Meet Our Legal Team
Real lawyers with hands-on experience who understand what it takes to build practical law skills. We're here because we've been where you are—and we know the path forward.
Dorian Thorne
After fifteen years practicing corporate law in Toronto, I realized something was missing in how we prepare new lawyers. The gap between law school theory and courtroom reality was too wide. That's what brought me to teaching—helping people bridge that gap with real skills they can use from day one.
I still maintain an active practice, which means the strategies I teach come from cases I'm handling right now, not textbooks from ten years ago. When you're learning contract negotiation or client communication, you're getting techniques I used just last week.
Our Practice Areas
Each team member brings active experience from their specialized practice areas
Corporate Transactions
M&A deals, due diligence, and business structuring that happens in the real world—not just in case studies.
Employment Law
Workplace disputes, policy development, and HR compliance issues that companies face every day.
Real Estate
Commercial leasing, property transactions, and development projects across Ontario markets.
Business Litigation
Contract disputes, partnership conflicts, and courtroom advocacy that requires sharp practical skills.
Kieran Blackwood
I joined the firm three years ago, but I've been teaching legal research and writing workshops since my second year. There's something satisfying about watching someone finally "get" how to structure a legal argument or craft a persuasive brief.
My background is in employment law and small business counsel, which means I deal with practical problems every day. When I teach, I draw from cases where communication skills made the difference between a settlement and a long court battle.
Teaching Specializations
Why We Teach
Law school gives you theory. Bar courses teach you to pass exams. But nobody really prepares you for that first client meeting, or how to handle a difficult opposing counsel, or what to do when a case isn't going the way you planned.
We teach because we remember what it felt like to be new. And because every day in our practice, we see the difference between lawyers who have real skills and those who are still figuring it out.
Our next intensive program starts in September 2025, with smaller workshop sessions available throughout the year. We keep groups small because this kind of learning works best when you can get individual feedback.
Talk to Our Team