Laura Dickson (President) 

Laura earned her L.L.B in Scots Law from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 2007. After moving to Canada, she completed her NCA qualifications at the University of Toronto. Laura completed her training with Allen Wynperle in 2011/12 and was called to the Bar in 2012. It was only a matter of time before Laura and Allen would once again join forces in creating Dickson Wynperle Associates in 2024.

Laura practices exclusively plaintiff civil litigation with experience in all aspects of Life and Disability claims, wrongful or constructive dismissal claims, critical illness denial claims, estate litigation matters, statutory accident benefit matters as well as claims resulting from auto accidents, slips and falls, WSIB claims and brain and spinal injuries. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Hamilton Lawyers' Club, the Hamilton Medical-Legal Society, The Advocates' Society, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Canadian Bar Association. Laura served on the New Lawyers' Subcommittee of the Hamilton Law Association for 5 years from 2012 to 2017.

Eric Nanayakkara (Vice-President) 

Eric is the Managing Partner of Regency Law Group, a full service firm with its head office proudly located in downtown Hamilton. 

Over the course of the last decade Eric’s practice has been primarily focused on civil and commercial litigation.  He has significant experience handling actions involving subrogated interests, construction, products liability, breach of contract, personal injury, securities, fraud and misrepresentations.  

Early in his career Eric was awarded the HIVE X Award of Excellence and became one of the youngest lawyers to be elected to the Ontario Bar Association Governing Council.  Locally he has served as the President of the Hamilton Arts Council, President of Wellwood, Chairman of CLiC and as a Director on the Board of Supercrawl and Theatre Aquarius.

Currently Eric serves on the Executive of the Hamilton Lawyers Club.  He is also on the Board of the Ontario Bar Association where he holds the position of Regional Director for the Central South Region in addition to serving on its Committees of Nominating, Governance, Public Policy and Government Relations.

Paul Lawson (Secretary-Treasurer)

Paul is a lawyer for the City of Hamilton.

Lacey Bazoian

Larissa (Lacey) Bazoian was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario. 

After completing her Hons. B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Global Governance, Lacey graduated with a J.D. from the University of British Columbia. Lacey returned to Ontario to complete her articles as a Clerk for the judges of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, before being called to the Ontario Bar in 2014. Lacey began her practice as an Associate at a boutique family law firm in Hamilton before opening her own office in 2019. She practices exclusively in the area of family law. 

 Lacey is a Trustee of The Hamilton Law Association, as well as Vice-Chair of the Family Law Subcommittee and Chair of the Family Law Bench and Bar Committee. She is also a member of the Hamilton branch of Lawyers Feed the Hungry and the Lawyers' Legacy for Children.

Hassan Chaudhary

Hassan is a Partner at Ross & McBride LLP. Hassan’s practice focuses on Business Law and Real Estate Law.

In addition to being a Trustee for the Hamilton Law Association, Hassan sits on the Board of Directors for BGC Hamilton-Halton (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton-Halton) and actively contributes as a Committee member on the Hamilton Law Association Corporate Commercial Subcommittee.

Li Cheng

Li is an associate counsel to George Street Law Group LLP practising real estate, land development and business law.

Prior to relocating to Hamilton and entering private practice, Li was legal counsel at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and corporate counsel at Toronto Community Housing Corporation. Li takes a hands-on approach to provide clients with effective, practical and timely legal advice.

Li was voted one of Hamilton’s top "40 under 40" entrepreneurs in 2019 in recognition of his achievement in creating a successful law practice as well as his contributions to various community organizations in Hamilton. In addition to his involvement with the The Hamilton Law Association, Li is a director of Stoney Creek Community Homes and a past co-president and director of the Hamilton Community Land Trust.

Sean Heeley

Sean was called to the bar in 2011.  He is the owner of the Szpiech, Ellis, Skibinski, Shipton Law Firm, and practices in the Family, Real-Estate, and Wills & Estates areas of law. In addition to being a trustee, Sean has served on The Hamilton Law Association's Family Law Subcommittee since 2019, and on the Family Law Bench & Bar Committee since 2022. 

In addition to practicing law, Sean is on the Board of Directors for the Stoney Creek Community Food Bank, and has volunteered as a coach for Stoney Creek Girls Hockey since 2019.

Matthew Johnstone 

Matthew became a Partner at Sullivan Festeryga in 2018. His broad litigation practice focuses on insurance defence, plaintiff personal injury, employment law and criminal law as a per diem Crown Attorney. After completing a B.A. with Honours in Political Science at McMaster University in 2007, he went on to earn his LL.B from the University of Windsor in 2010. 

Matt regularly appears before the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, and various tribunals including the License Appeal Tribunal. As an active member of the Hamilton legal community, he sits on the Hamilton Law Association’s CPD committee and is the coach of the St. Thomas More Competitive Mock Trial team. 

Andrew Keesmaat (Past-President)

Andrew is a partner at Agro Zaffiro LLP.  He was called to the bar in 2009.  He practices civil litigation with a particular focus on estate litigation and insurance defence. 

He obtained his LL.B. at Ottawa University after completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University.  Andrew is a member of the Hamilton Law Association and Ontario and Canadian Bar Associations.  He is an elected member of the General Council of the Ontario Bar Association and sits on the executive of the Hamilton Lawyers’ Club.

Patrick McIlhone

Patrick is a partner at Gowling WLG, a national and international law firm with a regional office in the heart of Hamilton. He is a member of the firm’s business and commercial real estate group, with a practice focused on corporate and commercial purchases, sales and refinancing, as well as designing and documenting the ownership structures involved in such transactions.

Patrick grew up in the Hamilton area, and spent his younger years working down on the docks and tugboats of Hamilton Harbor.

In addition to being a Trustee of the Hamilton Law Association, Patrick sits on the Corporate Commercial Subcommittee, and is a frequent contributor to continuing professional education programs and presentations.

Bilal Mirza 

Bilal Mirza is a partner at SimpsonWigle LAW, practicing in the areas of residential and commercial real estate, land development and planning, and condominium law. He routinely works with buyers and sellers, builders and developers, business owners and commercial tenants/landlords, financial institutions, and condominium boards.

His diverse legal experience includes acting for government agencies as outside counsel on corporate, construction and regulatory law matters, and telecom companies as in-house corporate counsel.

In addition to being a Trustee of the Hamilton Law Association, Bilal sits on the Real Estate Subcommittee, and is a frequent contributor to continuing professional education programs and presentations.

Renee Roy

Renee acts as Associate Counsel in Ross & McBride’s Family Law Group. She was called to the Bar in 2004. Renee is also a member of the Alberta Bar and practiced in Calgary from 2009 – 2011 before returning to Hamilton. She is an accredited Family Mediator and an accredited child protection mediator. She facilitates settlement conferences on behalf of Legal Aid in many communities in Southern Ontario and she is a Dispute Resolution Officer at the Hamilton Superior Court of Justice.

In addition to being a Trustee of The Hamilton Law Association, she also serves as a member of the Hamilton Law Association’s Family Law Subcommittee, and the Hamilton Child Protection Bench and Bar Committee. Her extensive experience also includes serving as a panel member of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer and the Family Responsibility Office. Renee is also a well sought-after speaker who volunteers and speaks at legal training courses.

Jennifer Vrancic 

Jennifer Vrancic is an Associate at Scarfone Hawkins LLP, where she focuses on civil and commercial litigation. Jennifer began her legal career in insurance defense but was drawn to Scarfone Hawkins by the firm’s reputation and the opportunity to engage in a wide range of complex legal matters. She now supports the Thompson, Moloci and Stanton team on files including shareholder disputes and oppression remedies. A standout academic, Jennifer earned the Scotiabank Award in 2010 for achieving the highest standing in a wills or trusts course during her upper-year studies.

Driven by integrity and strategic insight, Jennifer is a trusted advocate dedicated to achieving practical, value-driven results for her clients.

In addition to being a Trustee of the Hamilton Law Association, Jennifer sits on the Estates & Trusts Subcommittee, and is a frequent contributor to continuing professional education programs and presentations.