Our Team
Director
Dr. Bassem Awad is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Area of Concentration in Intellectual Property, Information and Technology (IPIT) at the Faculty of Law. Bassem teaches courses on intellectual Property (IP) Law, International Protection of IP, and Law and Disruptive Technologies. He is also a Head Tutor and Professor at the Academy of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.
Prior to joining Western, Bassem was the Deputy Director of IP Law and Innovation at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and served for several years as a Judge and Head of Court at the Appeal Courts of Egypt and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Professor Awad has remarkable experience in intellectual property law, technology and innovation policies. He worked in both common and civil law systems and conducted research projects for international and regional organizations in Africa, Europe and Canada.
Student Directors
Angela Kaiser
Angela is in her third year of the JD program at Western law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Acadia University and a Master of Science degree in chemistry from McGill University. Angela became interested in intellectual property law through her coursework in pharmaceutical drug design and her research activities in the field of green chemistry. This is her second year as a student director of WIPILC and she is passionate about promoting access to justice and teaching entrepreneurs about intellectual property rights.
Adam Maunsell
Adam is in his second year of the JD program at Western law. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op) from McMaster University with a focus on Nuclear Engineering. His interest for intellectual property (IP) spawned from the opportunities throughout his undergraduate studies. Working in the evolving fields of satellites, nuclear reactors, machine learning and simulation systems, Adam gained an appreciation for human ingenuity. IP law is a field ripe with interesting problems and Adam welcomes the challenges.
Following his first year of law school, Adam worked as a summer student at one of Canada’s leading IP law boutiques, Ridout & Maybee LLP. Outside the clinic, Adam is a student assistant for Western Law’s contracts course and captain of the Western Law intramural beach volleyball team. In his free time, Adam enjoys 3-D printing, escape rooms, board games, and live music.
Case Team Members
Katherine Allos
Katherine is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. A graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, Katherine holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. She gained an interest in conflict resolution strategies after learning about the value of managing relationships within an organization, leading her to complete a Graduate Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Katherine then pursued a role in the public sector, where she worked to protect the privacy rights of Ontarians. This work sparked her interest in the intersection between privacy laws, data security, and intellectual property.
During her first year at Western Law, Katherine was a Summer Caseworker for the WIPILC, and this year, she is a Managing Editor for the Western Journal of Legal Studies. In her free time, Katherine enjoys paying homage to classic dishes and unwinding with the latest issue of The New Yorker.
Gurnoor Brar
Gurnoor (she/her) is in her first year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in molecular biology from York University. Gurnoor first became interested in intellectual property (IP) in graduate school. While working as a biology laboratory instructor, she witnessed first-hand the challenges that academics and scientists face while protecting their intellectual property. Gurnoor recently completed a summer internship in risk management at a boutique investment firm in Toronto. She enjoys Escape Rooms and collecting Star Wars and NASA LEGO sets.
Kieran Ecclestone
Kieran is entering his second year of the JD program at Western Law. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from McMaster University obtaining his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering. He has 2+ years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, where he worked on drones and flight simulators. Kieran’s interest in intellectual property was sparked in his final year at McMaster while working on his capstone project, the Look & Go Wheelchair, where he delved into the world of patenting and licensing. Outside of law school, Kieran enjoys watching and playing hockey, as well as running, hiking, and weightlifting.
Faith Grassa
Faith is currently in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with minors in Biology and Psychology from Wilfred Laurier University. Her interest in intellectual property developed during her undergraduate studies, particularly as she delved into the intricate realm of pharmaceutical development and biomedical technologies. These experiences ignited her passion for scientific innovation and emphasized the critical role that intellectual property strategies play in advancing technologies. Outside of the clinic, Faith is also an Executive Member of Pro Bono Students Canada and holds the position of Co-President at the Italian Students Law Society at Western.
Akash Kiran
Akash is in her first year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Biotechnology from Panjab University, India. She first became interested in Intellectual property (IP) during her undergraduate studies when she attended a conference on patents and breeder’s rights. She got intrigued with the role of intellectual property rights (IPR) in shielding startups against potential competition. Her role as an editor of IP journal for her university furthered her interest in this area.
She is also a 1L representative of the Gender and Law Association and Western Business Law Society. Outside of law school, Akash enjoys listening to music and exploring new places.
Taylor Macri
Taylor is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art History at Queen’s University. She became interested in intellectual property through her work with local art galleries and artists in Kingston. She volunteered with the IP clinic in her first year as a caseworker and is currently participating in the Harold G Fox IP Moot.
Malcolm McCarron
Malcolm is currently in his second year of the JD program at Western Law. During his undergraduate studies at Western University, he specialized in physics and graduated with honors. Prior to law school, Malcolm worked as a data analyst at the Ministry of Health, where he played a vital role in managing the logistics and distribution of vaccines during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has a solid research background, with experience in both medical physics and semiconductor fields.
In his first year of law school, Malcolm actively participated in various moot competitions and took the initiative to establish the privacy law society. Outside of his academic pursuits, he finds enjoyment in activities such as rock climbing, basketball, and the board game GO.
Reyhaneh Rahimi
Reyhaneh is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. She earned her Bachelor of Commerce with a minor in computer science from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Reyhaneh became interested in intellectual property after she found her online business involved in a copyright dispute and encountered the concept of fair dealing. Outside of her work at the clinic, Reyhaneh is a Co-Chair of the Western Tax Law Association and Yearbook Committee. She is a travel enthusiast and is always eager to explore new destinations.
Erin Rix
Erin (she/her) is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she worked in the aerospace industry for twelve years with a focus on operations and project management. Throughout her career and in her personal involvement in the arts, she has seen firsthand the challenges creators face in issues related to intellectual property and innovation rights which sparked her interest in this area of the law.
During her first year of law school, Erin was a volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada (Project Consent) and placed first in the Lenczner Slaght Advocacy Competition in Legal Ethics and Professionalism. She first worked with WIPILC as a Caseworker over the summer of 2023 and has continued her work with the clinic for the 2023-24 academic year as a Case Manager.
Brayden Secord
Brayden is in his second year of the JD program at Western Law. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University, and concentrated on energy systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence. He became interested in intellectual property (IP) law through his engineering work experience in energy infrastructure, data centers, and smart building systems, which exposed him to the unique combination of innovation and law.
Brayden is also VP, Technology for the Student Legal Society and is representing Western Law in the 2023/2024 Harold G. Fox IP Moot. Previously, Brayden was a 1L Caseworker at the clinic. Outside of law school, Brayden enjoys struggling on the golf course and keeping up with the latest tech trends.
Cameron Weatherill
Cameron is in his second year of the JD program at Western Law. He earned his Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University majoring in biochemistry. Cameron became interested in IP when he was introduced to a newly patented gene-sequencing device while conducting research at the Toronto MaRS Centre, which inspired him to pursue science-based legal topics. Cameron is passionate about promoting access to legal services and providing solutions to the challenges faced by creators. Outside of law school, Cameron enjoys playing golf, rock climbing, and watching sports.
Larissa Zhong
Larissa is in her second year of the JD program at Western Law. Prior to law school, she earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English literature and Certificate in Law from Queen’s University. Currently, she is a co-chair at the East Asian Law Students’ Association, a managing editor at the Western Journal of Legal Studies, a competitor in the Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Moot, and a JD representative on the Programs Committee. Outside of law school, Larissa loves dogs, sitcoms, and day hikes.
