Peter Sankoff
Founder & CEO
Peter Sankoff is a Professor at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law and Lead Counsel at Sankoff Criminal Law. In his latter role, he mostly conducts appeals and complex trial litigation. Peter has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions and conducts appeals across the country, mostly in Alberta, but also before the Court of Appeal in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. Peter has authored 13 books, including leading Canadian texts on the law of evidence (The Law of Witnesses and Evidence in Canada), criminal law (Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Criminal Defences.) and animals and the law (Canadian Perspectives on Animals and the Law; Professor Sankoff’s Guide to Canadian Animal Protection Law). He has published academic articles on all of these subjects in a number of the world’s most distinguished journals. His most recent book is Top Criminal Cases of 2024.
Gesa Sankoff
Director of Operations
Gesa Sankoff is the Director of Operations of the ever growing Criminal Defence Essentials. With a background in education and a M.A. in English and German Literature and Language Learning Studies, Gesa was thrilled to support Peter in building what has become Criminal Defence Essentials and is responsible for the coordination of subscriptions, seminars, the design and distribution of our materials and is also in charge of our website. You can contact Gesa at professorsankoffseminars@gmail.com.
Félix-Antoine Doyon
Director of Québec Operations
Félix-Antoine T. Doyon is a Québec criminal defence lawyer. With over a decade of legal writing in collaboration with the Québec Centre d’accès à l’information juridique (CAIJ), Félix is the perfect choice as Director of Québec Operations for Criminal Defence Essentials. He plays a key role in shaping CDE’s Québec content and strategy. Félix regularly litigates complex criminal matters at trial and on appeal, including before the Québec Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, ensuring that CDE’s resources reflect both practical expertise and principled advocacy.
Lisa Feldstein
Director of AI Innovation
Lisa Feldstein is an Ontario-based lawyer and a recognized leader in legal technology and innovation. She operates a tech-forward solo practice focused on health, mental health, and reproductive law, using automation and digital tools to deliver efficient, client-centred services. As Director of the AI Innovation, Lisa brings deep expertise in the ethical and practical integration of emerging technologies, helping guide the development of responsible AI-driven tools and educational resources for criminal defence lawyers.
Zach Beers
Research Assistant/ Editor of The Beacon
Zach Beers is a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa. He was introduced to Criminal Defense work in Northeastern Ontario with the law offices of Maisonneuve Dawkins and has a passion for creating just outcomes in the criminal justice system. Prior to law school, Zach completed Political Science and Philosophy degrees at York University and had a 10-year marketing career based in Vancouver. When not researching or writing, Zach can be found enjoying the great outdoors with his young family.
Emma Swaffer
Research Assistant
Emma Swaffer is a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa with a strong interest in criminal defence. She previously worked as a courtroom clerk and registrar in the Ontario Provincial Courts, gaining valuable insight into courtroom procedure and the justice system. Before entering law school, Emma earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Law & Business from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she also worked in a clinical role with Miller Thomson LLP, assisting business start-ups.
Brendon Black
Developer & AI Specialist
Brendon Black is a Developer who specializes in full-stack web and mobile development. He has developed AI software applications that integrate and sync on both website and mobile for the same platform simultaneously. Earning a Business Administration diploma at NAIT and a Bachelor of Commerce at Grant MacEwan University, Brendon has gained an ample amount of knowledge around business, law, and technology through school and other experiences that he’s ready to apply.
Guest Contributors
Criminal Defence Essentials is growing! In an effort to provide you with the most cutting-edge legal analysis, we’re proud to add some of Canada’s leading criminal law experts as guest contributors to The Beacon. Their insights will help spark discourse and provide valuable perspectives to our subscribers. At CDE, we’re committed to constantly improving, all with the goal of delivering a stronger, more impactful product that is the very best resource for defence lawyers and those interested in Canadian criminal law.
Steven Penney
Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, AB
Steven Penney is a guest contributor for CDE and provides his expert opinion in seminars, Case Alerts and The Beacon. Steven is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, and Professor in Residence at Sankoff Criminal Law and assists our lawyers with research and consultation on matters involving criminal procedure, his particular speciality, including all questions surrounding confessions, searches, arrests, detentions and more.
Michelle Biddulph
Greenspan, Humphrey, Makepeace LLP, Toronto, On
Michelle represents clients charged with criminal and quasi-criminal offences, as well as professional discipline matters. Her practice includes both trials and appeals, with a particular focus on appellate advocacy. She has appeared before trial and appellate courts across Canada, and has argued multiple cases on behalf of parties and interveners in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Thomas Hynes
Pfefferle Law, Saskatoon, SK
Thomas works exclusively in criminal defence, with a particular emphasis on criminal appeals. He regularly appears in court on appeals from conviction, sentence, or in response to Crown appeals. He has argued numerous appeals in the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Thomas also maintains a trial practice, where he runs trials, preliminary inquiries, bail hearings, and sentencing hearings.
Félix-Antoine Doyon
Doyon Avocats, Quebec City, QC
Me Félix-Antoine T. Doyon is a criminal defence lawyer in Québec and a contributor to CDE. He holds a master’s degree in Humanitarian Law and International Security from the University of Ottawa. Since 2012, he has been publishing a legal blog in collaboration with the Québec Centre d’accès à l’information juridique (CAIJ). He regularly pleads cases at trial and before the Québec Court of Appeal, and has also appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada as lead counsel.
Kyla Lee
Acumen Law, Vancouver, BC
Kyla Lee is a prominent criminal defence lawyer and impaired driving lawyer in Vancouver BC. She is highly regarded in the realm of impaired driving thanks to her unparalleled string of successes in courts and tribunals. Kyla is renowned for her knowledge of the Immediate Roadside Prohibitions. She has appeared as counsel in all levels of Court in BC and as lead counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Rebecca McConchie
McConchie Criminal Law, Vancouver, BC
Rebecca is a criminal lawyer and sole practitioner in Vancouver, BC. She has a busy trial practice, representing clients before judges and juries on charges ranging from mischief to murder. Rebecca has particular experience in sexual offence proceedings and complex Charter litigation. She also acts for clients on appeal, in prison law matters, and in quasi-criminal regulatory cases.
Danielle Boisvert
Criminal Law, Edmonton, AB
Danielle Boisvert is an experienced criminal defence lawyer, born and raised in Edmonton, AB. In 2023, she was the recipient of the inaugural Criminal Trial Lawyer Association Mary Moreau Award in recognition of her significant contribution to the enrichment of Civil Liberties and the advancement of women in the practice of Criminal Defence. Danielle has over 15 years of experience helping clients and has handled all types of criminal offences.
Not to forget...
Chili Gonzales
OFFICE DOG AND MASCOT
Incredibly passionate about criminal law, animal protection, and any snacks that make their way to the floor, becoming a law-dog was Chili’s life-long dream. After receiving his Bachelor of Barking with distinction, Chili went on to receive his Juris-Dogtorate with flying frisbees. The first dog to compete at the Gale Cup moot, Chili barked his way to first place, receiving an oralist prize for his ability to command the room.
Chili knows about the importance of keeping track of his CPD hours (luckily, all our seminars are accredited for CPD credit with every Canadian Law Society (pending approval in Quebec) and is also a keen proof reader of the The Beacon.
Chili divides his time between Professor Sankoff Criminal Defence Essentials and Sankoff Criminal Law.