Staff 2025-26

Donya is a 3L at Osgoode Hall Law School with a strong interest in advocacy and legal writing. She discovered her passion for oral advocacy through Osgoode’s mooting program, earning recognition at several competitions, including the Lerners Cup, the Baby Jessup Moot, and the Adam A. Fanaki Competition Law Moot. This year, Donya will be representing Osgoode at the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot. 

At Osgoode, she has strengthened her research and written advocacy through clinical work with the Community and Legal Aid Services Program, where she represented clients in immigration matters. Alongside being a Co-Managing editor, Donya also contributes to legal scholarship as a Managing Editor at theCourt.ca.

In her free time, Donya enjoys poetry, swimming, and exploring new fashion trends.

Jeremy is a 2026 J.D. Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. He graduated as a gold medalist from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2023, entering law school that same year. In his first year at Osgoode, he wrote for theCourt.ca as a 1L contributor. He returned as an editor in his second year and became a managing editor in his third year. Aside from his involvement with theCourt.ca, Jeremy has been actively involved with the Osgoode Business Clinic throughout his second and third years of law school. He has also volunteered as a judge for several undergraduate moot competitions. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys photography, golfing, and snowboarding.

John Nyman is a 3L J.D. student at Osgoode Hall Law School. He holds a Ph.D. in Theory and Criticism from Western University, where his dissertation examined “writing under erasure” in post-structuralist philosophy and experimental poetry. John is also the author of two poetry collections and a collective member at the plumb art gallery and project space in midtown Toronto.

John was a part-time contributor to theCourt.ca in his 1L and 2L years. He is also a Senior Editor and Director of Production for the Osgoode Hall Law Journal.

Dorsa Fardaei (she/her) is a second-year J.D. candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School with interests in commercial, construction, and criminal law. Before beginning her legal studies, she earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Toronto and worked as a consultant and project manager at an engineering firm. At law school, she has participated in the Intellectual Property (IP) Clinic, the Animal Justice Club, various moots, and will be joining the Criminal Law Intensive Program in the winter semester. During the past summer, Dorsa gained practical experience as a summer student at Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP, where she focused on construction disputes and insolvency law. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors, walking her dog, Casper, along the Toronto waterfront.

Nikesh is a second-year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School. At Osgoode, he participates in several extracurricular activities. Last academic year, he worked with the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission through Pro Bono Students Canada. In this position, he assisted the Commission in addressing discriminatory online publications. Nikesh has also competed in several moots, including the Lerner’s Cup, the Frozen Osgoode Open Moot, and the Baby Gale. He is currently on Osgoode’s Jessup team. 

Nikesh is also a Student Ambassador for the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, where he organizes educational events to promote scholarship in legal history. Before law school, Nikesh completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in history. He is passionate about studying how the past shapes contemporary understandings of legal issues. 

Outside of school, you'll find Nikesh playing and watching hockey (go Leafs!), searching for Toronto's best cappuccino, and listening to classic rock.

Shanaya is a 2L J.D. candidate at Osgoode. During 1L, she worked as a Junior Caseworker in the Criminal Law Division at the Community & Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) and competed in several moots, placing as a finalist in the Frozen Open Osgoode Moot, winning top oralist in the Lerner’s Cup, and representing Osgoode at the Cassels “Baby Gale” Cup. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary, where she served as President of the Moot Court Society and led research on the impacts of COVID-19 in long-term care. Shanaya also worked as a social worker with marginalized youth at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary – a nonprofit restorative justice organization – appearing in court to support Indigenous clients. Most recently, she summered at Aird Berlis LLP. This year, she will compete at the International Criminal Court Moot and serve as Ethics Officer of the Osgoode Mooting Society.

Variam Manak is a student at Osgoode Hall Law School.

David Lia is a third-year J.D. candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School, returning for his second year as an editor at theCourt.ca. He is passionate about labour and employment law, with a focus on advancing workers’ rights through advocacy. David has honed his legal skills as a summer student with Parkdale Community Legal Services, and he will be articling next year with the Ministry of Labour.

Outside of his editor role, David is an active member of the Osgoode community. He currently serves as Osgoode’s Student Senator on the York University Senate and participates in several student organizations. A prolific oral advocate, he has also represented Osgoode in both the Walsh Family Law Negotiation and Hicks Morley Moot.

James is a 3L at Osgoode Hall Law School with an interest in litigation and advocacy. At Osgoode, he has taken part in competitive mooting, including the Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot Court Competition, where his team advanced to the international rounds, the Ron D. Ellis 40th Anniversary WSIAT moot, and several first-year moots. He has earned recognition for both written and oral advocacy.

In addition to mooting, James has served as an Associate Editor with the Osgoode Hall Law Journal, where he reviewed and refined scholarly submissions in accordance with the McGill Guide. He also contributes to the Artist Legal Aid Society as a volunteer caseworker and has been active in student leadership and mentorship roles at Osgoode.

Chris is a 2L at Osgoode Hall Law School with a strong interest in litigation. This past summer, he worked at a Toronto civil litigation firm, gaining hands-on experience drafting litigation documents, conducting legal research, and making court appearances. In the summer of 2026, Chris will be joining a New York firm as a Summer Associate, building on his hands-on experience in advocacy and research.

At Osgoode, Chris is an avid mooter, having competed in several 1L moots, including as a member of Osgoode’s Baby Gale team. This year, he will represent Osgoode at the Davies Corporate/Securities Moot. He also serves as a Dean’s Fellow in Torts and as a research assistant for Professor Martin Petrin, contributing to scholarship on the regulation of agentic AI in corporate contexts.

Outside of his studies, he enjoys going to the gym and playing sports like hockey and soccer.

Yandi is currently a second-year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School. Before attending law school, Yandi completed an undergraduate degree in Commerce and worked as a digital marketing specialist for an e-commerce startup. Yandi is particularly drawn to constitutional law, immigration law, and emerging areas such as e-commerce, technology and artificial intelligence in the legal context. Yandi enjoys reading legal blogs, scholarly papers, and case commentaries as a way to engage deeply with legal thought and current debates. However, her reading habits aren’t limited to scholarly literature—she also reads for fun, including light novels and webtoons. In her free time, Yandi enjoys exploring new food spots across the city and experimenting with recipes using her portable oven.