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We are proud to announce that our colleague and partner, Cheryl Siran, has been appointed as Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario. This prestigious appointment is a testament to her exceptional commitment to the practice of law, unwavering integrity, and dedication to public service.

Throughout her career at Hook, Seller & Lundin LLP, Cheryl has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism and legal excellence. She has contributed not only to the success of our firm but also to the broader legal community through mentorship, leadership, and advocacy.

While we will miss Cheryl’s daily presence and guidance at the firm, we take great pride in seeing her take on this vital role within the judiciary. We have no doubt that her fairness, intellect, and compassion will continue to serve justice and our community well.

As a result of this appointment, Cheryl is no longer permitted to provide legal advice or services. We are currently working with her existing clients to ensure a smooth transition of their matters, whether within our firm or through trusted external referrals.

Please join us in congratulating Cheryl on this remarkable achievement and wishing her every success in this new chapter of her distinguished career.

Hook, Seller & Lundin LLP is pleased to announce that the Law Society of Ontario has selected founding partner, W. Randall F. Seller, as a recipient of the Law Society Medal for 2023.

The Law Society Medal recognizes outstanding career achievements and contributions to their communities by members of Ontario’s legal profession.

Called to the Bar in 1977, Randy Seller has been practising law in Kenora for 45 years with an unwavering passion and commitment. He is a front-line practitioner and known to be the “go-to” lawyer amongst both his colleagues and citizens of the community.

Mr. Seller is committed to the education and mentoring of the next generation of lawyers, always leading by example and demonstrating leadership, professionalism, excellence and integrity. He has mentored and educated a generation of lawyers on complex areas of property development and transactional matters, all while ensuring an understanding of client-centered services is the ultimate goal.

Despite a demanding practice, for 45 years he has consistently devoted time, creativity and expertise to improve the lives of those in his community through his roles as legal counsel, part-time Crown Attorney and 20+ years as a Small Claims Court Deputy Judge, and also through his extensive personal volunteerism.

He has provided leadership as past president of the local Rotary, Curling and Golf Clubs, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation. His selfless charitable works and influence have grown the community in countless positive ways.

Congratulations Mr. Seller on this well deserved recognition.

HSL is pleased to welcome Ian Del Bigio to the firm as an associate upon his call to the Ontario Bar July 2022. Ian will be assisting clients in family and civil litigation, as well as landlord and tenant matters and criminal law.

Ian can be reached at idelbigio@www.hsllaw.ca

Hook, Seller & Lundin LLP is pleased to announce its donation of $1,500.00 in support for the Rotary Peace Park initiative.

We applaud all the individuals and businesses that have come together to support this community driven initiative. We are pleased to support this project as an opportunity to strengthen the reconciliation efforts between Kenora and local First Nations, as well as to acknowledge Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirit People through the memorial monument.

A link to the recent article via Kenora Online can be found here https://www.kenoraonline.com/articles/rotary-peace-park-500000-from-reaching-goal

Hook, Seller & Lundin LLP is pleased to introduce its newest articling student, Ian Del Bigio. Originally from Manitoba, Ian spent a number of years during his youth performing with the Manitoba Theatre Centre and even toured with prominent entertainers from across Canada. Following this passion for the dramatic arts, he studied English literature at the University of Lethbridge and worked in film and television in Vancouver prior to turning his attention to legal studies.

This background in narrative, and an enthusiasm for social justice, is what propelled Ian to study law at Bond University in Australia. He sought out the school because of their impressive mooting record and made his own contribution to that legacy when he was recruited for Bond’s 2020 International Criminal Court Moot team. Despite not being able to argue their case in the Hague due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the team placed 13th overall and received an award for best runner-up for their defence submissions.

After many years abroad, Ian is overjoyed to be back in Canada, particularly to Kenora in the lake country that he grew up in. He is keen to bring his passion for social justice to serve the Kenora community.

Ian can be reached at 833-447-5529 or idelbigio@www.hsllaw.ca

HSL is currently upgrading to a new digital telephone system. Please note that the 807-468-9831 remains live until December 31, 2020. We appreciate your patience during this transition and if you have any difficulties reaching us, please let us know!

Congratulations are in order for Laura Wheatley, who successful completed her articles and was called to the bar June 2020! Unfortunately, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 Call to the Bar Ceremony was cancelled, however HSL got into their robes, and had a private ceremony on the rooftop to celebrate her achievement. We are so excited to confirm that Laura is now an associate of the firm, and can be reached at lwheatley@HSLlaw.ca or by calling the office. Well done, Laura!

Effective January 1, 2020, we are pleased to announce that Kim Mejia has been invited to join the partnership at Hook, Seller & Lundin, LLP. Kim has been with the firm since 2014 and her years of service have made significant contributions to the firm and its clients. Kim has been working closely with Randy Seller in all aspects of property development, as well as asset and purchase transactions and advice. Her practice also includes general corporate/commercial work, residential and cottage real estate, wills and estates.

We are excited to welcome Kim as the firm’s newest partner and look forward to her continued commitment to providing our clients with quality legal representation.

Kim can be reached at KMejia@HSLlaw.ca or 807-468-9831.

Anyone who has lived in Northwestern Ontario will understand the uniqueness of the environment and demography here in comparison to the rest of the province, let alone the country. Growing up in Kenora, I have been exposed to many of the diverse issues faced by the population here and attending a law school that emphasized a focus on many of these issues seemed to make the most sense.

Attending a law school that catered to the unique characteristics and needs of Northwestern Ontario was important to me. Growing up in this region, it was always evident that there was an array of distinct issues; however, it became even clearer during my time away from Northern Ontario. It was then that I realized just how unique the area was in terms of its issues, population and environment – and this is what drove me to choose the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law for my legal education.

This law school has three specific mandates: Aboriginal and Indigenous law, Natural Resource and Environmental law and Small Practice. It is a law school that is committed to not only bringing more lawyers to the North but also to inspiring them to lead the way in providing the best access to justice possible to these rural and remote communities. As a law student from Northwestern Ontario, I could not be happier with this unique, specific yet diverse legal education.

The curriculum is catered to Northwestern Ontario, by not only offering a mandatory full year Aboriginal Law course but also by incorporating Anishinaabe and Métis legal teachings – through both a first year mandatory course, and a requirement in which students have the opportunity to participate in Indigenous events and traditions. This focus is one that is unique to this law school, and being given the opportunity to learn not only how the current legal system is affecting the Indigenous population, but to also learn Indigenous legal teachings themselves.

Finally, the unique curriculum effectively prepares students for practice in small, rural communities by integrating practical assignments into each course and by incorporating a four-month practice placement at the end of the degree; allowing us students the opportunity to understand the distinct challenges and realities of small town practice in Northern Ontario, from the earliest point possible.

I could not be happier with my decision to pursue my law degree in Northern Ontario, it is a unique law school, that is catered to the environment and the demographic of the North and it provides an exclusive perspective that will shape how I advocate in this area for years to come.