Board of Directors

The Osgoode Cup Board of Directors is comprised of individuals who have been leaders in the mooting community and are passionate about the Osgoode Cup.

Andrew Monkhouse, Chair

Andrew Monkhouse is an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and the founder, owner, and principal of Monkhouse Law Employment Lawyers, a boutique human resources and employment law firm in downtown Toronto.

Since 2010, Andrew has been both the main convenor of the Osgoode Cup and has consistently volunteered his time and expertise as a member of the judges panels in quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals in past years. 

While in law school, Andrew represented Osgoode Hall at the VIS international moot in Vienna, Austria. During his undergraduate studies in law at Carleton University, Andrew was a competitor in one of the first Osgoode Cups in 2007. Andrew is the current official convenor of the Osgoode Cup and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Osgoode Cup.

Jen Lorestani, Vice Chair 

Jen Lorestani is an Assistant Crown Attorney at the Toronto Crown Attorney’s Office. She completed her articles at Crown Law Office – Criminal. Jen earned her J.D. at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2023; her B.A. at York University in 2019; and her Paralegal Studies diploma from Seneca College in 2016. She was a licensed paralegal from 2016-2024. After winning the 2016 Osgoode Cup, Jen became a leader in Canada’s undergraduate and law school mooting scene, coaching award-winning teams and serving as a judge in many moots. Jen also has co-founded and spearheaded several moots at both the undergraduate and law school level.

At Osgoode, she finished in the top 16 at the Lerners Cup, and won a distinguished oralist award. She was selected to represent Osgoode at the 2024 Gale Cup. She also received the Highest Standing in Trial Advocacy, which secured her spot in the Arnup Cup trial competition. She also was the Co-Chair of the Osgoode Constitutional Law Society, after having founded the Constitutional Law Moot, and was the President of the Osgoode Mooting Society in her final year of law school. Jen was the Co-Convener alongside Andrew Monkhouse for the 2022 and 2023 Osgoode Cup and has been the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors since August 2023.

Karen Sanchez

Karen Sanchez is an associate lawyer at Gaertner Baron Professional Corporation. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2012. Since then, her focus has been exclusively litigation. She has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. She has secured rare and extraordinary remedies for her clients. 

Karen is a passionate advocate for her clients and is focused on delivering results through focused negotiations, court motions, trials, and appeals. 

Karen competed at and was the top advocate at the Osgoode Cup in 2006, and is a member of the Osgoode Cup Board of Directors. 

Clifton Yiu

Clifton is an associate lawyer at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP. Clifton received his Juris Doctor degree from Queen’s University Faculty of Law and has an undergraduate degree from York University with a double major in Sociology, and Human Rights and Equity Studies. Prior to law school, Clifton worked as a licensed paralegal in a boutique employment law firm. 

Clifton was the co-convenor (organizer) of the Osgoode Cup in 2016, and a finalist and the top oralist at the Osgoode Cup in 2015. He is now a member of the Osgoode Cup Board of Directors. 

Christopher Dias

Christopher Dias is an associate lawyer at McCague Borlack LLP where he practises a wide range of civil litigation, including insurance, personal injury, and privacy matters. While at Osgoode, Christopher won several awards for his written and oral advocacy. As well, he received the Dean’s Gold Key Award at Osgoode Hall for his extensive clinical and pro bono work, and his leadership through the Community & Legal Aid Services Programme and Pro Bono Students Canada. Christopher also received the Wendy Babcock Social Justice Award for his continuous access to justice work throughout his academic career.

Christopher remains an active law school alum, bringing his expertise to student mooting competitions as a coach or judge. He serves on the Board of Directors for Toronto’s South Asian Bar Association, where he is passionate about student and young lawyer mentorship. Christopher is now a member of the Osgoode Cup Board of Directors.