirsh

Summer Student

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Brodie Kirsh

Brodie summered with the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. She ranked second in her class in first year. Brodie was awarded the Fasken Martineau LLP Achievement in Contract Law Award for having stood first in her class in Contract Law. In addition, she won the Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Professional Excellence Award. She has a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in Finance, Marketing and Entrepreneurship. During her summers while completing her undergraduate degree, Brodie worked at a start-up called Achievers as a Financial Analyst and helped with the valuation and due diligence when the company was acquired. After graduating from McGill, Brodie was invited to join Bell Canada’s Toronto office as a member of the Graduate Leadership Program where she held various positions ranging from Internet of Things Forecasting Specialist to Customer Experience Consultant. A highlight from her time at Bell includes working with Bell’s Value Creation Team on high level strategy for the acquisition of a home security company. During her first and second years of law school, she was an active member on the Mental Health Initiatives team, acted as VP of Operations of the Corporate Law Club and volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada on the Wills Project. Beyond work and school, Brodie is an enthusiastic adventure traveller, has her PADI diving certification and most recently climbed Japan’s Mt. Fuji. In her spare time, Brodie loves sewing her own clothes, playing volleyball, cheering for her beloved Toronto sports teams and wakesurfing.

Vernon Lin
Short Bio

Vernon summered with the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts de...

Vernon Lin

Summer Student

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Vernon Lin

Vernon summered with the firm in 2019 and recently completed his second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, where he studied History with a focus in Politics and Law. In between his years of study, Vernon spent summers working across the fields of law, consulting and education throughout the Greater China area. At a Shanghai-based consulting firm, Vernon managed due diligence projects for Western clients operating in China’s energy sector. A personal highlight was shadowing investigators on undercover fieldwork targeting counterfeit manufacturers and retailers. In prior summers, Vernon worked at an international business law firm based in Taipei. In law school, Vernon is involved with Pro Bono Students Canada as a chapter executive, and with Ultra Vires, the student-run newspaper, as its editor-at-large. He is also passionate about youth outreach and works with several student mentorship programs abroad and in Canada, most recently with the Mentorship Committee of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. Fluent in Mandarin, Vernon is passionate about traveling and enjoys drawing from his bicultural and bilingual background in his professional and educational endeavors. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer, exploring Toronto’s vibrant food scene and belting out his favourite tunes at karaoke. He is spending the first part of his summer working for the New York office of Proskauer Rose LLP before returning to Aird & Berlis for the latter part of the summer. 

Ben Mayer-Goodman_web
Short Bio

Ben recently completed his third year of the combined Juris Doctor/Masters of Global Affairs program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and t...

Benjamin Mayer-Goodman

Summer Student

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Benjamin Mayer-Goodman

Ben recently completed his third year of the combined Juris Doctor/Masters of Global Affairs program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Munk School of Global Affairs. He has a Bachelor of Arts (with a specialization in Multi-Platform Journalism) from Concordia University, where he graduated in the top one per cent of his class. Additionally, he obtained a certificate from the Rotman School of Management for courses in accounting, finance and statistics. At law school, Ben was President of the International Law Society and an active member of the Technology and Intellectual Property Group. Ben conducted extensive research for two professors at the law school (on various topics including gun control policy, legal history and labour and employment law). After his first year of law school, Ben drafted appeals for LGTBQ+ and HIV-positive refugee claimants at a boutique immigration law firm. For his capstone project at the Munk School, Ben and his teammates developed and pitched a strategy for marketing insurance products to millennials, for one of Canada’s largest banks. Last summer, Ben worked for Navigator, a high-stakes public strategy and communications firm. He helped develop crisis management strategies for public figures and international corporations, and also assisted with regulatory compliance and government relations. A highlight included supporting the Canadian launch of an American cannabis company. Ben continued to work for Navigator during the school year, assisting with litigation matters.  Ben is passionate about theatre and the arts and held a number of roles in the media and entertainment sector including a sales position at Cineplex Media. Ben is also an avid drummer and has played in numerous bands in Montreal and Toronto.

Kevin Miri_web
Short Bio

Kevin recently completed his second year of the JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration (with a spec...

Kevin Miri

Summer Student

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Kevin Miri

Kevin recently completed his second year of the JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration (with a specialization in Finance, Accounting and Economics) from the Schulich School of Business, graduating with High Distinction in the top five percent of his class. After his second year at Schulich, Kevin summered as a staff accountant at the Toronto office of Ernst & Young LLP. Prior to starting law school, Kevin spent a year working full time as an investment analyst in the Toronto office of Arthur D. Little (LTDA), a global management consulting firm based in Brazil. During his first year of law school, he continued his work there, aiding in the creation of investment strategies for multibillion-dollar infrastructure development projects. In his second year of the joint program, Kevin completed his first year of the Rotman MBA, receiving the Andrew Alexander Kinghorn Fellowship, awarded to students in the top 10 percent of the first year MBA class. Additionally, he competed in several case competitions, achieving first place finishes in both the SickKids Case Competition and the COMPASS X McKinsey Case Competition. His other interests are centred around sports – he has been studying Mixed Martial Arts for seven years and is ranked nationally in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also enjoys basketball, American football and swimming.

Karlie Nordstrom_web
Short Bio

Karlie recently completed her first year of law school at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Prior to moving to Toronto, she earned a Bachelor ...

Karlie Nordstrom

Summer Student

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Karlie Nordstrom

Karlie recently completed her first year of law school at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Prior to moving to Toronto, she earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, where she graduated with Great Distinction. Karlie financed her education through scholarships, and employment as a server and bartender and other roles within the University. During her time at law school, Karlie has volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada, working in partnership with the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women to develop and deliver legal education presentations at women’s shelters. She will continue her commitment to this project next year, taking a leadership role coordinating other volunteers. Karlie is also co-president of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association. When she is not busy with school and extra-curricular commitments, Karlie enjoys, cooking, exploring the music and food scenes of Toronto and looking after her dog Lucky. Karlie also loves to travel, having completed a solo-backpacking trip in Australia for seven months before university, and a shorter two-month trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos between her undergraduate and legal studies.

Angela Oh_web
Short Bio

Angela recently completed her second year at the University of Ottawa. She graduated with High Distinction from the University of Toronto with an Hono...

Angela Oh

Summer Student

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Angela Oh

Angela recently completed her second year at the University of Ottawa. She graduated with High Distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Nutritional Science. While at the University of Toronto, Angela co-founded a student-run club, Liberty in North Korea, to increase awareness about human rights issues in North Korea. She also served as Vice President (Community Outreach) for Women in Science and Engineering, promoting gender equality and the advancement of women in the STEM fields. Angela was actively involved in nutritional policy research at University of Toronto and is the co-author of four pending journal publications. After her first year of law school, she worked in the legal department at Nestlé Canada as its first summer law student. She researched current and future cannabis regulations, and won second place in Nestlé’s internal business case competition, developing an innovative solution for in-home soluble coffee. In her second year at uOttawa, Angela was a Teaching Assistant for a first-year Legal Research class, a Dean’s Research and Writing Fellow, an Associate Editor for the Ottawa Law Review, and a Writing Leader. Outside of school and work, Angela enjoys aerial yoga, pilates and watching tennis (cheering for Rafael Nadal).

Mark Omenhuga_web
Short Bio

Mark recently completed his first year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts (with an Honours Specialization in Inter...

Mark Omenugha

Summer Student

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Mark Omenugha

Mark recently completed his first year at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts (with an Honours Specialization in International Relations) from Western University. While at Western, Mark was heavily involved in on-campus leadership through his roles as a Residence Advisor and Academic Orientation Leader, winning awards in both positions. In his final year, Mark volunteered with the Black Students Association, organizing Western’s Black History Month. He also co-wrote a policy paper, with other members of his graduating class, assessing the major cyber security challenges and risks of new technology infrastructure in Canada. At Windsor, Mark holds positions with various clubs and committees, including the Black Law Students Association and the Mental Health and Wellness Initiative. Next year, Mark will be taking on new roles as a Co-Coordinator for the Justice Skills Workshop Series and as a Volunteer Coordinator with Pro Bono Students Canada. Mark was also a recipient of the Honourable Justice Alexander Isaac Scholarship. Outside of work and school, Mark is an avid fan of soccer and basketball. In his free time, he enjoys reading, staying active and (when possible) attending concerts.

Matthew Patterson_web
Short Bio

Matthew recently finished his second year of law school at Western University. He received a Dean of Law Entrance Scholarship (which covers tuition fo...

Matthew Patterson

Summer Student

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Matthew Patterson

Matthew recently finished his second year of law school at Western University. He received a Dean of Law Entrance Scholarship (which covers tuition for the first two years of law school). He was awarded the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Award for being one of the top three students in first year, and the Faculty Association Scholarship for standing first in his class. He also won course awards for Property and Tort Law, as well as the Harold G. Fox Education Fund Award for outstanding academic achievement. Before law school, he completed his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Western, studying History at Huron University College. He was the gold medallist for his graduating class and received the Jordan Propas Award for Community Involvement. His undergraduate research took him to the British National Archives in London, where he researched German espionage operations during the First World War. In law school, Matthew has been very active in mooting. In his first year, he won the provincial Hicks Morley Cup and was a finalist in the Legate Medical Malpractice Moot. This year, he competed in the Phillip C. Jessup Public International Law Moot, where his team advanced to the international rounds and he was recognized as one of the top five oralists in Canada. He has also been actively involved with the Western Journal of Legal Studies. He is currently the editor-in-chief, having previously served as a staff editor and managing editor. Before starting law school, he worked in a museum where he did local history research and curated exhibits. In his free time, Matthew enjoys theatre, reading, and dreaming of the day the Blue Jays finally turn things around.

Kaija Sandberg
Short Bio

Kaija summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Liberal A...

Kaija Sandberg

Summer Student

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Kaija Sandberg

Kaija summered at the firm in 2019 and recently completed her second year at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She has a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree (with a focus in Business Management and Administration) from Harvard University, where she graduated in the top two per cent of her class. Additionally, she obtained a certificate from Harvard Business School in Financial Accounting, Business Analytics, and Economics. During her undergraduate years, Kaija worked in retail and as a staff accountant at a corporate tax accounting firm. She also spent two summers working in Spain as a live-in nanny and tutor. Upon graduation, she worked in customer relations at the Bank of Montreal before moving to Toronto to attend law school. At law school, Kaija is Co-President of the Business Law Society and a student ambassador. Kaija lived in Mexico prior to her post-secondary education, where she became fluent in Spanish and developed a passion for learning new languages. She is also a former competitive figure-skater and enjoys exercise and the outdoors. Outside of school and work, Kaija can be found spending time with her dog and cat, sampling oysters at buck-a-shuck, and designing jewelry made from the glass of discarded wine bottles. Kaija is spending the first part of her summer working for the New York office of White & Case LLP before returning to Aird & Berlis for the latter part of the summer.