News

Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP is pleased to welcome Ben ElzingaCheng to the firm for the 2014-2015 articling term. Ben is a welcome addition to the firm!

Jonathan Shime, partner at Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman, presented at this weekend’s Effective Pre-Trial Preparation conference at the the Advocate Society on the topic of preliminary inquiry preparation and strategy.

On May 9, 2014, Scott Bergman, partner at Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP, lectured on “The Essentials of Evidence” as part of the Canadian Bar Associaton’s Criminal Law Academy webinar series. His presentation focused on the current status of character evidence rules in the criminal courts.

On May 8, 2014, associate Amanda Ross was a guest lecturer at the Toronto Police College on the topic of police investigation of non-disclosure of HIV, and the interplay between HIV and the criminal law since the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decisions in R. v. Mabior, 2012 SCC 47 and R. v. D.C., 2012 SCC 48.

Mark Sandler, partner at Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP, presented on April 10, 2014 to the Association of Justices of the Peace of Ontario in Niagara-on-the-Falls, Ontario on the topic of “Responding to Complaints before the Justices of the Peace Review Council”.

On March 28, 2014, Jonathan Shime of Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP presented on the topic of civility in advocacy to the Prosecutor’s Network at the Advocates’ Society in Toronto, Ontario. The presentation focused on the impact of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Appellate Tribunal recent decision in Law Society of Upper Canada v. Joseph Peter Paul[…]

Jonathan Shime, partner at Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP, and counsel to the interveners, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario, in the case of R. v. Hutchinson, 2014 SCC 19, appeared on CTV News to discuss the significance of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision with respect to sexual[…]

On March 7, 2014, the Supreme Court released its decision in R. v. Hutchinson, 2014 SCC 19. Mr. Hutchinson had engaged in consensual sexual activity with his partner, who insisted that he use a condom in order to prevent conception. Unknown to her, Mr. Hutchinson poked holes in his condom and his partner became pregnant. Mr.[…]

On February 8, 2014, Scott Bergman, partner at Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP, co-chaired the Ontario Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Program – Litigating a Smarter Charter. The program was attended by Crown and defence counsel, and featured program presentations by esteemed members of the bar and the judiciary. Congratulations to Scott on a job well[…]

Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP is pleased to announce that on Saturday, February 8, 2014, Scott Bergman will be co-chairing the Ontario Bar Association’s 2014 program, “Litigating a Smarter Charter.” The program has been accredited for 2.25 professionalism hours and 4.25 substantive hours by the LSUC, and is open for registration at oba.org/institute2014. Please see below[…]

On December 20, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the case of R. v. Bedford, 2013 SCC 72. The unanimous judgment was written by the Right Honourable Madam Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, and held that several provisions in the Criminal Code relating to prostitution were inconsistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms such that they infringe the s.[…]

Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP wishes to offer their congratulations to the 2013 finalists of the the Ontario Justice Education Network’s (OJEN/ROEJ) annual Charter Challenge. Amanda Ross assisted in judging the finalist factums in the competition this year, and on behalf of the firm would like to congratulate all of the students on their excellent and very[…]

Jonathan Shime and Wayne Cunningham of Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada today to represent the intervenor parties (Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario) in the case of R. v. Hutchinson. The Supreme Court’s decision is pending.

Our firm is very saddened to announce the passing of its founding member and leader, Austin Cooper, Q.C. Austin was a passionate and celebrated lawyer, who was justly regarded as one of the finest criminal lawyers this country has ever seen and “The Dean of the Criminal Bar”. He was well known for his integrity,[…]

Jonathan Shime has been invited to speak at the Association of Law Officers of the Crown/Government of Ontario Educational Conference on the topic of Civility on November 19, 2013.

Cooper, Sandler, Shime and Bergman LLP wishes to congratulate Jonathan Shime for receiving the James Kreppner Award on September 23, 2013. The Kreppner Awards were established by the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario in 2010 to recognize unparalleled achievement in advocating on behalf of or bettering the lives of people living with HIV or people co-infected[…]

On September 19, 2013, Jonathan Shime spoke at the Crown Law Office Criminal Fall Office Conference on the topic of sexual assault law.

Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP is pleased to welcome Fanny Létourneau-Hudon to the firm for the 2013-2014 articling term.

Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Bergman LLP is pleased to announce that on August 15, 2013, Austin M. Cooper, Q.C. was granted an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the Law Society of Upper Canada in recognition of his outstanding contribution to society and the practice of criminal law.

On August 9, 2013, Megan Schwartzentruber was the presenter for the Legal Aid Lunch and Learn for duty counsel on the topic of Beyond Criminal Records: the real effects of peace bonds, discharges and diversions on employment.