MLA Awards

The MLA Awards

Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes exceptional career contributions and/or achievements by MLA members to the legal profession and/or a law-related benefit to the community including mentorship related to the profession of law and/or leadership roles in the community. Those who will receive the award will have made a significant contribution to the profession of law, whether as a solicitor in effectively performing services in that position, as a barrister in attaining an excellent reputation in the courts, as an academic, or for a single act of notable distinction and/or innovation in the practice of law that advances the ideals of the profession.

Award for Access to Justice, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to providing commendable legal services to those in need through Legal Aid Ontario or through pro bono legal services and/or offered academic contributions pertaining to the study of legal aid and/or created innovative measures or built links between lawyers and community organizations/advocates to promote better access to justice in Middlesex County.

Rising Star Award, which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law, who advances the ideals of the profession, demonstrating community involvement, and have been practicing for less than 10 years.

Award for Philanthropy, which recognizes exceptional contributions and/or dedication by MLA members to the community by supporting not-for-profit organizations and/or performing charitable services.

Award for Distinguished Paralegal recognizes a paralegal’s exceptional career contributions and/or achievements to the paralegal profession and/or a law-related benefit to the community including mentorship related to the paralegal profession and/or leadership roles in the community. Those who will receive the award will have made a significant contribution to the paralegal profession, whether in effectively performing services in that position, as an academic, or for a single act of notable distinction and/or innovation that advances the ideals of the profession.

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2025 Awards Committee

Leslie Jack (Chairperson) – Leslie is an associate lawyer at Shillington McCall LLP. Leslie is fully bilingual and completed a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at the University of Toulouse 1 Capitole (2014). She also completed two Masters of Laws (LL.M.) at the University of Ottawa (2016) and at Osgoode Hall Law School (2020). Her practice focuses on insurance defence, including accident benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, and tort claims.

Since Leslie’s call to the bar in 2021, she has worked for multiple regulatory bodies and major insurance companies focusing on investigations, regulatory compliance and regulatory litigation. When she is not serving her clients, Leslie is involved with Fanshawe College as a Professor at the School of Public Safety. Leslie is a committed community volunteer and currently a board trustee of the Middlesex Law Association, Wellkin Child & Youth Mental Wellness and Leads Employment. Leslie is also a member of the Canadian Black Lawyers Association, L’Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario and the Canadian Defense Lawyers Association. Outside of the office, Leslie is an avid long-distance runner, most of her runs are with her long-haired Weimaraner.

Members:

Danielle D’Alonzo – Danielle D’Alonzo defends clients charged with criminal offences throughout Southwestern Ontario. Her practice has a particular focus on complex evidentiary and constitutional applications in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. Danielle is passionate about protecting her clients’ rights at trial. Danielle also represents individuals on appeal matters.

Danielle received her law degree from the University of Western Ontario, where she won the Lorenzo Di Cecco Memorial Award in Criminal Law for achieving the highest academic average in advanced criminal law courses, as well as the Colin D. Leitch Award for demonstrating the greatest potential for success as a criminal law practitioner.

Danielle enjoys engaging with the community, and regularly volunteers with London Lawyers Feed the Hungry. She is also a member of the Ontario Criminal Lawyers’ Association Women’s Committee.

Doug Ferguson – Doug Ferguson has served his community and our profession at the national, provincial, and local levels. He has held leadership positions at both the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations, founded the Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education, and is currently serving with the National Action Committee on Access to Justice. In the latter role, he is organizing the first national conference on research in access to justice and data. Doug has served in many leadership roles in the London community, including president of Covent Garden Market during its reconstruction. To pay back the gift of life he received from his liver transplant, he has chaired fundraisers for the Transplant Unit at London Health Sciences Centre and was a board member of Trillium Gift of Life Network. He is a former National President of the Liberal Party of Canada and was a candidate in the 2011 federal election. He is a past recipient of the MLA Access to Justice and Distinguished Service Awards. Doug was for many years the Director of Community Legal Services at Western Law and is currently in private practice and sitting as a Small Claims Court deputy judge.

Michael Lerner – Following Michael’s call to the bar in law as a general practitioner in a one lawyer branch office of Lerners LLP. During that time Michael’s practice was that of a sole practitioner doing all types of law including but not limited to family law, criminal law, civil litigation, wills and estate law, real estate laws and appearances before provincial boards and tribunals. In 1988 Michael relocated his practice to the main office of Lerners LLP where
he has practiced solely as a litigator in a variety of fora. Currently Michael’s practice focusses on appearances before administrative tribunals. His experience as a vice-chair of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and as a member of Law Society of Ontario discipline panels is a great asset in his current professional endeavours. During his professional life Michael has been honoured to have had the opportunity to make a significant contribution to a variety of community and charitable organization.

Kristi Sargeant-Kerr – Joining Scott Petrie LLP in 2017, Kristi specializes in all aspects of condominium and real estate law, including development, governance, management, litigation and purchase and sale transactions. She made this transition after years of personal interest in the condominium field and a keen interest and involvement in mediation and arbitration at numerous administrative Boards and Tribunals.

Prior to her call to the bar in 2003, Kristi received her Honours B.A. from McMaster University before obtaining her LL.B. at the University of Ottawa in 2002. Upon returning to London, she articled and worked as an associate lawyer focusing on litigation from both a plaintiff and defence perspective. This extensive experience enables Kristi to assess a matter from many perspectives resulting in the most timely and cost effective outcomes for her clients.

Kristi is a former member of the Advisory Committee of the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO) and is on the Board of Directors for the London and Area Chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), where she is the Secretary and former Education Committee Co-Chair. She also regularly contributes to their quarterly newsletters and presents on various relevant and timely condominium related topics. In addition, Kristi is an active member of the Middlesex Law Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association and a founding member of the London Chapter of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund.

Gregory Woodward – Greg is an associate at Lerners LLP practicing in their dispute resolution & advocacy, and land development & municipal law groups. After completing his JD at Western University and being called to the Bar in 2024, Greg assists municipalities and applicants with applications under the Planning Act and Conservation Authorities Act, appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal and represented clients at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Prior to his legal career, Greg worked with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation as a Property Inspector specializing in the valuation of commercial and industrial real estate. Outside the office, Greg enjoys playing a variety of sports including soccer, hockey and cycling, trying new recipes  and spending time with his friends and family.

Awards Committee - Terms of Reference