Siobhan Monaghan joins Federal Court of Appeal, while three new judges are added to Federal Court
David Lametti, federal justice minister and attorney general, has announced new judges at the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the Tax Court of Canada, as well as at courts in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan.
Siobhan Monaghan, appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal effective Aug. 4, fills a new position authorized under the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1. Monaghan has served as a judge of the Tax Court of Canada and as a senior partner at KPMG Law LLP. Her practice focused on income tax matters relating to mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, financings and other domestic and cross-border commercial transactions. She received her bachelor of laws and master of laws in taxation from Osgoode Hall Law School and admission to the Alberta bar in 1985 and to the Ontario bar in 1988.
Avvy Yao-Yao Go, named a judge of the Federal Court, replaces Justice Luc Martineau, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Sept. 1, 2020. Go has been clinic director at the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, president of the Chinese Canadian National Council’s Toronto chapter and co-founder of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and of the Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change Network. She obtained her LLB from the University of Toronto and her LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School and entry to the Ontario bar in 1991.
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Mandy Aylen, a new judge of the Federal Court, takes the place of Justice Jocelyne Gagné, who was appointed associate chief justice on Dec. 12, 2018. Aylen has worked as a prothonotary of the Federal Court and as a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. She is experienced with handling matters involving domestic and international commercial arbitration, procurement and government contracting, trade and customs compliance, immigration and access to information. She earned her bachelor of laws degree from Queen’s University and admission to the Ontario bar in 2002.
Dr. Vanessa Rochester, appointed a judge of the Federal Court, replaces Justice George Locke, who was elevated to the Federal Court of Appeal on Mar. 7, 2019. Rochester has acted as counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP in Montreal and has practised maritime and transportation law, intellectual property law and privacy and data protection law. She received her B.C.L. and LL.B from McGill University and her LL.M and Ph.D. in maritime law from the University of Cape Town. She is qualified to practise law in Quebec, England and Wales.
Monica Biringer, named a judge of the Tax Court of Canada, takes the place of Justice Monaghan. Biringer, who co-chaired the national tax department at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto, worked on tax disputes and litigation and corporate income tax planning. Called to the Ontario bar in 1986, she received her law degree from the University of Toronto.
L. Bernette Ho is a justice of appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta as of Aug. 4, replacing Justice J. D. Bruce McDonald in Calgary, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Aug. 31, 2018. Ho, formerly a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary, practised at Macleod Dixon, now known as Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, with a focus on energy regulatory matters, employment matters, administrative law and commercial litigation. She obtained her LLB from the University of Alberta and entry to the Alberta bar in 1996.
Anne Kirker, a new justice of appeal of the Court of Appeal of Alberta, takes the place of Justice Brian O'Ferrall in Calgary, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Mar. 3. Kirker, a past justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary, has experience with civil litigation and complex commercial and professional liability matters. She got her law degree from the University of Calgary in 1991.
Colin Feasby, appointed a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, replaces Justice Ho. Feasby was a partner and corporate and commercial litigator at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Calgary. He earned his LLB from the University of Alberta and his LL.M. and J.S.D. from Columbia University and admission to the Alberta bar in 1999.
Eleanor Funk, named a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, takes the place of Justice John Hopkins in Red Deer, who passed away last May 23. Funk was self-employed as a criminal defence lawyer in Calgary. She received her bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta and entry to the Alberta bar in 2001.
J. Danie Roy, a new judge of the Family Division of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick, replaces Justice John Walsh in Miramichi, who passed away last Feb. 3. Roy is filling the vacancy in Saint John. She was a sole practitioner focusing on litigation and advocacy in Moncton and a qualified mediator. She obtained her bachelor of laws from the Université de Moncton and admission to the New Brunswick bar in 1996.
Frances Knickle, appointed a judge of appeal of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador, effective Aug. 4, takes the place of Justice Gale Welsh in St. John's, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Mar. 31. Knickle has served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and as a front-line trial Crown. She earned her law degree from Dalhousie University and entry to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1992.
Philip Osborne, named a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, replaces Justice Knickle and takes the vacancy in Gander. Osborne has been assistant deputy minister for legal services with Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Justice and Public Safety in St. John’s. He received his bachelor of laws from the University of New Brunswick and admission to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 2002.
David Gerecke, a new judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, takes the place of Justice Brian Scherman in Saskatoon, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Mar. 5. Gerecke, managing partner for the Regina and Saskatoon offices of Miller Thomson LLP, focused his practice on commercial lending, restructuring and insolvency and merger and acquisitions. He obtained his bachelor of laws in 1990 from the University of Saskatchewan and entry to the Saskatchewan bar in 1992.