Long-time litigator Fred Maefs has what it takes to help
the clinic’s student caseworkers navigate the courtroom
When the Superior Court judge, dressed in full regalia, appeared in the Zoom trial, Fred Maefs felt right at home. The two IPC student caseworkers also on the call couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, however; it was their first time before a judge.
The newly appointed assistant director of the Investor Protection Clinic says the moment sums up the reason why he came out of retirement to join the clinic in January 2022. After 37 years of legal practice, including appearances in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, Maefs wanted to help mentor the next generation of lawyers.
His courtroom experience was just one of the approximately 40 clinic cases he’s helped to oversee in his first six months in the job.
“I told the students it was a great opportunity and to take advantage of it,” he says.
Maefs’s more than three decades of legal experience include 17 years in the securities industry. He started out as investigation counsel with the Ontario Securities Commission, before serving in senior positions with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Investment Dealers’ Association and HSBC Securities.
He was even a small claims court deputy judge for 10 years.
“I have trial experience, so I see things from a different perspective than someone who hasn’t been to court before,” Maefs says. His experience is enabling the clinic to take on larger court cases such as a $135,000 case before the Superior Court. As the clinic’s staff lawyer, he’s also helping to coordinate the volunteer supervising lawyers, who remain a critical part of the IPC team.
Poonam Puri, IPC’s co-founder and academic director, calls Maefs’s appointment a game changer.
“Appointing an assistant director who can serve as a staff lawyer is allowing the clinic to respond to increasing demand and provide even more effective advocacy for our clients. Our students continue to benefit from the expertise of the clinic’s supervising lawyers while also having an in-house resource. This appointment has taken the clinic to the next level. It would not be possible without the generous support of our funders, regulatory partners and individual donors.”
One of those game-changing moments happened when the case before the Superior Court judge hit a snag.
“I asked the judge for a moment to speak to my students and I did that five or six times,” Maefs remembers. “He was very patient. He gave me as much time as we needed so I could advise them on next steps.” In rendering his decision, the judge made a point of recognizing the students’ efforts.
That night, Maefs received an email from one of the student caseworkers that read, “I think this experience will stay with me for the rest of my career.”
“That’s why I do this,” Maefs says.
Footnote: To learn how you can support Osgoode’s Investor Protection Clinic as a supervising lawyer or donor, contact the clinic at ipc@osgoode.yorku.ca or 416-736-5538