Alayna R. Kolodziechuk is the new Director of the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic at the
Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. Alayna has 10 years’ experience advising
businesses and not-for-profits in the creative and tech industries including at an entertainment
law boutique in Toronto. She is thrilled to bring her experience to the Clinical setting at Dalhousie,
which has the dual purpose of 1) educating senior law students through practical experience in
business law matters and 2) serving the startup community through the provision of low cost
services. The Clinic’s focus is on Intellectual Property and Information Technology issues within
business law. Alayna enjoys advocating for clients and also supporting them in their own
self-advocacy. She looks forward to sharing strategies in this workshop that anyone can use to
better understand and negotiate their own contracts.

Jim Cunningham commenced legal practice in 2014 with a boutique corporate/ commercial firm, focusing nearly exclusively on startup finance and trademark prosecution and litigation. Following a stint as in-house counsel for a Canadian technology company, he presently acts as general counsel for a small Atlantic-Canadian film and television producer group.
 
Jim, like Alayna, received his law degree from Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. He spent his twenties in tour management for a number of Canadian artists touring domestically and internationally.
 
For more information about Jim, please visit:
www.connections.tv

Sierra is a third-year law student at the Schulich School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honours from the University of British Columbia. Prior to attending law school, Sierra worked as a Registered Nurse in mental health and addictions.

Sierra is passionate about intellectual property law and technological innovation in healthcare and beyond and is currently pursuing the Law and Technology Specialization certificate here at Schulich. Sierra spent last summer at Miller Thomson LLP in Vancouver with a focus on intellectual property law and will be returning there to article in July 2023. In her spare time, Sierra enjoys playing softball, horseback riding, and experiencing the local nature BC and Nova Scotia have to offer.

As an Entertainment Lawyer, Byron understands creative businesses, and how to provide value to creative clients.

One of his main areas of focus is music law, working with recording artists, producers, composers, managers, music service businesses, and festivals. He is involved in the music scene and focuses on professional development, to help creators understand the business of their craft.

A former producer of TV and digital content, Byron also works with creators of animated shorts to social documentaries to scripted films, and everything in between, as producers navigate financing and production related legal matters.

Based in Ottawa, Byron works with clients across Canada. He is also an active volunteer with the national network of legal clinics for the arts. For more information about Byron and his team at Edwards Creative Law, please visit www.edwardslaw.ca

Matthew Gorman is an entertainment lawyer. His clients include performers, songwriters, producers, managers, music publishers, record labels, theatres, authors, social media influencers, and dynamic entertainment and digital businesses.

Heavily involved in the music community, Matthew is an elected member of Music Nova Scotia’s Board of Directors, a frequent writer, lecturer and speaker on music related legal issues at conferences and events all over the country, and is a member of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers. Matt also operates Ocean Town Music, which provides business advisory and management services to music clients.

Matthew played music long before becoming a lawyer, which helps inform his practice every day. Outside the office, Matt loves to play drums, piano, and guitar.

For more information about Matthew, please visit Cox & Palmer Law.com

Kathleen Adams (she/her) has worked and volunteered in the arts and entertainment industry for almost fifteen years and holds a Master of Arts in Art History from Queen’s University. She is delighted to share her art and family law knowledge with established and emerging artists across the Atlantic provinces and Canada.

For more information about Kathleen, please visit:
https://www.chapmanfamilylaw.com/
https://www.chapmanfamilylaw.com/team-kathleen-adams