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History
On November 9, 1990, lawyers of Hellenic descent were invited to attend a dinner at the offices of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) in Toronto for the purpose of reviving the Hellenic Canadian Law Association, which had been inactive for several years. Ten individuals were elected to serve as the new Board of Directors and, at the first meeting of the new Board held on December 12, 1990, the Board appointed Constantine Grimanis as its first President. The Board also appointed the following officers: Katherine Kavassalis, Vice-President; Louis Alexopoulos, Secretary; and Greg Kanargelidis, Treasurer. The balance of the Board was comprised of the following directors at large: Constantine Alexiou, Speros Kanellos, Bill Tsapralis, William Tatsiou and Rita Vassilopoulos.
The Association was incorporated as a non-share capital corporation and received Letters Patent on November 5, 1991, at which time its name was formally changed to the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association (HCLA). A formal Constitution was also ratified by the members at the first Annual General Meeting. Through these documents and discussions, the HCLA's mission began to take shape: to provide a vehicle for the social interaction of Hellenic lawyers, judges, and law students; to hold educational seminars for the better understanding of the legal profession by consumers of legal services; and to advocate on behalf of the Greek community on legal matters.
Past HCLA Presidents
- Constantine Grimanis (1990-1991)
- Louis Alexopoulos (1991-1993)
- Greg Kanargelidis (1993-1995)
- Gina Alexandris (1995-1997)
- John Sotirakos (1997-1999)
- John Papadakis (1999-2000)
- Peter Carayiannis (2000-2002)
- John Polyzogopoulos (2002-2004)
- George A. Bougadis (2004-2006)
- John Salmas (2006-2008)
- Jim Vavitsas (2008-2010)
HCLA Constitution
 Click here to download the Constitution
Executive Committee
Communications Director: Nicholas Kotsopoulos
Nick Kotsopoulos is a partner at Kotsopoulos Neiman LLP. The firm specializes in corporate/commercial law, real estate, and entertainment and sports law.
The corporate/commercial component of Nick's practice involves the acquisition and sale of businesses through asset and share purchases, corporate reorganizations, shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures, partnership agreements and the financing of a variety of ventures ranging from commercial real estate developments, film productions, and the development of consumer products.
The real estate component of Nick’s practice involves all facets of real estate including the acquisition, sale, financing, development and leasing of commercial properties, including industrial, office, retail and entertainment properties.
Nick’s practice also includes various facets of entertainment and sports law. In particular, Nick consistently works with clients in the licensing of intellectual property in conjunction with the development, marketing and promotion of consumer products.
Additionally, Nick has negotiated and drafted endorsement contracts involving sports figures and athletes.
Nick was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006.
Nick is also an associate at Burris, Neiman & Associates, an entertainment and sports marketing agency with extensive experience in the marketing of film and television properties, and professional sports organizations.
Community Relations Director: John Polyzogopoulos
John Polyzogopoulos is a partner at Blaney McMurtry, and is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Group. John acts for parties in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, including oppression remedy cases, breaches of non-competition and non-disclosure covenants, obtaining emergency injunctive relief to prevent unfair competition, and enforcing foregin judgments . John has also been involved in obtaining and opposing various types of injunctions, including Anton Piller orders, and Mareva injunctions, and regularly provides counsel in the areas of construction, product liability, insolvency law, and commercial aspects of family law.
John was president of the HCLA from 2002 to 2004.
Membership Director: John Georgakopoulos
John Georgakopoulos is an environmental lawyer at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. John advises clients on environmental compliance issues, defends environmental prosecutions, and litigates environmental claims. He works with clients to find practical solutions to remediate and redevelop contaminated properties. John advises clients on the environmental aspects of real estate and business transactions to protect them from the liabilities and costs associated with contaminated lands. Prior to becoming a lawyer, John worked as a senior environmental scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. He has extensive experience with emissions inventories, estimation and reporting in Canada and the US. His B.Sc. (Hons.) (1997) and M.Sc. (1999) from the University of Toronto are focused in environmental science. John received his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa in 2007 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008.
President: Eleni Maniatis
Eleni Maniatis is Associate Vice-President, Legal Counsel for Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited where she advises the company on corporate and securities law related issues and supports the Corporate Secretary's Office on matters pertaining to the Board of Directors and corporate governance. Prior to joining Canadian Tire, Eleni served as Associate Vice-President, Senior Corporate Counsel for Sears Canada Inc. and was also the former Assistant Secretary. Before joining the legal department at Sears, Eleni was an associate with McCarthy Tetrault LLP in Toronto where she practiced commercial real estate law. Eleni attended the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002.
Secretary: Nikiforos Iatrou
Formerly a clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Niki is a litigator at WeirFoulds LLP. Although his practice is centered on complex commercial litigation, he frequently acts on cases that involve issues of public and administrative law. Prior to joining WeirFoulds, he was awarded the Harold G. Fox Scholarship, whereby he spent a year in the Inns of Court in London, England. There, he developed an interest in comparative law and private international law, an interest that is reflected in his practice. Today, in addition to his Ontario-based work, Niki assists leading Caribbean counsel in interjurisdictional disputes involving off-shore trusts and investment funds. Niki attended the University of Ottawa, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005.
Social Director: Maria Kotsopoulos
Maria Kotsopoulos attended law school at the University of Ottawa and was called to the Bar in 2003. She is a Partner at Blaney McMurtry practicing with the Labour and Employment Group. Maria's practice includes both labour and employment litigation, as well as advising clients in respect of human rights matters and human resources issues in general.
Student Director: Elias Lyberogiannis
Elias Lyberogiannis is a student at Osgoode Hall Law School and an executive of the Hellenic Law Students Association of Osgoode Hall. Elias is generally interested in business law but has developed a particular interest in intellectual property law. In 2010 and 2011, Elias summered with Smart & Biggar in Toronto.
Prior to attending law school, Elias worked for a number of years at Hydro One, where he focused on asset management, investment planning, and regulatory applications. Elias is a graduate of the Engineering Science Program at the University of Toronto (BASc - 2002) and the Schulich School of Business (MBA - 2007). He is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA)."
Treasurer: Angela Nikolakakos
Vice-President: George Karayannides
George J. Karayannides is a partner at Heenan Blaikie, having been called to the Ontario Bar in 1986. George has a broad advocacy practice with an emphasis on corporate and commercial litigation, product liability, intellectual property, employment and human rights, insolvency and restructuring, as well as transportation. He has participated in many successful mediations and, as a litigator, appeared before all levels of the Ontario and Federal courts, as well as before various tribunals and arbitration boards.
He has taught at the University of Toronto and Ryerson Polytechnic University, and has been an instructor for the Law Society of Upper Canada's Bar Admission Course. He has lectured at legal education seminars for the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the Centre of International Legal Studies, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Advocates' Society, the Canadian Bar Association, and other organizations and is a past chair of the Canadian Bar Association - Ontario, Maritime Law Section. He is a past board member of the National Theatre School of Canada and Best Buddies Canada.
Honourary Directors
Honourary Director: Tom Karvanis
Tom was a founding member of the law firm of Sotos, Karvanis (now known as Sotos LLP) in downtown Toronto on his call to the bar in 1982. His legal practice concentrated on commercial and matrimonial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He was recognized by L'Expert as a leading practitioner in franchise litigation. He led the litigation team of Sotos Karvanis and was responsible for the recruiting and mentoring of associate lawyers. Tom was a frequent speaker to community and legal groups on a range of subjects such as litigation, corporate governance and the latest developments in technology for lawyers.
Tom has a strong commitment to participating in the community. Among other activities, he helped establish the Hellenic Canadian Federation of Ontario and the Hellenic Canadian Congress. After his retirement in 1999 due to multiple sclerosis, he volunteered in organizations such as Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology where he served in various capacities including Chair of its Board of Governors during a critical period for the organization. Since 2005, Tom has served as an Honourary Director of the HCLA. He was one of the founders of the HCLA in its original form in the 1980's and was responsible for reviving it in 1990. Tom is a strong believer in the HCLA and a strong advocate of its mentorship program.
Honourary Director: Greg Kanargelidis
Greg Kanargelidis is a Partner practising in the International Trade and Commodity Tax Groups at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Greg's expertise is in customs, commodity tax, and international trade matters.
Greg's customs practice includes tariff classification, valuation, rules of origin, export and import controls, marking rules, trade and security programs, seizures, AMPS penalties, voluntary disclosures, temporary importation, seizures and ascertained forfeitures, settlers effects.
Greg's commodity tax practice focuses on the federal GST, HST, and provincial sales taxes. He also advises on other federal and provincial commodity taxes, including federal excise duties, taxes, and levies, and provincial tobacco, gasoline and fuel taxes.
WIth respect to international trade, Greg represents clients in anti-dumping/countervailing duty investigations, and advising clients on international trade and investment protection agreements, including NAFTA, WTO, bilateral investment treaties and bilateral/regional trade agreements. He also advises on safeguards, trade embargoes, economic sanctions, defence controls, anti-corruption, government procurement, and foreign extraterritorial measures.
Greg has been recognized in Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide among the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (for Commodity Tax/Customs), the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (as a leading lawyer in Canada in both Commodity Tax/Customs and International Trade Regulation), the Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading International Trade Lawyers, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business by Chambers/Global, and by The Best Lawyers in Canada in the areas of international trade and finance law, and tax law.
Greg's professional affiliations include membership in the Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, American Bar Association, Canadian Tax Foundation, Hellenic Heritage Foundation, and the Pan-Macedonian Association of Ontario. Greg has been a member of the HCLA since its revival in 1990, at which time he was elected to its original Board of Directors.
Honourary Director: Lou Alexopoulos
Lou practices law at Sotos LLP and focuses on commercial transactions with a real estate base, secured lending transactions and trusts and estates. He provides guidance to business clients in all phases of development from start-ups to mature businesses. He also advises clients in acquisitions, divestitures and inter-generational transfers and planning.
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