In this episode of Friends Who Argue, moderator Dominique Hussey reunites panelists Atrisha Lewis, Breanna Needham and Erin Durant who originally spoke at The Advocates’ Society 2019 Fall Convention panel on “Connecting to Achieve Change”. 

The panel discusses: 

• how connecting with their communities has impacted their lives – professionally and personally – since the 2019 panel; 
• the practices they implement to connect authentically with others; 
• practical tips for advocates interested in new ways of connecting; and
• trends in social media use in the legal profession. 

Dominique Hussey is Vice-Chair & Toronto Managing Partner at Bennett Jones, as well as Treasurer of The Advocates’ Society.  Dominique also leads the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation group and is co-head of its Innovation, Technology and Branding group.  

Atrisha Lewis is a Partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Litigation Group in Toronto. Her litigation practice focuses on commercial disputes, professional liability litigation, and product liability matters. Atrisha represents clients in the financial services and technology sectors and has argued before all levels of Court. In 2019, Atrisha was elected as a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario. 

Breanna Needham is an associate at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP in Toronto. She has a commercial litigation practice with a focus on civil fraud matters. Her practice often involves injunctions and extraordinary remedies, including obtaining Anton Piller (civil search), Mareva (asset freezing), and Norwich Pharmacal (third party disclosure) orders. 

Erin Durant founded Durant Barristers in Ottawa after practicing as a partner at a major Canadian law firm. Erin's practice includes personal injury/insurance matters, defending professionals in negligence claims and disciplinary complaints. A former competitive athlete and NCCP certified coach, Erin has a particular interest in sports disputes and administration.  She is the author of “It Burned Me All Down” a book on burnout and mental illness in Big Law and how to better support a high-performing workplace.  

Land Acknowledgement
The Advocates’ Society acknowledges that our offices, located in Toronto, are on the customary and traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinabek, the Huron-Wendat and now home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.  We acknowledge current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit and honour their long history of welcoming many nations to this territory.

While The Advocates’ Society is based in Toronto, we are a national organization with Directors and members located across Canada in the treaty and traditional territories of many Indigenous Peoples. We encourage our members to reflect upon their relationships with the Indigenous Peoples in these territories, and the history of the land on which they live and work.

We acknowledge the devastating impacts of colonization, including the history of residential schools, for many Indigenous peoples, families, and communities and commit to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in an informed legal profession in Canada and within The Advocates’ Society.