Meet the Team
Director of initio Clinic
Alayna R. Kolodziechuk
Photo credit Selena Phillips-Boyle
Alayna is a lawyer and Dalhousie alum with 10 years’ experience advising businesses and not-for-profits in the creative and tech industries. Most recently, she practiced at an entertainment and media law boutique in Toronto, ON where she oversaw the firm’s corporate practice and represented a range of clients including artists and creators, record labels and film production companies, software developers and industry advocacy groups.
Alayna provides advice to organizations across different stages of growth and development on their structuring as well as intellectual property and privacy/technology matters.
Junior Staff Lawyer
Léo Bourgeois
Photo credit Adam Deunk
Léo is a Junior Staff Lawyer at initio, where he is building a corporate and commercial law practice with a focus on startups, technology, privacy, intellectual property and social impact. Drawing on his prior experience as an Articled Clerk and Senior Law Student at initio, Léo approaches legal challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset to provide clients with a range of legal services to fit their unique needs.
Léo is passionate about increasing access to business law services across Atlantic Canada. He regularly advises entrepreneurs, startups, early-stage businesses, and social purpose organizations on incorporations, organizational structuring, privacy compliance, intellectual property strategy, contract negotiation, and commercial drafting. In addition to his practice, Léo is committed to clinical legal education. He enjoys guest lecturing at the Schulich School of Law on emerging technologies and helping to train incoming cohorts of Senior Law Students at initio.
Léo is actively expanding his work in the evolving field of artificial intelligence. During law school, he authored a directed research paper on the use of generative AI in legal education. As a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s Law Office Management Standards Committee - Technology Subgroup, Léo helped author the Society’s AI Guide for Lawyers.
Léo holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Law from Carleton University and a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2025.
Outside of his legal work, Léo enjoys hiking in his family’s Cape Breton community, spending time with his cat Maizy, and creating personalized health and nutrition plans for friends and family.
Articled Clerk
Noah Davis
Noah is an articling clerk at initio and a recent graduate of the Schulich School of Law. He is passionate about supporting the growth of local start-ups, innovative businesses, community organizations, and technology ventures, by providing accessible business and technology law services. He is now developing a corporate, privacy, and technology law practice focused on supporting clients in commercial transactions, advising on compliance with Canada’s privacy regime, developing intellectual property strategies, navigating emerging technologies, and addressing complex contractual issues.
Noah brings a practical and solutions-oriented approach to supporting his client. He often draws on experience gained before articling at initio, including as a policy analyst at the Nova Scotia Department of Justice and the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, as a legal student with East Coast Environmental Law and The Armour Group Ltd, as an assistant with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, and as a consultant for various start-ups and not-for-profits as part of the Social Innovation Academy Fellowship. These experiences help Noah craft legal solutions for his clients that consider their business goals, legal requirements, potential risks, and social impact.
Outside of work, Noah enjoys reading, playing basketball, kayaking, hiking and camping, binging new shows, trying new recipes, and spending time with his family’s dog, Winnie.
Articled Clerk Alumni
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Léo Bourgeois | 2024/2025
Léo is building a corporate and law practice related to start-ups, technology, intellectual property, privacy, and social impact.
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Justin Broomfield | 2023/2024
Justin is excited to further develop his expertise in technology, privacy, and intellectual property by providing high-quality legal services to initio clients.
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Haley Maclean | 2022/2023
Haley has a keen interest and skill for solving the corporate and business legal needs of video game firms.
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Edward Wu | 2021/2022
Edward turned his legal- and technology-related expertise into a practice focusing on privacy and artificial intelligence.
Current Students
Winter 2026
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Renée Babin
Renée is excited to work with small businesses and non-profits developing a practice in corporate law.
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Cindy Doan
Cindy aspires to build a legal career at the intersection of law and the global automotive industry
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Leily Farman-Farmaian
Leily is excited to leverage her previous experience to support innovators and members of the community with their corporate needs
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Chiara Ibe
Chiara is particularly interested in corporate/commercial, beauty tech, and intellectual property matters
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Ashoke Mohanraj
Ashoke is passionate about supporting clients working at the intersection of environmental sustainability, social impact, and innovation
Clinic Alumni - Senior Law Students
Fall 2025
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Celeste Borja
Celeste is looking forward to assisting and empowering clients with their legal needs while maintaining strong adherence to professional regulatory standards.
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David Eno
David’s professional experience provides a strong foundation in corporate legal documentation and business strategy.
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Kimberly Gilson
Kimberly is eager to help folks solve problems in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, technology, and business.
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Delaney Helmke
Delaney is keen to develop her skills in the clinic’s key practice areas, including IP services, technology, transactions, and privacy.
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Madeline Leckey
Madeline is eager to use her experience working as a Registered Nurse to efficiently and effectively address client needs with a focus on health, technology, and privacy.
Winter 2025
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Daniel Reid
Daniel is passionate about leveraging his legal skills to support sustainable and socially responsible businesses.
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Elliot Hernandez
Elliot has a keen interest in supporting the local start-up community especially with corporate and commercial law matters.
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Matthew Johnston
Matthew aims to work as an agent for professional athletes, incorporating his values of honesty, integrity, and hard work.
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Harneet Gill
With a keen interest in artificial intelligence and the space sector, Harneet is eager to navigate the legal complexities shaping tomorrow’s digital world.
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Taylor Green
Taylor is excited to assist entrepreneurs with their corporate and business needs, bolstered by her certificate in Business Law.
Fall 2024
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Noah Davis
Committed to accessible business and technology law services, Noah uses his private practice, non-profit and government experiences to deliver informed, clear advice to clients.
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Miya Gohill
Miya is interested in policy reforms surrounding technology and is eager to leverage her technical background to advocate for clients in a variety of forums.
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Hannah Lee
Hannah has an established understanding of the distinct needs of start-ups and is excited to assist science and technology innovators with business law and intellectual property matters.
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Krizelle Pascual
With experience in non-profits committed to access to justice, community building and advocacy, Krizelle has a keen interest in the intersections between art, innovation, intellectual property and social issues.
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Liam V. Sherlock
Seeking to bridge the gap between creators and the business world, Liam is excited about dispute resolution, corporate governance, copyright, artists’ rights, and other intellectual property aspects.