On October 4, 2023, criminal defence lawyer exraordinaire Erin Dann received WiCCD’s 2023 WiCCD WOMAN AWARD!
Erin has successfully overturned more NCR Verdicts than anyone – joking her specialty is getting convictions for her clients!
A champion of her women colleagues, never one to seek the limelight, a brilliant and compassionate advocate, Erin embodies all that WiCCD stands for and the women we stand with.
You can review WiCCD’s letter to Erin on the occasion of bestowing this special honour on her here:
• Called to the Bar (1992)
• U of T Law grad (1990)
• Sole practitioner (33 years)
• Partner in small law firm (Hiltz Szigeti) 2002 - 2013
• Mom to two astonishing kids, Scarlett (20+) and Sebastian (20-)
• (Founding) Chair of Mental Health Legal Committee for ten years (1997 to 2007)
* Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association - LAMDA since 2017
* Founder and Secretary to Women in Canadian Criminal Defence - WiCCD - since 2022
• Counsel to clients with serious mental health issues before administrative tribunals and on appeals
• Former Chair, current member of LAO’s mental health law advisory committee
• Educator, lecturer, widely published author (including 5 text books on consent and capacity law, Canadian civil mental health law, the criminal law of mental disorder, a law school casebook and a massive Anthology on all things mental health and the law)
• Thirty+ years’ experience as counsel to almost exclusively legally aided clients
• Frequently appointed amicus curiae
• Fearless advocate
• Not entirely humourless
anitaszigeti 