2026 Speakers

Daniel Lewis

Workplace Culture & Sales Expert, Motivational Storyteller

Author, entrepreneur, and international keynote speaker Daniel Lewis is the proud founder of the award-winning tea company T By Daniel. Daniel helps people and organizations adopt a more human-centric approach to business, leadership, and life.

Dubbed "Human Caffeine" for his stage presence, his people-first outlook and bold, experiential business tactics have earned him national recognition and numerous accolades, including the 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 2016 Business Excellence Award, 2017 Top 40 Under 40 Entrepreneurs, and most recently, the 2025 Smart Speaker Award for “Best of the Stage!”.

From startup and tech stages in Estonia, to customer service and sales summits in the UK, to inspiring audiences for global powerhouses like Forbes in Dubai, Daniel’s voice has resonated across the world. Along the way, he’s even shared the stage with award-winning artists like Pitbull, blending business with culture in unforgettable ways.

Daniel’s success with his retail tea brand has also landed him the rare honour of serving His Majesty King Charles III during his 2017 Royal Tour to Canada.

Whether serving tea to a King or ideas to a crowd, Daniel’s gift is creating unforgettable moments of connection.

Opening Keynote - B.E.Y.O.N.D: The Human Systems That Power Law Firms Forward

Wed, Sep 23, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Mike Downie is a celebrated documentary filmmaker and philanthropist. Most recently, he directed and produced The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, a powerful exploration of the band’s legacy and its deep connection to Canada’s cultural identity. It premiered at TIFF 2024, where it won the prestigious People’s Choice Award for Documentary, and recently won seven Canadian Screen Awards. Downie is also the co-founder of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the largest reconciliation fund in the country, and, along with his brother, Gord, created Secret Path, the groundbreaking multimedia project that tells the tragic story of Chanie Wenjack. Through his work and speaking engagements, he inspires audiences to embrace storytelling as a means of connection, change, and creating cultural identity.

Downie’s work has earned multiple Canadian Screen Awards, including the prestigious Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary. His other award-winning documentaries include Invasion of the Brain Snatchers, The Hockey Nomad, One Ocean, and The Covid Cruise, all of which showcase his ability to tell compelling, wide-ranging stories.

Downie’s keynotes weave personal storytelling with powerful insights, drawing from his experiences growing up in a small town, working in a northern mine, and traveling the world as a filmmaker. His talks resonate with audiences looking for inspiration, authenticity, and a deeper understanding of the stories that shape us.

With a background spanning science, economics, and adventure — including time as a deep shaft miner, medical researcher, and windsurfing instructor — Downie brings a unique perspective to every stage. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Queen’s University, and an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business.

Closing Keynote: Telling Canada's Story

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Liane Davey

Expert on Building Effective Teams, Improving Communication, and Increasing Leadership Effectiveness.

Known as the “teamwork doctor,” Liane Davey knows how to create high-performing teams. Having worked with businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, from across the globe helping teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, she has developed a unique perspective on the challenges that teams face — and how to solve them.

Her mission is to transform the way people communicate, connect, and contribute, and, using her expertise in strategy and group dynamics, she delivers the perfect combination of education and entertainment that leaders and teams need to make an immediate impact on their organizations.

New York Times bestselling author of You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done, Liane has worked with a variety of renowned businesses including Amazon, Walmart, TD Bank, RBC, Bayer, KPMG, Aviva, Maple Leaf Foods, and SONY Interactive Entertainment.

She is also a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and is sought after by media outlets, including CNN, NPR, USA Today, The Globe & Mail, and Forbes, for her expertise on increasing productivity, enhancing engagement, developing leaders, and as one client put it, “dealing with the damn drama!”

Liane has a PhD in Organizational Psychology from the University of Waterloo. She is also passionate advocate for mental health and served for 12 years on the board of governors of Strong Minds, Strong Kids.

Invisible Overload: How Thoughtload is Undermining Performance and What Leaders Can Do About It

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Anthony Belmonte

TLOMA 2026 Vice President

Director of Human Resources

Blaney McMurtry LLP

T: (416) 596-2891

Email | LinkedIn

As Director of Human Resources at Blaney McMurtry LLP, Anthony oversees all aspects of Human Resources Management, Facilities and legal support (law clerks and legal assistants).

Anthony brings over two decades of comprehensive HR expertise to his role, acquired across diverse sectors, including the service industry, telecommunications, and for the past decade, the legal industry. He leverages these varied experiences, as well as his insights into law firm operations and the transformative potential of creativity and enthusiasm, earned, in part, as the manager at a boutique start-up law firm which he managed for 7 years, growing from 7 individuals to over 50 during his tenure there.

Anthony is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) through Human Resources Professional Association and a member of The Law Office Management Association (since 2014). His commitment to HR and the legal profession stems from his dedication to enhancing operational efficiency within law firms while fostering the professional development and growth of its firm members. Anthony firmly believes that success in the legal industry is dependent on prioritizing the well-being and nurturing the professional growth of its people.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Anthony is actively engaged within the legal community. He was the 2024-2025 Human Resources Special Interest Group Leader at The Law Office Management Association (TLOMA), demonstrating his commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering professional development within the legal industry. He previously served the TLOMA membership as a member of the Nomination Committee for multiple years.

Beyond his professional and community engagements, Anthony is committed to philanthropy. He leads his firm’s charitable efforts in support of local Toronto communities and families. He is an avid walker and loves exploring Toronto (and cities worldwide).

What Keeps Law Firm Leaders Awake at Night - and What Comes Next?

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Claudia Bessant

Chief Operating Officer

Lenczner Slaght

Email

Claudia Bessant is the Chief Operating Officer at Lenczner Slaght, widely recognized as Canada’s leading litigation practice and known for handling complex, high-profile disputes. As a member of the firm's Management Committee, she oversees the firm's finance operations, financial planning and analysis, pricing, human resources, information technology, and office services teams, working closely with firm leadership to advance strategic priorities and operational excellence.

Claudia is a Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in finance, operations, and business transformation. Prior to joining Lenczner Slaght, she held leadership roles at Deloitte, where she led large-scale initiatives including enterprise systems implementations and major operational projects.

Known for her collaborative and data-driven leadership style, Claudia is passionate about developing strong teams, creating efficient and scalable processes, and helping organizations turn insight into action.

What Keeps Law Firm Leaders Awake at Night - and What Comes Next?

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Doug Moody

Chief Operating Officer

Barriston Law

T: 705.792.9200

Email

As Chief Operating Officer at Barriston Law, Doug Moody is directly responsible for planning and directing all aspects of the law firm’s operational policies, objectives and initiatives. Doug also provides general manager oversight and day-to-day direction to managers and senior staff regarding finance, human resources and information technology.

Doug has over 34 years of experience in the Automotive Aftermarket – initially as General Manager for a growing Tire & Automotive Franchise Group and laterally as a Franchisee where Doug owned and operated several locations in Toronto and Barrie.

Prior to entering the Automotive Aftermarket, Doug spent several years with Ernst & Young in Toronto as a Staff Accountant.

Doug has an Honors Business Degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

What Keeps Law Firm Leaders Awake at Night - and What Comes Next?

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Imran Pervaiz

Chief Executive Officer

SimpsonWigle LAW

T: (905) 528-8411

Email

Imran is the Chief Executive Officer at SimpsonWigle LAW overseeing both the Hamilton and Burlington offices. He is a CA, CPA in Ontario, and a licensed CPA in the U.S.

His prior leadership roles include Amazon, OMERS Pension Fund & PricewaterhouseCoopers, and has successfully scaled companies from startup to IPO.

What Keeps Law Firm Leaders Awake at Night - and What Comes Next?

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Brandon Chatwell

IT Manager

Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP

T: (416) 981-9349

Email

Brandon Chatwell joined Olthuis Kleer Townshend in October 2021 as the IT Manager. He is responsible for supporting the partnership with strategic IT planning, managing internal firm operations, and enabling the OKT team in all areas of IT.

Brandon has worked in the Legal IT industry for the last 16 years. He started his Legal career at the helpdesk of a law firm and gained firsthand knowledge into how lawyers and their staff function on a day-to-day basis. Later, he worked in Applications Support and saw how the changes made in this position affected users on a much larger scale. Brandon went to night school to earn a Certificate in Information Systems Management at Ryerson University to hone his skills and knowledge in effectively managing a law firm, and has spent the last 7 years managing law firms from the IT perspective.

When Brandon isn’t in front of a computer he enjoys camping, baseball, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Leading Through the AI Revolution

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Colin Lachance

Founder and CEO

LawQi

Email

Colin Lachance is a frequent writer and speaker on legal AI and innovation topics, and is highly active in supporting the development of legal information and technology projects. As principal at PGYA Consulting, he assists organizations in making sense of AI. As the Innovator in Residence for 2024/2025, he designed and delivered AI programs for the Ontario Bar Association, including creating the AI Academy model for lawyer AI training, a program that expanded nationally to all Canadian Bar Association members.

As founder and CEO of LawQi, Colin created an AI training program that is currently seeing accelerated adoption among bar associations, firms and other legal organizations across the US and Canada. He previously served as CEO of the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) from 2011 to 2015. In 2016 he co-founded Compass Law to acquire and build on the Maritime Law Book Canadian case law collection, and through Compass he cofounded Jurisage AI which was acquired by Clio in 2026. He has been named one of the "Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers" by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, a "Legal Rebel" by ABA Journal, a member of the Fastcase 50 class of legal innovators and visionaries, and most recently, an honoree of the American Legal Technology Awards for his work in promoting lawyer AI literacy and skill development.

Leading Through the AI Revolution - A Fireside Chat With Colin Lachance & Brandon Chatwell

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Adrian Scutti

CEO & Owner

LawStream by Streamline IT

T: (416) 855-0855 ext: 120

Email

Growing up in a family that owned a small business, Adrian noticed a challenge they faced. Although, their company relied on computers, his parents were experts in their trade, not technology. They were too small to have an ‘IT guy’ on staff, so, they managed on their own. When things broke, work ground to a halt and they called in an expert to fix it. It was a constant struggle. Adrian imagined that other small businesses must have the same issue and he knew there had to be a better way. After receiving education in programming and networking, Adrian founded Streamline IT. His vision was to simplify and manage IT for small businesses.

Today, Adrian’s IT company has grown to a team of over a dozen technicians. Even as the business grew, he was determined to keep the “local IT guy” customer experience while building a team with deep expertise. He passed on his vision to each new employee. As a result, personalized and attentive service has become a hallmark of their Streamline.

While managing IT for clients in the legal community, Adrian noticed that law firms faced unique IT challenges. He wanted to provide a customized experience for law firms, and, developed LawStream in 2022.

When not in front a computer, Adrian can be found doing building and renovation projects at home. He enjoys camping, travelling and playing board games with his wife, Melanie, and their two children. He loves a good game of chess with a glass of Scotch.

Workshop 1A - The Adoption Advantage: How Firms Can Make New Tools Actually Stick

Wed, Sep 23, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Roger Thorpe

President

Thorpe Benefits

T: 416-966-9229

Email

Roger Thorpe is President of Thorpe Benefits, an integrated benefits and wellness consulting company based in Toronto since 1982.

Having joined the firm in 1997 and later acquiring ownership of the company in 2005, Roger has built a team of senior consultants that understand Group Benefits inside out. Customized solutions are cost-effective, incorporate Wellness and are designed to promote employee health, maintain employee loyalty, increase retention and enhance a company’s culture and overall appeal.

With deep insight into employee benefits, Roger has chosen to challenge existing benefits consulting models. Full transparency of fees and measured delivery of service is backed by a signed Service Agreement with clients. Thorpe Benefits is changing the "old-school" broker model where commissions are hidden and service is reactive.

Roger is passionate about high performance living where training and improvement never stops.

Workshop 1B - The Human Side of Benefits: Rethinking How Law Firms Support Health, Performance, and Wellbeing

Wed, Sep 23, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Deborah Glatter

Legal Educator and Management Consultant

Queen’s University (Part-Time Instructor)

T: 416-898-5778

Email | LinkedIn | Website

Deborah Glatter is a lawyer and consultant specializing in delivering practical and engaging skills-based programs to professionals in law firms, corporations, and management associations.

As an accredited Continuing Professional Development Provider with the Law Society of Ontario, she is recognized for consistently delivering high-quality training.

Deborah also serves as an adjunct professor. She co-designed and taught a graduate diploma course in human capital management at Queen’s University. She currently teaches a skills-based course for upper-year students at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Deborah’s programs cover a wide range of topics including delegation, feedback, managing up, running effective meetings, living your values, difficult conversations, preparing for and delivering performance evaluations, and mentoring. Every program is tailored to address her clients’ unique needs.

Additionally, Deborah assists firms in improving their performance management processes to ensure results that actually improve performance.

As a frequently invited speaker, Deborah integrates current research and thought leadership into all facets of her work, ensuring that her audiences benefit from practical, actionable strategies.

Workshop 2A - Delegation That Delivers

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Gary Allen

Founder

LeanLaw

Email

Gary Allen is a retired attorney and longtime legal industry executive with over 30 years of experience in midsize law firms. He has advised firm leadership teams on financial performance, billing models, and operational strategy, with a particular focus on aligning technology, processes, and profitability. His writing focuses on the business of law and the evolving role of firm administrators in driving top performance.

Workshop 2B - How to Achieve Best-in-Class Financial Performance

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Scott Gabdullin

Scott Gabdullin is Canadian entrepreneur, marketer and investor with a proven track record of turning the trickle of prospects into a roaring cascade of business opportunities.

His expertise isn’t just in understanding the funnel, but in optimizing and expanding it, ensuring businesses not only compete but thrive.

Workshop 3A - Marketing That Matters: Practical Growth Strategies for Every Role in Your Firm

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Elisabeth Folk

Business Operations Specialist

T: (416) 909-9374

Elisabeth Folk is a Business Operations Specialist with SGI and a seasoned law firm management professional with more than 30 years of experience in the legal industry, including 26 years in leadership and management roles.

Working with small to medium sized law firms, Elisabeth helps firms strengthen the operational foundations that support growth, performance, and exceptional client service. Her expertise spans human resources, accounting, technology, facilities management, and the day-to-day systems that enable law firms to operate effectively and efficiently.

A Certified Human Resource Leader (CHRL), Elisabeth is an active member of both the Law Office Management Association (TLOMA) and the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). She is passionate about helping firms navigate operational complexity, build strong teams, and create environments where lawyers and staff can thrive.

Known for her practical, people-centered approach, Elisabeth brings real-world insight and decades of experience to conversations about the business of law.

Workshop 3B - Managing the Chaos behind the Practice: Successful Law Firm Essentials

Thu, Sep 24, 2026

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM