Moira’s approach to law is to put her considerable academic skills to work in a meaningful way to improve her clients’ lives. She delves into research and writing, and identifies tough legal issues in order to prepare her clients’ cases. However, her learning does not end there. She finds out about her clients’ social, family and financial needs, while always putting them first. Moira’s motivation comes from making a personal connection with her clients and seeing her efforts make a difference in their lives.
With her full-service approach, Moira wants to ensure her clients understand every aspect of their case and that she understands their needs and objectives. She takes as much time as they need, and works hard to gain and maintain their trust. She is passionate about each and every client and their respective stories.
From an early age, Moira knew she wanted to help people—identify what’s wrong and fix it, for individuals and also at a policy level. In addition to her personal injury practice and administrative duties at the firm, she pursues an interest in international human rights through research and advocacy. She has taught comparative indigenous rights at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. For several years, she coordinated the legal team representing Maya claimants in successful land claim litigation in Belize, all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice, and remains involved in the case. She served as a judge on an International Opinion Tribunal concerning human rights violations in Colombia. Moira participated in the successful campaign to change exploitative aspects of Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program by providing free legal clinics for caregivers and temporary foreign workers organized by the Caregivers Action Centre.
Moira has represented clients in trials and hearings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, the Financial Services Commission, and CPP Review Tribunal.
Education
Indigenous Peoples’ Law and Policy, University of Arizona (LL.M. 2005);
Called to Ontario Bar (2002);
Bachelor of Law, University of Toronto (LL.B., 2000);
Specialist Bachelor of Arts with distinction, University of Toronto (B.A. (Hons), 1991).
Affiliations
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
