Curriculum Vitae
"You have the ability not only to be great lawyers but also effective leaders and agents of change on a wide spectrum of issues. Be guided by your ideas, ideals and passion. Don’t be afraid to be brave and tough as lawyers, but remember to always be fair and reasonable."
-Mark M. Persaud (Keynote Speech to LSUC Convocation, June 2016)
Osgoode Hall Law School
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Law Society of Upper Canada
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) honoris causa
Harvard University
Center for the Studies of Values in Public Life
York University
Bachelor of Arts Programme (B.A.)
Major: Political Science
Called to the Ontario Bar – February, 1993
Persaud Law Group Professional Corporation
Founder & Senior Counsel
(Dec, 2011 to present)
Specialization in trials and appeals
Civil and criminal litigation, administrative and regulatory law including employment and human rights law
Steinberg Morton Hope & Israel LLP.
Barristers & Solicitors
Litigation Counsel ( Sept, 2010 to Nov, 2011)
Civil and Criminal Litigation
Canadian International Peace Project
Founder and President (Dec, 2005 to Aug, 2010)
Organisation working on issues of peace, security and development domestically and internationally including a novel project in Afghanistan and a ground breaking mentorship project between the Jewish and Somali communities in Canada
Legal Counsel
Federal Prosecutions Service Department of Justice (Jul, 1999 to Mar, 2003)
• Conducting criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Immigration Act, Food and Drug Act, and Criminal Code including Young Offenders prosecutions
• Management and prosecution of cases under Federal legislation including the Copyright Act, Customs Act, Excise Act, Citizenship Act, Bankruptcy Act and Income Tax Act
• Providing legal advice to police and investigators
• Training new prosecutors
Counsel
Department of Justice Revenue Prosecutions Section (Sep, 1997 to June, 1999)
• Prosecuting tax evasion and fraud offences under Federal revenue legislation.
• Providing legal advice to investigators
Counsel
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (Mar, 1996 to Aug, 1997)
• Legal Counsel to the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit
• Advising and assisting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Customs investigators, regional and municipal police forces on all aspects of Proceeds of Crime legislation and investigations, including preparation of applications for interception of private communications, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Act matters and related applications, Special Search Warrants and Restraint Orders
• Agent specially designated in writing by the Solicitor General of Canada for interception authorizations pursuant to section 185 of the Criminal Code
• Lecturing to police forces on Proceeds of Crime legislation, money laundering and investigation and prosecution of organized crime
Federal Prosecutor Department of Justice Mar, 1995 to Feb, 1996
• Conducting criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada under Federal legislation including the Narcotic Control Act, Criminal Code, Competition Act, Copyright Act, Trademarks Act, Customs Act, Excise Act, Immigration Act, Citizenship Act and Extradition Act
• Conducting appeals
• Providing legal advice to police and investigators
Counsel
Civil Litigation Section Department of Justice (Apr, 1993 to Feb, 1995)
• Conducting judicial reviews and general litigation on behalf of the Federal Government of Canada, primarily in immigration and refugee law but including customs and excise law, labour law, unemployment insurance law, administrative law and constitutional law
• Extensive appellate advocacy in the Federal Court of Canada
• Extensive drafting of factums and other legal documents
• Assisting other counsel in complex administrative law, immigration law, refugee law and constitutional law litigation
• Preparing legal opinions for client departments
Toronto United Church Emergency Refugee Relief
Co-ordinator
(Jan, 1984 to Apr, 1988)
• Founder of the first comprehensive organisation for assisting refugee claimants in Toronto
• Established a residence for refugees
• Duties included directing and administering all operations of the organization and of the Jean C.Watt Residence for refugees
• Developing and implementing new programmes
• Carriage of all client files, represented clients in immigration
inquiries, detention review hearings and other immigration matters
• Providing counselling and settlement services
• Advocacy , lobbying, public and press relations
• Liasing with ethnic, cultural and community organizations
• Reporting monthly to the Board of Directors
University of Western Michigan – Thomas M. Cooley Law School,Michigan,USA
(September, 2012 to 2014)
Canadian Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, Guest lecturer in Criminal Law
Guest Lecturer in Law:
Association of Ontario Prosecutors and The Canadian Institute
Justice should’t be political, Ottawa Citizen. Published: Wednesday, February 23, 2011( co-authored with J. Morton)
Piercing the Muslim Veil- a face off between competing constitutional rights, The Canadian Immigrant Magazine, December, 2010 Edition (co-authored with J. Morton)
Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Association of Law Teachers
Criminal Lawyers Association
Toronto Lawyers Association
National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers
Doctor of Laws ( LL.D.) honoris causa conferred by the Law Society of Upper Canada at 2016 Convocation
Recognised by the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) as an groundbreaking lawyer as part of their Diversifying the Bar: Lawyers Make History Project ( 1941 to present)
Canada 150 Anniversary Medal for leadership and service (2017)
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for leadership and contributions to CanadThe Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for leadership and community service
The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for leadership and community service
The Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key Public Sector Law Award in 2007
Nominee, 2006 Seoul Peace Prize
City of Toronto – Community Partnerships Black History Month Award, 2003, for extensive community service
Jaffery International Business Association 2002 Outreach Award for contribution to the community
International Year of Volunteers (2001) – recognised by the Government of Canada for outstanding service and contribution as a volunteer
Nominated and short listed in 1986 for the Toronto Man of the Year title ( Toronto Star, December 1986) for outstanding contribution to the community
Nominated- S. Woodsworth Award for working to eliminate discrimination
Department of Justice Canada Advisory Committee on Visible Minorities Committee Member by appointment of the Deputy Minister of Justice in 1998
Volunteer – Law Society of Upper Canada , Lawyers Feed the Hungry Programme
Advisor – Generation Enterprise (US based international social enterprise organization)
Volunteer – Holy Blossom Temple ,Out of the Cold Homeless Programme
Director, The Autistic Acceptance Project
Director – P.E.A.C.H. (Promoting Economic Action and Community Health)
Executive Member – Don Valley Refugee Resettlers
Director – Canadian Federation of Inter-Cultural Friendship
Noble – Shriners ( A.O.N.M.S.)
Director – Fred Victor Centre
Volunteer- The Learning Partnership
Member – Rotary Club of Toronto
Member – Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Member – National Inda-Canadian Council
Member – North American Association of Asian Professionals
Director (Co-Secretary) – Canadian Association of Black Lawyers ( CABL)
Secretary- South Asian Lawyers Association
Executive Member – Toronto Refugee Affairs Council
Advisor – Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Founding Member -Working Group on Refugee Resettlement
Ex-Officio Executive Member – Lansing Food Bank
Chairman – Outreach Committee, Lansing United Church
Member and Volunteer – Amnesty International
Volunteer – Canadian-African Newcomers Aid Centre of Toronto (CANACT)
Volunteer – Telecare Canada, telephone distress counselling
CURRENT legal career
Mark M. Persaud, LL.B., LL.M., LL.D., is the principal and founder of the Persaud Law Group (PLG). The law firm is located in Toronto serving business, professional and individual clients from a wide jurisdiction including North York, Toronto, the Greater Toronto area as well as other parts of Ontario having extensive experience with both large and complex files as well as smaller personal matters. The firm lawyer provides legal services in civil, criminal and regulatory matters.