Course Chair
Allison Wolf — Lawyer Coach, Shift Works Strategic Inc., Vancouver
About the Course Chair
Allison Wolf, PCC is a senior coach with a practice focused on helping her clients thrive in legal practice. She works with lawyers from across North America from her home base on Salt Spring Island.
Allison is the founder of the AMP (Associate Mentoring Plus) program designed to help junior lawyers establish a foundation for a flourishing legal career. In 2021, AMP has grown to include a collective of five coaches and a large group of mentors all dedicated to supporting junior lawyers. You can learn more about the AMP Program here https://www.ampclub.ca/
Allison is also a sought after writer and presenter for law firms, legal organizations, and legal media. For more information, please visit her website https://www.thelawyercoach.com.
Faculty
Ryan J. Black — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Ellie Einarson — Harper Grey LLP, Vancouver
Richard Sehmer — Murphy & Company LLP, Vancouver
Jennifer Yong — Vice President Legal, Cymax Group Technologies, Burnaby
About the Faculty
Ryan Black is a partner practising technology-related business law, with a particular focus on intellectual property, information technology, video games and esports, and internet-facing businesses. As a former software and Internet developer, Ryan has a unique insight to emerging technology matters important to today's businesses, such as cybersecurity, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, open source software, deepfakes, cloud computing, and social media. Ryan is a frequent speaker and presenter on a wide variety of legal matters including Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL), video game law and policy matters, technology trends and regulations, and intellectual property issues, and also is the co-author of Internet Law Essentials: Canada's Anti-Spam Law, published by Specialty Technical Publishers. Ryan authored the 2017 update to that CASL book, focusing on CASL compliance.
Ryan is a member of the firm's National Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. In 2017, Ryan was named as one of Canada's leading lawyers under 40 in Lexpert's annual Rising Stars edition, in 2019 he was named an Acritas Star for peer-recommended lawyers, and he has also been named in the 2021 Best Lawyers in Canada for Information Technology Law, and in the 2021 Best Lawyers in Canada for FinTech Practice and Privacy and Data Security Law. Ryan currently acts as Clinic Adjunct for the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC, a director (and Chair, Governance) of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, a director of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society, and a director of the Video Game Bar Association.
Ellie Einarson is an associate working with the Business Law Group. Ellie joined Harper Grey in 2020 after articling and working with a national firm in Winnipeg. Her early exposure to civil litigation and dispute resolution set the mold for the strategic and solutions-oriented approach Ellie demonstrates in her business law practice. She understands the application of risk management to business strategy and leverages this knowledge to the benefit of her clients. Her ability to take a big picture view and apply that to existing and emerging situations enables her to provide her clients with the guidance they need to achieve their unique goals.
Ellie attended law school at the University of Manitoba and was called to the Manitoba bar in 2019. She graduated from law school with the Gold Medal in the Faculty of Law. She obtained her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, from the University of Winnipeg in 2013. Ellie was called to the BC bar in 2020.
Outside of the office, Ellie likes to stay active by boxing and horseback riding.
Richard Sehmer practices in the areas of business law and wills and estates law with an emphasis on creating, restructuring, buying and selling business assets or shares.
As co-founder of Trim Hair Salon (Vancouver), Twin Sails Brewing (Port Moody), Factory Brewing (Vancouver), the Whip Restaurant (Vancouver), Published Restaurant (Vancouver) and other ventures, Richard's passion for assisting other entrepreneurs realize their full business potential is uniquely paired with his ability to provide legal advice based on the realities of operating a business.
Richard was awarded "2019 Foodie of the Year" by Western Living Magazine for his work in the beer industry. He has particular expertise advising entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry.
Richard lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sarah and children, Jack and Rosie, and enjoys playing the drums, gardening, and trying new craft beers.
Jennifer Yong is a member of Cymax's executive team as VP, Legal where she advises and supports a dynamic e-commerce business across multiple subsidiaries. Prior to her in-house roles at high-growth tech companies, she was in private practice where she advised clients on all aspects of their businesses, working extensively with technology companies with international reach and operations, as well as with many local First Nation communities involved in responsible resource development and various joint ventures.
Jennifer is on the board of directors of City Opera Vancouver and a volunteer and BC Council member with Girl Guides of Canada. She is also a trained professional pastry chef. She launched a successful baking business and was a vendor at the Vancouver Farmer's Market.