In this perfunctory courtroom conference, she shows no expression as she pulls a gilt pen from her Yves Saint Laurent handbag to sign off on an agreement that spells out her first small victory. You worry about everything, because in this business you see everything thats awful., Many of Heneins cases never make the papersor even a courtroom. What are your reflections from these experiences? She is associated with a law firm named Henein Hutchison LLP. She pushed herself through her kids younger years, working at home virtually non-stop through her maternity leaves. I have never seen anybody with more naked confidence in a courtroom, says Martha McCarthy, the president of the Advocates Society, who recently called on Henein to assist with a complex case. Even growing up in a neighbourhood populated largely by other immigrants, most from Italy, Henein and her kid brother, Peter, felt they didnt quite belong. He hired Marie to represent him in the court and defend him against the charges he was accused of. On one blog, Osgoode Hall professor Susan Drummond argues that criminal lawyers not only have a duty to their clients, they also have a larger duty to the justice system as a whole; by whacking the complainant in sexual assault cases, she says, they threaten to bring the entire system into disrepute. I think its a lot of weak people leading. . SEAN SPEER: You mentioned, in an earlier answer, issues around communication and speech engagements. Four days after winning the most-watched sexual assault criminal proceedings in recent Canadian history, Henein sat down with CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridgereluctantly to discuss the justice system and her role representing Mansbridges former colleague. A slash of scarlet lipstick hints at her sense of showmanship, and the brisk clip of her black patent stilettos leaves no doubt about her flinty reputation. I have not. [4] In 2002, Henein left to open Henein and Associates. Its something so fundamental to my core. SEAN SPEER: One final question. And a lot of it is who you know, and where youre being positioned. We were all precocious and wouldnt take any shit., In school and out, they became inseparable, too nerdy for drinking, drugs or dates, but priding themselves on their intellectual sophistication. She's seen in the lobby of the. Alan Young arranged for her to co-teach a course with him at Osgoode and hired her to help with an appeal in a sensational drug case, reducing 60 volumes of transcripts from 100 witnesses in a year-long trial to a coherent summary of facts, known in legal jargon as a factum. Her brother Peter Henein is a lawyer with the law firm Waddell Phillips Professional Corporation. Her tactics kept Michael Bryant out of jail. The rock star criminal defence lawyer captivated the audience at Moses Znaimer's ideacity Wednesday the way she captivates and convinces judges, . In an old snapshot, she is standing on the familys apartment balcony at the age of four, dressed up by him in her mothers black lace cocktail gown, curls framing a grave cherubic face that he loved to paint with lipstick and eyeshadow. She dressed in an eccentric punky way that made it clear she was not like other students, he recalls. Apologies to Breese Davies, whose name was misspelled in the original publication of this story. My best friend has practiced environmental law her entire life. In social gatherings across the city, I hear the same question: how could a feminist take on Jian Ghomeshi as a client? Todays Dialogue is part two of The Hubs conversation with Marie Henein, a prominent criminal defence lawyer and author of a new memoir, Nothing but the Truth. It is pandering to just one segment of the population who will get you re-elected in your next term and ignores those who are not on Twitter; ignores those who are prepared to be engaged; ignores those who are thoughtful about a lot of issues. Marie Henein Marie Henein 89 received the 2013 Laura Legge Award from the Law Society of Upper Canada in recognition ." Publication date: 2014. When Marie was four years old, her family settled in Toronto. She started working and learning under Edward Greenspan. I mean, thats fine. Its a view that the public is stupid, and that if you dont talk to them and engage with them, that if you try to convince them of your view about what is good for the country that they will not be receptive to it, that they cant understand. Poster Girl. He originally consulted Brian Heller, a highly respected but lower-profile member of the criminal bar, as well as Neil Rabinovitch, a civil litigation specialist at Dentons Canada, the global giant behind Ghomeshis widely criticized and short-lived lawsuit against the CBC. [2] She is a partner of Henein Hutchison LLP, a law firm in Toronto. Two years ago, when the Law Society honoured her with its annual Laura Legge Award, recognizing a woman who has exemplified leadership within the profession, she took to the stage to question all the hand-wringing. My uncle was my stylist, she says. Crown attorney Michael Callaghan announces he is dropping two of the seven sexual assault charges, which, he admits, had no reasonable prospect of conviction. Five months following her son's death, on Dec. 29, 2020, Presley sold the home for $2 million. If I dress this way, its because it amuses me, she shrugs. [4], Henein has developed a reputation in Toronto as one of the most "respected and feared criminal lawyers in the country. Like Greenspan, she sees her role as not to judge the guilt or innocence of the accused, but to ensure that legal truth prevails. I would alienate men., It was one of the few times in her life when she was warned to tone down her behavioura message she has adamantly refused to heed. Browse 103 marie henein stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. I thought: Were not the United Appeal; were lawyers! . In this new zeitgeist, there seems to be a distinct unease about the notion of a whip-smart woman defending a man charged with sexual violence. If two men arent of the same mind on an issue, youre not viewed as a person who betrayed their gender, youre viewed as people who disagree., She does not think the system needs to be tweaked in response to sexual assault cases. Thats all I heard: Theres nothing a man can do that you cant. , Her mother found a job in a bank while her father toiled 12 hours a day, seven days a week at the succession of pharmacies he owned, but Henein was far from alone. Henein started working with Marc Rosenberg who was the partner of her earlier boss Edward Greenspan. The woman known for her strategic savvy had no office, no clients and no savings; when she did find loft space on King Street West, she had to borrow the first and last months rent from her parents. Toronto Life is a registered trademark of Toronto Life Publishing Company Limited. The Canadian lawyer Marie Henein has an average height and possesses an appealing personality. Jan. 13, 2023. That shift raises the stakes for her as she faces what could be the courtroom performance of her career. For Henein, the timing was not exactly propitious. Michael Bryant recalls Henein pausing in mid-conference whenever one of her boys called, instantly transformed from merciless inquisitor to solicitous major domo solving a domestic crisis. I would have quit this trial a long time ago if I was listening and waiting for peoples approval, she responded. degree in the year 1991 and entered the bar in 1992. Theyre disinviting me because they dont like my job. But the wide-ranging, 20-minute interview revealed a lot about her views of the criminal courts, feminism and the social media haters. I wont be bullied no matter how many lawyers the government brings to court. Still, even some of her closest friends admit blanching at her penchant for serving up the unvarnished truth, whether about a flawed factum or an unfortunate haircut. In 1966, as Nassers aggressive pan-Arabism unnerved many Maronites in Egypts Christian minority, Henein packed up his wife, Evelyn, and their eight-month-old daughter for Vancouvera first stop in Canada that was a shock for a couple who had only a nodding acquaintance with rain. She's smart and ruthless (awestruck admirers. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. Like Ghomeshi, he had already been convicted in the media even before his trial opened in Napanee. By Sarah Boesveld degree in 1991. For pursuing higher education in the law, she enrolled at the Columbia Law School to complete her Master of Laws degree. Ghomeshi trial: Everything wrong with sexual assault law That success is all the more remarkable in a branch of the bar where, historically, women have not been welcomed by either their colleagues or their clients. The former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi was charged with sexual assault. Mansbridge later read out three critical social media comments as the camera zoomed in on her face. "The Jian Ghomeshi Case: A System on Trial". In religion class, where most students chose heartwarming essay topics, Henein argued the merits of abortion and premarital sex. She was 54. The Supreme Court of Canada denied Regan's appeal, but he was ultimately acquitted of all charges. Today's Dialogue is part two of The Hub's conversation with Marie Henein, a prominent criminal defence lawyer and author of a new memoir, Nothing but the Truth. We arent triggered constantly; we arent falling or passing out every time someone says something that we dont agree with. She said, Just do the work, Greenwood recalls. Being with the firm, Marie has fought numerous criminal cases and has been able to make her established as one of the most reputed, respected and fearless lawyers in the city. Youve got to do that in a way that doesnt make you look like a bully or an ogre, points out Osgoode Hall professor Alan Young. Either her new evidence would convince Peck the case was unwinnable and he would drop the charges, or he would proceed to trial anyway, having seen her trump card. What do you think of the state of Canadian institutions in 2021 given that weve had legislatures sit infrequently, our courts have experienced significant delays, Charter rights have arguably been undermined, and, as you know through your work, the Canadian military is in great disarray? Within a year, the Heneins headed back to the Middle East, this time to Lebanon. While some lawyers shrug off their defeats, Henein has been known to chew on hers for years, stubbornly plotting appeals. Suddenly, the door to Courtroom 506 opens and the media contingent rushes inside to fill its scant half-dozen rows. She is a partner of Henein Hutchison LLP, a law firm in Toronto. She has also been serving in the Canadian Criminal Cases as its Associate Editor. Until she hired Matthew Gourlay, all her associates had been female, and, without exception, they praise her as a mentor and hard-driving mother hen. What really worries her is people like federal NDP leader and lawyer Thomas Mulcair hopping on this bandwagon with little regard for the evidence presented in the case. It doesnt hurt to be a woman., Still, Ghomeshi had not yet retained Henein on the night of the Criminal Lawyers Association gala last October, when she took to the stage of the Ritz-Carlton with a one-liner that lit up the Twittersphere. The perception of lawyers is that theyre hustlers, pulling the wool over peoples eyes, she says, but thats not good advocacy., While most criminal lawyers specialize in either trial or appeals, Henein is now equally adept at both, and colleagues have watched in disbelief as she addresses the Court of Appeal with a brashness few would dare. The job that Im doing is part of the justice system. Often, it has very little to do with your merit and it has to do with other objectives. [4], Henein attended Osgoode Hall Law School, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) She is survived by three daughters. On June 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a knee during the Black Lives Matter demonstration on Parliament Hill. She polished it off in record timean early demonstration of her skill at synthesizing vast quantities of complex material. "[11][12], In November 2014, former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi hired Henein to defend him. I am not conflicted about being a strong feminist and what I do in court, she bristles. Walker's son was sent back to Canada shortly after his mother's arrest, and Walker was scheduled to be sent back to Canada on Wednesday after waiving a formal extradition process . All rights reserved. I think people think that an accused person has all the rights and theyre in control. If youre bellowing at someone, thats bush-league stuff. Poised amid her team in a killer black sheath by Victoria Beckham, Henein stares into the camera with insouciant defiance, the incarnation of her calculated corporate image: hip, upscale and fearless. Very angry at the limited options for her., From her earliest years, her mother impressed on her the imperative of defying gender expectations. Justice was absolutely served in this case, she said, and justice does not mean getting the result that you want it means getting a fair trial. The court acquitted Ghomeshi stating that there were no sufficient proofs to verify his crime. Who do you think is standing there? What did it feel like personally? We are unable to identify her social media profile and seems like Marie doesnt have spare time to be there. Today's Hub Dialogue is with Marie Henein who has been called "Canada's most famous defence lawyer" for her success in a number of high-profile cases over her distinguished career. Lets come back to my first question about your career choices, and the path that they put you on. In one video, released for Christmas 2012, she stomped through the office on a mock rampage, knocking over eggnog and Christmas trees to Youre a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. When it went viral, she topped it the following year with a hilarious takeoff on the movie American Hustle, prancing in 70s bell-bottoms and a blonde Farrah Fawcett wig as her associates shouted raunchy taunts. Toronto criminal defence attorney Marie Henein has broken her silence about the highest profile case of her 25-year career the trial of former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi. "The message is clearly that any right-thinking woman should understand her inherent, natural deficiencies and immediately set off on a lifelong journey of self-discovery and inevitable self-improvement, and probably forgo external things such as the world, life, and work." Marie Henein, Nothing But the Truth Lisa Marie Presley, Daughter of Elvis Presley, Dies at 54. Some of your appearances on university campuses have, at times, caused controversies. To make her dreams come true, she went to Osgoode Hall Law School and completed her Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) We dont want that., Related:Exclusive: Lucy DeCoutere on the Ghomeshi disaster, Shehas an unwavering belief in the Canadianjustice system. She had just lopped off her shoulder-length locks in a punk cut, and he went ballistic. Ghomeshi was acquitted of all charges, on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt.[16][17]. In some of the commentary on the Ghomeshi case, it seems as if Henein too is on trial. She looks awesome in her black dress and short black colored hair. 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