by Daniel Brown | Apr 4, 2026 | Firm News
Welcoming Three New Lawyers to Daniel Brown Law
We’re proud to announce the newest members of our team at Daniel Brown Law: Jason Dos Santos, Ema Ibrakovic, and Thomas McCann. Each brings unique experience and expertise that will further strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional criminal defence to our clients.
Jason joins the firm as a Partner, bringing extensive courtroom experience and a proven record of defending complex criminal cases. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in more than one thousand criminal trials before both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.
Jason has defended individuals charged with the most serious offences, including first-degree murder, organized crime, firearms and drug offences, sexual assault, domestic assault, and impaired driving. His strategic advocacy, combined with his steady presence in high-stakes litigation, makes him a formidable voice for his clients.
At Daniel Brown Law, Jason strengthens our trial practice and serves as a mentor to the next generation of defence lawyers, ensuring that every client benefits from his deep knowledge and sharp courtroom skills.
Learn more about Jason here.
Ema joins us as an Associate Lawyer, bringing with her a wealth of academic and practical experience. She has clerked at the Ontario Superior Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada, providing her with rare insight into judicial decision-making at every level of court.
Graduating as Valedictorian from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Ema excelled in competitive mooting, competing in the Gale Cup and Grand Moot, and later coached law students in appellate advocacy.
Her practice focuses on both trials and appeals, where she applies her appellate expertise and sharp analytical skills to develop strategic arguments. Clients benefit not only from her intellectual rigour, but also from her commitment to ensuring they feel heard and supported throughout the legal process.
Learn more about Ema here.
Thomas expands our litigation team as an Associate Lawyer, with experience on both sides of the courtroom. Before joining Daniel Brown Law, he worked as an Assistant Crown Attorney, prosecuting organized crime and serious drug cases. This perspective allows him to anticipate prosecutorial strategies and craft defence approaches that are proactive and effective.
A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Thomas was a leader in the criminal law division of the school’s legal clinic, where he represented vulnerable clients. Since then, he has conducted jury trials, preliminary inquiries, constitutional challenges, and bail hearings, giving him wide-ranging experience across the criminal law spectrum.
Thomas is passionate about guiding clients through the justice system with skill and compassion, ensuring they are fully supported at every stage of their case.
Learn more about Thomas here.
Strengthening Our Team for Our Clients
At Daniel Brown Law, we know that every client’s case deserves both skill and dedication. With Jason, Ema, and Thomas joining our team, we’ve expanded our depth of trial and appellate experience, enhanced our strategic insight, and reinforced our commitment to client care.
Please join us in welcoming these three outstanding lawyers to the firm. We look forward to the contributions they will make to our clients and to the broader legal community.
About Daniel Brown Law
For nearly two decades, we have represented both organizations and individuals in criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Our firm has consistently been recognized as one of Canada’s top criminal law boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and nationally ranked among the country’s best criminal defence firms by Best Lawyers. We remain committed to delivering superior advice and advocacy, guided by the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded. Our lawyers regularly appear before trial courts across Ontario, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada in complex, serious, and precedent-setting cases.
by Daniel Brown | Apr 4, 2026 | Firm News
Daniel Brown Law LLP is excited to announce that Colleen McKeown, Andrew Bigioni and Lindsay Board have joined our partnership. We wish them all ongoing success as they continue their practices as partners in the firm.
Colleen practices criminal and constitutional law with a focus on criminal appeals. She has argued appeals at all levels of court in Ontario and has appeared at the Supreme Court on behalf of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association in in R. v. Morrison, R. v. Goldfinch, and R. v. K.G.K. Colleen also argues complex trial motions, has acted as counsel at a Coroner’s Inquest, and has supported the work of a Canadian Judicial Council committee as its research lawyer. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Before joining Daniel Brown Law, she clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Learn more about Colleen here.
Andrew practices criminal and constitutional law at Daniel Brown Law. He regularly appears at all levels of court in Ontario and assists clients both at trial and on appeal. Andrew’s practice focuses on Charter litigation and the defence of complex sexual offences and large-scale drug matters. He is a former board member of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and is regularly consulted by the media to speak on cases of public importance. Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, Andrew was in private practice alongside some of Canada’s leading criminal litigators. Learn more about Andrew here.
Lindsay practices criminal and constitutional law at Daniel Brown Law. She regularly appears at all levels of court in Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada. Her practice focuses on complex, serious charges with significant reputational consequences for her clients, with a particular focus on sexual offences. Before joining the team at Daniel Brown Law, she practiced civil, regulatory, and criminal law at a top Toronto litigation boutique and clerked for the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Lindsay is an adjunct professor at Queen’s University Faculty of Law and is a frequent conference panelist regarding criminal law issues. She also provides regular commentary to media outlets on cases of public importance. Learn more about Lindsay here.
For nearly two decades, Daniel Brown Law LLP has represented organizations and individuals in complex criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Recognized as one of Canada’s best criminal defence boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, we remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy through the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded.
by Daniel Brown | Jul 24, 2025 | Firm News
Alex Formenton was barely 18 years old and on the verge of a promising professional hockey career that came to a screeching halt on June 18, 2018, after what was meant to be a night of celebration with his coaches and teammates.
For the last seven years, he has lived under a dark cloud. The public now knows what Alex has always maintained: that he is innocent of this false allegation - but only after his case erupted into a massively publicized social cause.
Alex’s face has appeared on millions of screens and newspaper pages. There can be little doubt that an untold number of people believed he was guilty simply because he had been accused of a crime, long before any evidence was presented in court.
This rush to judgment - to believe the worst of people - is one of the most regrettable of human traits. So, too, is our reluctance to change that opinion, even when it is proved wrong after a full and fair trial.
Notwithstanding Justice Carroccia’s unequivocal exoneration of Alex, there will inevitably be those who will still believe that he committed a crime.
Nobody in room 209 that night has emerged unscarred. The criminal court process is a bruising experience for anyone, but never more than when a case is a high profile and incorporates such high stakes.
In Alex’s case, he was condemned and felt banished from society. This experience has been crushing. Nevertheless, the impact of this case has changed Alex as a person and has matured him well beyond his years. It is inevitable that some people will not forgive Alex for what he was accused of doing. Others, however, will understand that this tragic matter rightly comes to an end today.
Alex has never minimized his role in this sexual encounter or denied engaging in consensual sex with the complainant. He fully cooperated with the police investigation and provided investigators with an honest account of the events that unfolded in his hotel room back in 2018.
Alex’s narrative is not conjecture. His police statement was corroborated at trial by several Crown witnesses, by video evidence, and was even supported in large measure by the complainant’s own testimony.
While no police investigation is perfect, the London Police got it right seven years ago by deciding it would be a mistake to charge Alex. The evidence always demonstrated that he did not commit a sexual assault. However, political and media pressure brought this allegation back into the spotlight in 2022 and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.
Besides the human toll to everyone involved, this lengthy legal proceeding exhausted scarce police and court resources that could have been redirected elsewhere to support our already overburdened justice system.
Alex, his family, and his defence team are grateful to Justice Carroccia for carefully considering all the evidence presented at this trial with an open mind. She has reached a just and correct verdict that must be respected.
Nobody disputes that sexual assault is a terrible, societal plague, and Alex sincerely hopes that this prosecution does not stop the quest to combat sexual violence and to bring genuine offenders to justice.
However, an accusation is just that - an accusation. This case stands for the fact that we must never lose sight of the fundamental right to be presumed innocent.
Now more than ever before, a fair response to sexual assault claims requires a balanced perspective and public trust in the decision making of the courts. Anything less only harms the justice system, and the cause of eliminating sexual violence.
Sincerely,
Daniel Brown & Hilary Dudding.
About Daniel Brown Law LLP:
For two decades, we have represented organizations and individuals in criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Our firm has repeatedly been recognized as one of Canada’s top criminal law boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and nationally ranked as one of Canada’s best criminal defence firms by Best Lawyers. We remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy using the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded. We regularly appear before trial courts across the province, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada on complex, serious, and precedent-setting cases.
by Daniel Brown | Jan 8, 2024 | Firm News
Daniel Brown Law LLP is thrilled to announce the addition of Maxime Bédard who joins us as an associate lawyer.
Maxime’s defence practice focuses on both criminal trials and appeals.
Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, Maxime worked as a judicial law clerk for Justice Kasirer at the Supreme Court of Canada and for Justice Gagné at the Quebec Court of Appeal. These experiences provided Maxime with unique insight into crafting successful appellate arguments that assist him with approaching legal problems from a judicial perspective, combining rigorous analysis with a humane approach to the law.
Maxime also honed his skills as a litigator while working as an associate at one of Canada's premier national law firms where he contributed to a variety of criminal and constitutional law files.
Maxime graduated from Laval University's Faculty of Law as the class valedictorian and served as the President of the Law Student Association. Raised in a bilingual environment, Maxime is perfectly equipped to provide legal representation in both French and English
Learn more about Maxime here.
For nearly two decades, Daniel Brown Law LLP has represented organizations and individuals in complex criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Recognized as one of Canada's best criminal defence boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, we remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy through the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded.
by Daniel Brown | Sep 23, 2023 | Firm News
Daniel Brown Law LLP is thrilled to announce the addition of two lawyers to the firm. Samantha Bondoux and Robert Nanni have joined us as associates.
Samantha’s practice focuses on criminal trials and appeals and she represents those charged with or convicted of all Criminal Code offences.
Before joining Daniel Brown Law, Samantha worked for the Ministry of the Attorney General at the Crown Law Office – Criminal (Toronto) where she worked on complex criminal appeals including appeals of serious offences of sexual assault, drug trafficking, and first-degree murder. She also clerked for some of Canada’s most respected criminal law judges at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, including Justices Simmons, Trotter, and Paciocco.
Samantha completed her law degree at Queen’s University where she graduated with the Silver Medal in Law for second highest standing, and received a number of awards including course prizes in constitutional law and the law of international crime and armed conflict. Samantha has also completed certificate in international law focusing on international criminal law, and she has a Bachelor of Science from McGill University. Learn more about Samantha here.
Robert’s practice focuses on criminal trials and appeals. His approach to advocacy is informed by his clerkship at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, where he clerked for Associate Chief Justice Fairburn, Justice Coroza, and Justice Favreau.
Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, Robert worked as a litigation lawyer at a prestigious law firm in New York City. During that time, Robert assisted with a variety of cases, including pro bono matters involving wrongful convictions and prisoners’ rights, through which he continued to develop his advocacy skills.
Robert completed a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration at the University of Toronto. Robert also holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and psychology at Western University, where he graduated as the gold medalist of his undergraduate program. Learn more about Robert here.
For nearly two decades, Daniel Brown Law LLP has represented organizations and individuals in complex criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Recognized as one of Canada's best criminal defence boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, we remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy through the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded.
by Daniel Brown | Sep 6, 2022 | Firm News
Daniel Brown Law LLP is thrilled to announce the addition of Teodora Pasca who joins us as an associate.
Teodora’s practice focuses on criminal trials and appeals. She believes everyone in the criminal justice system should be treated with dignity and respect, and enthusiastically takes on cases involving all types of criminal charges.
Teodora completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Toronto, where she was constantly on her feet as an advocate in the moot court program. Teodora also holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminology from the University of Toronto.
While in law school, Teodora represented marginalized clients in criminal court on behalf of Downtown Legal Services and assisted with wrongful conviction review applications at Innocence Canada. Teodora understands that power dynamics within the criminal justice system often work against her clients — and she is committed to putting up a fight on their behalf.
Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, Teodora served as a law clerk to judges of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, assisting with a number of complex criminal trials. She also worked for the United Nations in the judicial chambers of a criminal tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
Beginning in August of 2023, Teodora will take a brief leave from Daniel Brown Law to clerk for the Honourable Justice Sheilah Martin of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Learn more about Teodora here.
For nearly two decades, Daniel Brown Law LLP has represented organizations and individuals in complex criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Recognized as one of Canada's best criminal defence boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, we remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy through the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded.
by Daniel Brown | Apr 24, 2022 | Firm News
Daniel Brown Law LLP is thrilled to announce the addition of two lawyers to the firm. Hilary Dudding has joined our team as a partner and James Bray has joined us as an associate.
Over the last two decades, Hilary has defended almost every type of criminal charge from theft to murder and has developed a special proficiency defending individuals charged with sexual assault, drug offences, and human trafficking. She is an accomplished and adept professional ready to guide her clients through rough terrain.
Hilary is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and obtained her Master of Laws in Criminal Law and Procedure from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, Hilary was a partner at another well regarded criminal defence firm in Toronto where she defended clients in a wide range of challenging trials and appeals. Learn more about Hilary here.
James practices in the areas of criminal law, constitutional law and regulatory defence. He appears at all levels of court in Ontario and assists clients both at trial and on appeal. James’ practice includes defending professionals at regulatory hearings, defending sexual offences and extradition matters.
Prior to joining Daniel Brown Law, James worked as a lawyer at a top boutique criminal defence firm in Toronto where he handled a wide variety of trial and appeal cases.
James is a graduate of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University and previously studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Learn more about James here.
For nearly two decades, Daniel Brown Law LLP has represented organizations and individuals in complex criminal litigation at trial and on appeal. Recognized as one of Canada's best criminal defence boutiques by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, we remain dedicated to superior advice and advocacy through the same innovation and dedication on which our firm was founded.
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