OBA Council Member Responsibilities
Council members serve as ambassadors and liaisons for the OBA, communicating with constituents, identifying regional issues, and advising the Board. Their key responsibilities include:
- Advocacy & Representation: Raise regional and professional issues that would benefit from OBA advocacy, judicial system improvements, and professional development needs.
- Board Elections: Annually elect the Board of Directors.
- Meetings & Communication: Attend four Council meetings per year, submit agenda items, review materials, and share updates with members.
- Engagement & Outreach: Regularly communicate via email/social media, participate in regional calls, organize local meetings, and promote OBA membership.
Council members ensure the OBA remains active and engaged within their regions, fostering meaningful connections and opportunities.
Adeboyin Anthonia Adeniran
Biography
Adeboyin is an Osgoode Hall Law School LLM student and internationally trained lawyer, who excels in legal, governance, risk management, and compliance. She upholds integrity, ethical standards, and adept problem-solving abilities. Adeboyin’s passion extends beyond her legal expertise to encompass technology trends and diverse perspectives. Her strong analytical skills foster collaboration, adapt readily, and develop skills for a digital world.
Brent Arnold
Biography
Brent J. Arnold is a partner practising in Gowling WLG's Advocacy department, specializing in cyber security and commercial litigation, and has appeared at all levels of court in Canada including the Supreme Court of Canada. He acts as data breach coach and counsel for clients. Brent chairs the Cyber Security, Data Privacy and Technology Committee of the invitation-only International Association of Defense Counsel, and is vice-chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Privacy and Access Section. He is a past chair of both the Ontario Bar Association’s Privacy and Access to Information Law Committee, and the Steering Committee for the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy section of the U.S.-based Defence Research Institute (DRI). He currently serves on the Ontario Bar Association Council. He is a Director of the Canadian chapter of the Internet Society, a global organization devoted to improving the affordability, accessibility, fairness and security of the internet, and hosts its Net Positive podcast. He is also a member of The Advocates’ Society’s Artificial Intelligence & Automated Decision Making Task Force, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Canadian Cybersecurity Network. Brent served as a member of the court-appointed joint E-Hearings Task Force and co-authored both editions of the Task Force’s Best Practices for Remote Hearings. In 2019, he co-authored the Canada chapter of Chambers Global Practice Guide: Data Protection & Cybersecurity, 2nd ed. In 2022, he co-authored the Canada chapter of the Chambers Fintech 2022: Trends and Developments report. In 2024 he co-authored the whitepapers Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice: Benefits, Considerations, and Best Practices and Data Mining, Algorithms, and Deepfakes Combatting Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation in 2024 Elections and Beyond for the DRI’s Center for Law and Public Policy.
Sakina Babwani
Biography
I’m a strategic litigator with extensive courtroom experience. I have represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal as well as before the Information and Privacy Commissioner. I have also represented clients in mediations and have negotiated several complex settlements. I have a wide range of experience, having acted as sole counsel to clients in a range of commercial litigation matters as well as have been part of litigation teams, defending clients in multi-jurisdictional product liability and antitrust class actions across a range of industries. I am now litigation counsel with the Ontario Securities Commission’s Enforcement Branch. As part of the Enforcement Regulatory Action Team, my role is to support investigations, review matters regarding potential breaches of the Securities Act and Commodity Futures Act, provide litigation advice and conduct enforcement proceedings. In addition to my litigation practice, I am actively involved with the Ontario Bar Association where I represent the Toronto region on the OBA Council. Previously, I also sat on the OBA’s Policy and Public Affairs Committee. Prior to becoming a lawyer, I was a business journalist with India’s largest financial daily, The Economic Times. I have authored over 150 articles with a focus on law and finance. I’m called to the Bar of Ontario and to the Bar of India, and I hold an LL.M. degree with specialization in business law from UC Berkeley School of Law.
Kathryn Balter
Biography
Kathryn is currently a partner at Fogler, Rubinoff LLP practicing in the areas of wills and estates. Kathryn has extensive experience in estate planning and estate administration. She drafts wills, powers of attorney and trusts for individuals with various financial and personal circumstances. Kathryn has contributed to several professional publications and has had her work published in the Trusts and Estates Section Newsletter. Kathryn is a recurring member of the Trusts and Estates Section Executive of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), currently the Chair, and a member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP). She received her Juris Doctor at the University of British Columbia and was called to the Ontario bar in 2012.
Alex Battick
Biography
Alex Battick is a lawyer practicing in areas such as human rights, professional regulation, and education law. He provides advice on diverse issues that affect schools from kindergarten to higher education. Alex uniquely focuses on improving outcomes for students, families, and administrations in Ontario through the effective and thoughtful implementation of education law. In doing so, Alex seeks to not only help resolve specific cases and situations but also act as a catalyst to improve the functioning of the systems we engage.
