TEAM

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Germán Morales Farah 

Germán Morales Farah  

Germán Morales Farah is an experienced international legal counsel and business advisor with vast experience in negotiating complex international agreements in various industries and languages worldwide.  He advises major corporations and institutions on their legal matters and business transactions and assists companies to successfully navigate the business, legal, cultural and political landscape globally. 

Mr. Morales Farah’s practice is focused on international transactions. He has had the opportunity to combine his academic experience, acquired from leading universities, with his broad range of professional legal and business expertise in corporate matters and cross-border transactions.  His extensive experience in structuring, negotiating and implementing international transactions includes international projects located in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia, Canada and the United States of America. 

Mr. Morales Farah has acted as in-house counsel for prestigious companies and has worked at leading international law firms.  He held the position of Vice President, Corporate Counsel of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and worked at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City and the law firms of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and McCarthy Tétrault LLP in Toronto.  Mr. Morales Farah is Program Director for the Professional LL.M. in International Business Law at OPD, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and teaches International Business Transactions, Comparative Legal Systems, In-House Counsel (Law and Practice) and Business Associations. 

Ravitanay Singh 

Ravitanay Singh 

Ravi Singh is an international business lawyer with a focus on international commerce, emerging technologies, regulatory matters, and finance. He strives to understand his client’s business and operations in order to provide effective legal solutions for growth. While still in training, Ravi has amassed extensive experience regularly assisting and advising several international clients on commercial and contractual matters. 

Ravi recently graduated with an LLM degree in International Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Besides spending countless hours studying at the law school, Ravi He worked with the Sickkids Foundation in Toronto and its’s versus campaign supporting healthcare workers. Prior to Osgoode, he earned his Bachelor of Laws- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.LL.B.) degree at Amity Law School, New Delhi, India. During his undergraduate studies, Ravi interned with several Judges, law firms and distinguished advocates. In addition, he has a Certificate in Competition Law & Intellectual Property Rights from FICCI (The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce).

Ravi began his career practicing as a licensed attorney in India acquiring over four years of practical experience. He spent most of his time drafting and pursuing carefully researched legal applications while assisting his seniors in complex civil & commercial litigation proceedings. He polished his advocacy skills by conducting arguments before several courts and drawing up strategies to navigate through challenging legal battles. Furthermore, Ravi has worked extensively in structuring commercial terms for his clients which include several supplier agreements, employee contracts, general terms & conditions of sale, agency, distribution and franchise agreements. Ravi has mastered the tools of dispute resolution by working on several arbitrations and negotiations concerning complex business disputes in his tenure.

Ravi loves to travel and seeks thrilling adventures regularly. He is proud to have scaled the highest motorable road in the world on a motorcycle and jumped off the highest bungee in India. His hobbies include wildlife & landscape photography, collecting rare coins and online competitive gaming. 

Aishwerya Kansal 

Aishwerya Kansal  

Aishwerya is a foreign trained lawyer and working with IP Processing Team at Bereskin & Parr, a leading Intellectual Property Law Firm of Canada. She completed Master’s in Law – International Business Laws with a focus in Technology & Intellectual Property (IP) from Osgoode Hall Law School. Before her endeavour in the Canadian legal market, she was practising as the Trademark, Copyright and Contractual IP Associate with the globally recognised, IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders IP Boutique firm, Anand & Anand. She has advised multinational Software, Cloud Computing, Social Media, Automobiles, Food and Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverage, Hospitality, Pharma, Media, Sports, Entertainment, Luxury and Fashion, Government Bodies and more. Collaborated with global law firms on Corporate, Technology and Intellectual Property (prosecution, enforcement and litigation) and transactional IP matters. She has multijurisdictional experience under her belt and have protected brand owner’s marks at USPTO, CIPO, WIPO (Madrid applications), Japan, Asia, Australia, EUIPO, etc.  She has also filed complaints at UDRP for domain names, protected fashion designers’ designs from counterfeiting, audited and valued intangibles. She also worked on the Initial Public Offering of a leading educational company and advised on disclosures of IP in the prospectus resulting in raised stock market prices. She also engaged in advising a consortium of experts in the Mining Industry and recently helped her client in winning “Mine Developer and Operator” bid a Mine Project (50 Mt/yr Coal Mine). 

Presently, she is an Innovation Clinic Fellow with the IP Osgoode, Intellectual Property Law & Technology Program which is supervised by Bereskin & Parr and Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.   She is engaged in advising start-up entrepreneurs on Patent and Trademarks issues. She is also on the board of ITL Networks as a as a Director and help to provide ITLs & ITLGs with opportunities to network, develop and socialize, and also advocate for them with all relevant law societies and stakeholders in the legal fraternity.  She was also a guest speaker on Career Crafter series on Mehfil Media TV in Canada. She is a member of CAN-TECH and sit on the committees of Artificial Intelligence, Women in Tech and Diversity. 

For under graduation, Aishwerya pursued Bachelor of Commerce with Honours and Bachelor’s in Law with a specialisation in Busines & Tax Laws. She has been awarded “Best at Interpersonal, Team Spirit Skills and Academic Performance” at the Convocation, Amity Law School. She also summered with Financial Institutions, Full-Service Law Firms, Taxation Firms, Additional Solicitor General of Supreme Court and High Court during her five years of law school.   She feels profoundly about underprivileged and have volunteered for Udaan Welfare Foundation as well as Godhuli Senior Citizen Home in high school. She is also very athletic and enjoys 800 m running, Swimming, Badminton and Horse Riding

Raghav Jain

Raghav Jain 

Raghav is a dual licensed lawyer in India and the province of Ontario. He completed his LLB from Panjab University and is currently pursuing LLM studies in International Business Law. Currently, Raghav focuses on the following areas of law – International Trade & Investment, Economic Sanctions, Export Controls, Cryptocurrency, Mining and Energy. Besides the OBA, Raghav is a member of the Canadian International Council, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Canadian Institute of Mining, South Asian Bar Association and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (“FACL”).

Prior to moving to Canada in 2019, he briefly practiced Financial Crimes Litigation in India. Raghav has been an active member of the International Law Section and Natural Resources & Energy Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association (“OBA”). He regularly develops legal education programming, contributes to legislative and regulatory advocacy, creates networking and business development opportunities, and writes articles for the OBA’s quarterly newsletters.

Raghav is passionate about mentorship and truly believes in paying it forward. In the past, he has mentored over a dozen students undergoing NCA exams and those in Ontario’s lawyer licensing process.  For his contribution to the profession, he was recently recognized as a Trailblazer in Law by FACL.

Outside of law, Raghav has been involved in numerous social service projects under the auspices of Rotary International. He takes a keen interest in international relations, geopolitics, European football and world history. Moreover, he frequently undertakes long distance expeditions in the Himalayas and canoe trips in Canada’s north in order to de-stress.

Umar A. Oseni

Umar A. Oseni  

Umar A. Oseni is the Chief Executive Officer of a multilateral financial institution headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Umar received his Bachelor of Law (Hons) in Common and Islamic Law from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Master of Comparative Laws (with Distinction), and PhD from the International Islamic University Malaysia. Umar is on the verge of completing his Master of Laws in Financial Law at York University.

Umar was an Executive Director (Legal and Compliance) and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the same multilateral financial organization where he is currently working. He was also an Associate Professor of Comparative Law and Regulation of Islamic Finance at an International University in Malaysia.  Umar was a visiting fellow at the Islamic Legal Studies Program of the Harvard Law School, Harvard University. Apart from being a Harvard-certified negotiator and dispute resolution expert from the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School, Umar has consulted for numerous bodies in the areas of law and regulation of Islamic finance. With a good blend of both significant academic and industry wide experience, Umar has completed strategic consultancy works for some United Nations agencies, COMCEC of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group and other government and government-linked agencies. Umar is a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Currently, Umar is also undergoing his licensing program with the Law Society of Ontario. 

With over 100 publications, Umar has published widely in refereed journals and books on comparative law, dispute resolution, and Islamic finance.  Beyond writing, you will find Umar playing tennis and working out in his private gym. 

Daniel Choi 

Daniel Choi  

Daniel is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. He holds a BA in philosophy from the University of Toronto and a MA from McMaster University, where his research focused on normative ethics.

During law school, he served on the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, the Intellectual Property Journal, and the Transnational Legal Theory Journal. He also worked as a Research Assistant in areas such as contract law theory and Section 7 of the Charter. His current research interests are in the intersection of law, business, and technology. Professionally, he is interested in cross-border transactions and capital markets. Prior to law school, he worked in Database Operations at the Ontario Medical Association.

In his free time, Daniel is committed to volunteering in his community. He served on the executive of the Asian Law Student Association, the national chapter of the First-Generation Network, and contributes to many other student groups. He also loves boxing, trying new restaurants, and has a dog named Bok Choi.

Shally Malik

Shally Malik

Shally Malik is the founder of My Startup Lawyers Canada and a former corporate/transactional lawyer in Toronto. She has been passionately involved in legal community initiatives such as leading a start-up focused legal aid clinic in London UK, producing valuable legal research for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and offering accessible legal services to local entrepreneurs and ventures in Toronto. 

Shally received her LL.M in International Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and obtained an LLB in London, specializing in finance and corporate law studies. Prior to this, she obtained an educational background in finance and politics from Western University.  

Her passion for international legal developments in the field of technology, venture capitalism, and IP have made her an exceptional leader in the start-up ecosystem.

Lucía Belén Rossi 

Lucía Belén Rossi 

Lucia Belén Rossi is an Argentine student working as an Associate at the International Counsel Forum (“ICF”). She is currently a researcher in Project Athena (Florida International University), which intends to contribute to security studies by launching a public database about Small Arms and Light Weapons in Latin America.  At the present time, she is also working as Program Officer at CRIES (Regional Coordinator for Economic and Social Research), a Think Tank working in Latin America & the Caribbean.

She pursued a BA in International Affairs at St. Andrew’s University (Universidad de San Andrés) based in Buenos Aires, Argentina). Lucía minored her studies in Digital Business and Public Sector Management. 

Before contributing to the ICF initiative, Lucía took the Coder House “Digital marketing: Community manager & Publicity” course. She began working at CRIES as a Volunteer in 2019, and led the Communications Team in 2020.  She has assisted a consulting project in United Nations about Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect in Central America. 

In her spare time, Lucía enjoys baking cakes. She is also an autodidact that plays the piano and online videogames, specially League of Legends. Lucía is a Messi and River Plate fan and loves to watch and play soccer. 

Alina Grigorescu 

Alina Grigorescu

Lucia Belén Rossi is an Argentine student working as an Associate at the International Counsel Forum (“ICF”). She is currently a researcher in Project Athena (Florida International University), which intends to contribute to security studies by launching a public database about Small Arms and Light Weapons in Latin America.  At the present time, she is also working as Program Officer at CRIES (Regional Coordinator for Economic and Social Research), a Think Tank working in Latin America & the Caribbean.

She pursued a BA in International Affairs at St. Andrew’s University (Universidad de San Andrés) based in Buenos Aires, Argentina). Lucía minored her studies in Digital Business and Public Sector Management. 

Before contributing to the ICF initiative, Lucía took the Coder House “Digital marketing: Community manager & Publicity” course. She began working at CRIES as a Volunteer in 2019, and led the Communications Team in 2020.  She has assisted a consulting project in United Nations about Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect in Central America. 

In her spare time, Lucía enjoys baking cakes. She is also an autodidact that plays the piano and online videogames, specially League of Legends. Lucía is a Messi and River Plate fan and loves to watch and play soccer. 

OUR ASSOCIATES

Caroline Pinto   

Caroline Pinto   

Caroline is an IP enthusiast who enjoys applying her engineering skills in the Intellectual property field. As a Telecommunication Engineer and an IP Lawyer, she has focused mainly on patents, copyrights, trademarks, contracts, cybersecurity, and data privacy and risk management throughout her work experience. is currently pursuing LLM at Osgoode Hall of Law.    As an internationally trained lawyer, she has completed cleared her NCA requirements,qualifying exams and has enrolled into the Law Society of Ontario’s Licensing Process. readied for the Ontario bar exams with LSO, and is currently pursuing LLM at Osgoode Hall of Law. 

Caroline has exceptional’s energy is vivacious, and her zealousness is apparent in her work experience as a Techno- Legal aAnalyst. She has advised with different multinational software companies as an Internationally trained lawyer assisting in North America and South Asia.the USA and India regions. She also has tremendous experience as a patent and trademark attorney, and as an analyst with an extensive legal skill set in patent analysis, prosecution, dock.  She is proficient in international IP clearance, regulation, GDPR compliance and data breaches remediation, contracts regulatory compliance, and managing legal audits for different business verticals.  

Wherever Caroline follows, the fun does too. Known for her happy- go-lucky and cheerful attitude, she finds joy in baking,  and cooking and entertaining friends. Though an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction, she still believes in unicorns and magic and is a diehard fan of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.  She is a philatelist and a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada and enjoys crocheting and has used her time in this pandemic to discover fun and strategy board games.  

Angela Vastis

Angela Vastis  

Angela is a second-year student at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. With a Major in European Studies and Minors in Linguistics and Political Science, much of her research and work regards global affairs and public policy, focusing heavily within the region of the Eastern Mediterranean. She is an alumna of the Munk One Program for Global Affairs and Public Policy.

Currently, Angela is a Research Assistant with the NATO Research Group, specifically working on creating policy recommendations for NATO regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial conflict using historical analysis. Previously, she has performed research in other fields, such as analyzing music’s effect on oral language delay amongst children to the effect of various teaching methods on cognitive retention skills. 

As a globe trotter and language enthusiast, Angela enjoys foreign media (whether that be music in Italian or Netflix shows from Argentina) and can almost always be found either out exploring or reading about such. In her free time, she always enjoys playing the piano or french horn and reading a good book.

Vaishali Pahal  

Vaishali Pahal  

Vaishali Pahal is a trained geopolitical analyst. She is currently working as a Geopolitical Intelligence Analyst in a Risk consulting firm working on the predicting and analyzing the geopolitical, economic, environment and political risks for the businesses based in Europe, Middle East and the United States. 

Vaishali  obtained her with a Master’s in International Political Economy from Newcastle University, United Kingdom and Bachelors in Economics from Delhi University, India.  

During her Master’s Degree, she has written a research paper on the United States and China relations, has and conducted a case study on United Nations and human rights, American foreign policy. She holds keen interest in IR, Diplomacy and Global security. Her favourite area of economics is macro, she enjoys comparing and evaluating the different management strategies that the government uses in controlling the economy.

She holds the experience of working with journalists in writing and conducting primary and secondary research. Currently she is working as a Geopolitical Intelligence Analyst in a Risk consulting firm working on the predicting and analyzing the geopolitical, economic, environment and political risks for the businesses based in Europe, Middle East and the United States. She holds a keen interest in International Relations, Diplomacy and Global security. Her favorite area of economics is macro, she enjoys comparing and evaluating the different management strategies that the government uses in controlling the economy.

Osama Aftab Memon

Osama Aftab Memon  

Osama Aftab Memon is an associate at ICF. He earned his LLB degree (Hons) from the University of London, and a LLM (International Commercial Law with a minor in Intellectual Property) from the University of Kent, UK.  

Osama has worked in immigration law for over four years, including business immigration, deportation, refusal cases and no-entry bans. Osama also has over 4 years of experience in civil and commercial litigation in Pakistan, particularly in constitutional law, Customs and taxation, contracts, succession, and commercial transactions. He is currently an LLM candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and registered in the Lawyer Licensing Process in Ontario. 

Outside of law, Osama loves reading books and listening to audiobooks. He loves nature walks and hiking. He is teaching himself how to play the violin through YouTube videos and music sheets. Osama is also a boardgame enthusiast who loves puzzle-based games and has a particular fondness for polyomino/tetromino games.   

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Julie Ward  

Julie Ward  

Julie Ward graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts with distinction (majoring in English Literature and minoring in political science) at University of Alberta and a Juris Doctorate at University of Calgary in 2019. She is currently perusing a LL.M. in international business law from Osgoode Hall, York University. A space law nerd, country-music lover and coffee addict. When she is not hiking or playing with her two cats, she is practicing law, and serving as the Chief Editing Director of International Counsel Forum (ICF). 

Julie articled with Torys LLP in Calgary, where she worked closely with the regulatory, securities, mergers and acquisitions and commercial real-estate practice groups. 

In Julie’s office you will find the following two degrees on the wall, with space made for her ongoing LL.M. in international business law from Osgoode Hall, York University. Juris Doctorate, University of Calgary (2019). Bachelor of Arts with distinction (majoring in English Literature and minoring in political science), University of Alberta (2015).

She has contributed to various academic and corporate publications and hopes to one day (soon) publish a book on space law. Julie is a country-music lover and coffee addict. Julie also enjoys hiking or playing with her two cats in her spare time. 

One of Julie’s favourite quotes is: 

A lot of times people who are blessed with the most talent don’t ever develop that attitude, and the ones who aren’t blessed in that way are the most competitive and have the biggest heart.  -Tom brady

Michael Habib  

Michael Habib  

Currently, Michael is an intern at Global Affairs Canada. He works hard every day to ensure that human rights are respected by Canadian enterprises all over the globe. He attended the University of Ottawa where he graduated with distinction (cum laude) from an integrated program in Civil Law (LL.L.) and an Honours BSocSc in International Development and Globalization. Over the past summers he completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Sherbrooke. In May 2021, He finished his Master of Laws (LL.M.) Degree and specialized in International Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.

In regard to my professional experiences, Professionally, Michael I completed many terms at different governmental entities such as Public Service and Procurement Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). As a Public Complaint Advisor at the RCMP, he was privileged to assist in providing legal advice by analyzing legal principles through researching doctrines and legislation, reviewing pertinent jurisprudence, and drafting legal memos.

He has a strong interest in developing an international career in a diverse environment. His curious and competitive nature comes from playing a variety of sports like soccer and baseball. 

Irene Osamor  

Irene Osamor 

Irene Osamor is a seasoned Nigerian in-house counsel with over 18 years’ experience in the energy industry. She pursued a law degree from the University of Calabar, Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999. She is based in Lagos, Nigeria and is currently undertaking a professional Master of Laws in International Business Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in Toronto, Canada. 

Irene has worked in the Nigerian energy industry from 2002 to present. Her key skills include negotiation, drafting and review of energy contracts, including joint venture agreements, production sharing contracts, gas sales and purchase agreements, oil and gas services contracts, FEED, EPC and general admin & services contracts. She is also experienced in management & board legal advisory services, legal & regulatory compliance, project legal support and management, and litigation monitoring and management. 

Irene loves travelling, reading and spending quality time at home with her husband and two daughters.

Winnie Mandela Odhiambo 

Winnie Mandela Odhiambo

Winnie Mandela Odhiambo is an Investment Professional with an average of 15 years’ experience in diverse disciplines in Finance including but not limited to Asset Management, Venture Capital and Private Equity, and Impact Investing. Winnie’s professional expertise spans across deal origination, deal structuring, negotiation of legal documentation, and portfolio management. She has also put together various investment strategies for funds where she has worked which were domiciled in Africa, Europe and United States.

She has served in various capacities to support the start-up ecosystem, such as on the Governing Board of REEEP, a Quasi-International organization focused on Renewable Energy on a pro-bono basis between 2018 and 2019, on the Investment Committee of Yunus Social Business Venture Philanthropy Fund in Uganda, as well as an Oversight Investment Committee Member at the Master Card Foundation Covid-19 Recovery Fund for SMEs in Kenya.

Most recently she was elected Vice President of Osgoode Venture Capital Law Society at York University, Canada where she is currently pursuing a Master of Laws in International Business Law. Winnie earned her Master of Science in Finance and Investments from the University of Nairobi, School of Business and holds a Certificate in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School, as well as a Certificate in Advanced International Corporate Finance from INSEAD. Winnie graduated with a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the University of Nairobi and is fluent in English and French. Her hobbies are practicing yoga and travelling.