HICKS ADAMS - Key Persons
Christopher Hicks, along with Michael Block and Colin Adams, is one of the founding partners of the criminal law firm Hicks Adams. He has been practicing criminal law for more than 2 and a half decades, with a special interest, and extensive experience, in jury trials and appeals. In the course of his career, Christopher Hicks has been involved in scores of jury trials involving the most serious crimes in The Criminal Code, has argued appeals of both conviction and sentence in the court of appeal on a regular basis, and has represented clients in the Supreme Court of Canada more than a dozen times.
Partner, Christopher Hicks, says Nathaniel Veltman has filed an "inmate notice of appeal", which must be submitted within 30 days of sentencing to begin the appeal process.
Partner Christopher Hicks addresses judge's ruling that Nathaniel Veltman's actions constituted terrorism under Canadian law
Partner Christopher Hicks addresses the aftermath of Nathaniel Veltman's trial, challenging terrorism claims and justifying the need for a fair and equitable examination of the case
Iris graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law JD program in 2022. During law school, Iris worked and volunteered in the community legal clinic system and led community development and access to justice projects, including a 2021 public legal education project on criminal law for clinic workers and youth in the community. She also served as a student caseworker in the Criminal Law Division at Downtown Legal Services for three semesters. After law school, Iris articled at Hicks Adams where she gained experience representing clients in the Ontario Court of Justice and Provincial Offences Courts and worked with senior counsel on trial and appeal files at the Superior Court and Court of Appeals. Iris is an associate in the Appeals Division at Hicks Adams and is particularly interested in issues relating to access to justice, arbitrary detention, and the intersection of criminal law and administrative law.
Natasha Ramkissoon is an associate lawyer at Hicks Adams, with a practice focused on criminal trials. She assists clients charged with all types of criminal charges from the bail phase all the way through to resolution.
Natasha was one of the firm's articling students who then returned as an associate lawyer after her Call to the Bar of Ontario. Natasha received her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School where she volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada and at the Community Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) in the Criminal Law Division. She went on to participate in the Criminal Law Intensive Program, completing a placement at the Crown Law Office Criminal.
Prior to law school, Natasha completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto while working for the John Howard Society of Toronto, where she has had experience helping accused persons navigate the criminal justice system since 2015.
Natasha is very passionate about defending all of her clients to the best of her abilities, especially those that belong to marginalized and vulnerable communities, to get them the best results possible.
Renae Facey, an alumna of the University of Limerick's Faculty of Law, is one of our firm's articling students for the 2023/2024 term. During her time at the University of Limerick, Faculty of Law, Renae was actively engaged within the Criminal Law Society. Within this role, she acted as a mentor for the peer mentorship program and took part in a series of workshops focused on criminal law. These activities were designed to bolster her practical and theoretical knowledge in the field. At Hicks Adams, Renae will be participating in the articling student program, allowing her to delve into various practice areas in Criminal Law. This experience aims to further develop the oral and written advocacy skills she honed during her time in law school, ensuring she can adeptly represent our firm's clients.
Before entering law school, Renae laid the groundwork for her legal career by completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts at York University, achieving Cum Laude status. Her double major in Psychology and Law & Society served to cultivate her interest in the legal field. During her time at York University, Renae also managed to balance her double major studies while actively participating in a range of extracurricular activities, adding an extra layer of challenge to her academic journey.
Stephen Whitzman was called to the Bar in 1978. He has tried virtually every criminal offence, from Vagrancy to Murder, including offences (such as Rape) since repealed, and has appeared in every court from Provincial Offences Court to the Supreme Court of Canada - again, including courts (such as the County Court) no longer in existence. He has also appeared in the Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench and the Alberta Provincial Court.
From 2014-24, he was senior counsel at Daley, Byers and conducted almost all of their Superior Court trials as well as many trials in the Court of Justice. In addition, he also appeared occasionally before administrative tribunals. At Hicks Adams, his practice will be devoted almost exclusively to appeals. He has been counsel of record in 150 reported decisions.
Stephen has a Master of Laws degree as well as a B.A. and an LL.B., both law degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School. In 1990 he was certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Criminal Litigation, and was a member of its Certification panel. He was recertified as a Specialist in Criminal Law in 2019, and that certification has been renewed annually since then.
He has been Chair of the Criminal Justice Section Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ont.) and a Member at Large of the Criminal Justice Section of the Ontario Bar Association. He has taught Advocacy at the Bar Admission Course and Business Law at Seneca and Humber Colleges. He has published learned articles in the Criminal Law Quarterly and in Criminal Reports and was co-editor of Critical Concepts of Canadian Business Law, 3 rd ed. His article on the co-conspirators' exception to the hearsay rule was cited by the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also written for the legal press.
Stephen has been interviewed in the press and on television, and has been featured in the legal press for cases he has argued. He recently spoke to an upper year class of journalism students at Carleton University regarding an important case he was arguing before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Criminal Law Association
Tamaira Davidson is an associate at Hicks Adams. She joined the firm in 2019. Her current practice focuses on criminal litigation. She has been before the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. She has conducted several jury trials and has argued numerous Charter applications. She has had successful results in complex and high-profile cases. She has represented clients on charges ranging from Mischief to Murder. Tamaira is passionate about helping marginalized groups navigate the intricacies of the criminal justice system.
Tamaira is a proud member of the Criminal Law Association, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and Woman in Canadian Criminal Defence.
Usman Farhat, a dynamic articling student at Hicks Adams, is known for his diverse background and passionate approach to law. Graduating from the University of Karachi with a Bachelor's degree in Law, Usman's journey spans across various cultures and legal systems, reflecting his curiosity and adaptability. With this unique perspective, he is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of Ontario's legal landscape. At Hicks Adams, Usman is focused on expanding his legal expertise, particularly in criminal defence, where he is keen on advocating for the rights of the firm's clients within the Ontario court system.
His goal is to advocate for the rights of his clients within the criminal defence system. With his dedication to justice and legal acumen, Usman is a valuable asset to the Hicks Adams team and is poised to make a significant impact in the legal field.