Essential insights from newly appointed judges on courtroom advocacy, civility, and making your case stand out.
This popular program is back with three new judges and three fresh takes on the age-old question… What are judges really thinking?
As Litigators, you spend your entire career seeing the courtroom from the counsel podium, watching the often-inscrutable face of a judge looking back. You have probably wondered: What is the judge thinking? Is my argument making sense? How can I do better? Unfortunately, there is no rule of procedure that allows us to call a timeout and ask, "how am I doing so far?"
This unique program will address these common concerns through a distinguished panel of three recently appointed Ontario judges: Justice Darla Wilson, Court of Appeal, Justice Ira Parghi, Superior Court of Justice, and Justice Robert Tomovski, Ontario Court of Justice. The judges will share what they have observed from the bench that they wish they had known when they were counsel, what advocacy techniques work and how advocates can be more effective.
Toronto Lawyers Association
For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.
Judge, Superior Court of Justice of Ontario
Justice Ira G. Parghi was born and raised in Kamloops and is the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy (with distinction) from Stanford University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She was admitted to the bars of Ontario, New York, and California. Justice Parghi's practice encompasses litigation and advisory work and spans several jurisdictions. She has expertise in privacy and information law, health regulatory law, tort law, digital health, and artificial intelligence. She has spoken and published widely in these areas. Her clients have included hospitals, health care facilities, medtech companies, universities, research institutes, and non-profits. She is an experienced adjudicator, having served for many years as a Co-Chair of the University of Toronto Tribunal. She is recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She has worked at Torys, Lax O'Sullivan Cronk (now Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb), Borden Ladner Gervais, Ropes & Gray, and INQ Law. Justice Parghi has served the legal profession and community as a member of the Canadian Blood Services Research Ethics Board and the boards of directors of the South Asian Bar Association – Toronto, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, and Gerstein Crisis Centre. She has mentored dozens of lawyers, most of them racialized and/or internationally trained.
Judge, Ontario Court of Justice
Justice Robert Tomovski was called to the Ontario bar in 2003. He began his legal career as an associate at the criminal law firm of Derstine Penman. In 2005, he became a partner at the criminal law firm of Lockyer Campbell Posner, specializing in criminal trials and appeals. He founded Tomovski Law in 2014 and has since represented hundreds of diverse clients at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. He has been a per diem assistant Crown attorney in the regions of Toronto and York since 2023. Justice Tomovski has served in numerous capacities with the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto Lawyers’ Association and Advocates’ Society, and is a proud member of the Macedonian Canadian Lawyers’ Association. He is a committed volunteer in his community. With Meals on Wheels, he has delivered meals for seniors and people with physical and mental health challenges. He is also a member of the Patient Experience Panel at Michael Garron Hospital, working with hospital stakeholders on projects that impact patient experiences. Justice Tomovski received a law degree from the University of Windsor and a post-graduate law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Judge, Court of Appeal for Ontario
Justice Darla A. Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts from Queen's University in 1981, and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1984. She was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1986. Justice Wilson was previously a partner with Lawson McGrenere LLP in Toronto, where she practiced exclusively in the area of civil litigation. She carried on her practice throughout Ontario in the area of medical and other negligence claims, as well as representing plaintiffs in personal injury actions. She was an instructor in Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto Law School, as well as a Director of the Advocates' Society and a member of the Board of Directors of the Medico-Legal Society. In 2007, Justice Wilson was appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. From 2020-2024, she was the Civil Team Lead for pre-trials and trials in Toronto. She was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario on April 30, 2024. Currently, she sits on the Dean's Council at Queen's Law School and is a member of the Civil Rules Committee. Justice Wilson is a judicial member of The Holland Group, comprised of advocates dedicated to promoting reforms in medical negligence actions. She is the editor of the Annual Review of Civil Litigation. She received the Ontario Bar Association Distinguished Service Award in 2025. Madam Justice Wilson is an avid long-distance runner and considers the Boston Marathon, the Berlin Marathon and the Paris Marathon her favorite races.
Partner at Kostyniuk and Greenside Lawyers
Experienced Associate Lawyer with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. Skilled in Legal Advocacy, Research, Writing, Litigation, Legal Advice, and Leadership.
