JESSYCA GREENWOOD
PRINCIPAL LAWYER
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
University of Windsor
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Wilfrid Laurier University
Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Advocates' Society Member
Canadian / Ontario Bar Association Member
Criminal Lawyers Association
Meet
our Team
Jessyca has been fiercely guiding and defending clients facing allegations of wrongdoing for more than a decade. Applying her extensive knowledge in criminal defence, she has litigated hundreds of trials and worked with individuals in crisis to offer trusted counsel and advice. Jessyca has appeared before all levels of Court in Ontario and frequently as amicus curiae to assist persons without Counsel as a friend of the Court.
Jessyca has defined her career by a firm commitment to accessible justice and advocacy for vulnerable individuals. After exposure to the justice system, addictions, mental health issues and loss, she quickly learned that without an advocate by people’s side, they were left defenceless. Jessyca has earned standing as a powerful defender of her clients and strongly believes in a presumption of innocence and the client's right to have their voice heard.
After completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, Jessyca received her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Windsor. During her years of study, Jessyca committed herself to learning advocacy skills by volunteering at the community legal clinic where she represented clients in criminal, provincial offences, and before tribunals. She used this time as an opportunity to learn the skills that would help her to advocate for and assist clients with life changing legal issues.
Following her articling at a boutique criminal law firm, Jessyca started her own firm, Greenwood Defence. With advocacy at the forefront of her objective, she began Greenwood Defence with intent to broaden the role of a typical criminal law firm. Greenwood Defence places importance on assisting individuals with complex needs like addiction, mental health, trauma, disabilities, and concurrent disorders, going above and beyond to connect individuals with appropriate programming for their needs. At Greenwood Defence, Jessyca has worked on a wide range of criminal, provincial offences, professional discipline, and regulatory matters with an emphasis on representing clients with complex needs.
Jessyca is the former Women’s Director of the Criminal Lawyers Association of Ontario and currently sits on a number of CLA committees, including the Media, Gladue, and Mental Disorder Committee. She’s a member of The Panel Standards Committee with Legal Aid Ontario, and sits on the Criminal Law Advisory Committee where she provides input on key issues faced by criminal clients.
Jessyca is an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School where she teaches a course focused on working with vulnerable clients. She is also faculty to Osgoode's CPD Certificate Program in Provincial Offences.
LEAH SHAFRAN
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
University of Windsor
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of Detroit Mercy
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of Western Ontario
Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
York Regional Law Association
Leah has dedicated her career to providing a strong legal defence for clients facing criminal charges. Leah is a tenacious advocate for her clients and appears regularly before the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice. She has appeared before various administrative tribunals including the Ontario Review Board, the Consent and Capacity Board, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the National Parole Board, and the Ontario Parole Board.
Leah earned law degrees from both the University of Windsor (Canada) and the University of Detroit Mercy (USA). During law school, Leah gained experience at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in Detroit, Michigan where she assisted prosecutors on sexual assault jury trials. Prior to receiving her Juris Doctor degrees, Leah obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Leah has been working at Greenwood Defence since 2014, where she developed a passion for mental health advocacy. She is experienced with the issue of Fitness to Stand Trial and the defence of Not Criminally Responsible (NCR). Leah has taken a special interest in representing vulnerable youth charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). She has been increasingly involved with youth sentence reviews, advocating for her clients’ rights and working towards their successful reintegration into the community.
Leah is committed to ensuring her clients' rights are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She regularly brings applications opposing arbitrary detention, search and seizure without grounds, and unreasonably delayed trials.
Leah is a member of the York Regional Law Association.
GRAEDON PFEIFFER
ASSOCIATE
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
University of Toronto
Master of Laws (LL.M)
Queen's University
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Queen's University
Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A.H.)
Graedon is dedicated to providing his clients with a strong defence. He prides himself on being empathetic and compassionate, while offering strategic legal advice.
Graedon's first experience in criminal law was working as a student advocate with the Queen's University Prison Law Clinic. He successfully represented prisoners applying for parole, and defended those charged with institutional offences. He also assisted prisoners with appeals to the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Graedon articled with the Ministry of the Attorney General and worked as a prosecutor for three years before joining Greenwood Defence. Graedon was a dedicated Gladue Crown for part of his career with the Ministry of the Attorney General. In this role, he would work with Aboriginal Legal Services and Defence Counsel on a restorative justice approach to the justice system through the community council program. Graedon also actively participates in assisting indigenous clients who wish to avail themselves of sentencing circles. After three years at the Ministry of the Attorney General for three years, Graedon joined Greenwood Defence to assist and defend individual clients.
Graedon has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen’s University, a JD from Queen’s University and an LLM from the University of Toronto. His academic research focused on the use of restorative justice as an alternative to sexual assault prosecutions.
DEANNA CRISTOVAO
ARTICLING STUDENT
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Deanna is an articling student at Greenwood Defence. She will be called to the bar in 2020. She graduated Cum Laude from York University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society. She studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School, and graduated in 2019 with her Juris Doctor degree.
Deanna’s passion for criminal law and justice started at a young age and grew while in law school. She began working with Greenwood Defence in 2017 and as part of the Osgoode Criminal Law Intensive program. Deanna has considerable experience in the practical aspects of criminal defence, working on a variety of cases and appearing regularly at the Ontario Court of Justice.
During law school, Deanna was elected to be one of the executive directors of the Osgoode Criminal Law Society, where she worked to keep students informed about current criminal law issues and has advocated for the importance of careers in criminal law. Deanna is an active mooter at Osgoode, and enjoys written and oral advocacy and working with vulnerable clients.
ETHAN GARBER
ARTICLING STUDENT
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ethan is an articling student at Greenwood Defence. He will be called to the bar in 2020. He earned his Honours Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Toronto with High Distinction. He has completed his Juris Doctor degree at Osgoode Hall Law School and graduated in 2019.
Ethan is a dedicated advocate representing marginalized individuals and communities. As part of the Intensive in Poverty Law at Osgoode Hall, he completed an extended placement at Parkdale Community Legal Services as a Housing Rights Caseworker. He regularly attended the Landlord and Tenant Board defending vulnerable tenants against serious allegations including harassment, assault, arson, and drug trafficking.
Ethan learned courtroom advocacy in his role as the External Director of Fair Change Community Services. In 2018, he was granted the Ian Scott Public Interest Award as part of his work with Fair Change. Through his work at Greenwood Defence, Fair Change, and Parkdale Legal and Fair Change Ethan has become skilled in advocating on behalf of clients with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Ethan is also an accomplished mooter at Osgoode Hall. He was a First Place Finalist at the 2016-2017 Lerners Cup Moot and won the Distinguished Oralist Award. In 2019, he represented Osgoode Hall as an Oralist at
the Gale Cup Moot.
RAMANDEEP (RAMAN) GILL
LAW STUDENT
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Raman is a law student at Greenwood Defence. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from York University in 2017 with a Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She is currently completing her legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Raman’s interest in criminal law stems from her experiences of working with marginalized communities and vulnerable individuals. Her extensive community involvement includes working at Haven Toronto, where she served as an advocate for those living in poverty. Raman is also involved with various mental health initiatives, such as “Jack.Org”, to raise awareness of mental health discrimination and stigma.
Raman currently works with Pro Bono Students Canada and various sex-work organizations in Toronto to explore how the aftermath of the Bedford (2013) decision affects migrant sex workers and their rights under section 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Raman looks forward to applying her experiences of working with vulnerable individuals in her upcoming involvement with the Innocence Project at Osgoode Law to assist those who have been wrongfully convicted.
ASHLEY CUNHA
LEGAL ASSISTANT
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ashley is a legal assistant with Greenwood Defence. After completing her undergraduate degree with a major in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, Ashley attended a post-graduate program to earn her Paralegal certificate. Having successfully completed her placement in a criminal defence firm, and obtaining her P1 licence with the Law Society, she continued to work as a paralegal for over three years.
Ashley spent a number of years volunteering with a restorative justice organization in the Kitchener-Waterloo community. During this time, she earned her mediation certificate which allowed her to conduct mediations within local high schools. She went on to assist in training others on how to mediate conflict, as well. Following this time, Ashley went on to volunteer in a secure youth facility, forming 'circles' with youth so that they would have supports in the community once they had served their sentences.
As a result of her education and experiences, Ashley places a high value on restorative justice and alternative dispute resolution practices. She is passionate about working toward a just and fair society where even the most marginalized individuals receive adequate access to justice.