2017 Zenith Award Winners
Michelle Henry is a partner in the firm’s labour and
employment group in Toronto who has shown exceptional
leadership within equity-seeking groups. In 2016, Michelle
co-founded the Black Business Law Clinic, a free legal clinic
dedicated to serving businesses within the GTA’s black
community through pro-bono business-related legal
services. She’s a lifetime member, past board member and
current Professional Development Committee member of the
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and a mentor to black
female students and lawyers through CABL’s mentorship
program. She’s an OBA council member and serves as chair of
the OBA’s Pro Bono Subcommittee. She also serves as co-chair
of the trial division of the University Tribunal, hearing charges
related to academic offences. Michelle is a vice-chair of the
board for LOFT Community Services and a board member for
Catholic Charities.
As team leader for youth justice at 311 Jarvis, Miriam Henry
has been directly responsible for diverting cases through
such specialty courts as the Aboriginal Youth Court and
the Community Youth Court — enabling young people
to reconnect with their heritage and get much needed
support for mental health and addiction issues. Her work
has reduced incarceration rates for youth in the Toronto
courthouse. Miriam has also worked as part of the Cross-
Over Youth project, which assists young people in the youth
criminal system and child protection proceedings. Under
her leadership, Crown attorneys have worked together to
focus on the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth at risk.
She has changed the course of many lives by preventing
criminalization and offering young people the opportunity to
become responsible, contributing adults.
Alix Herber inspires and connects clients and lawyers at
Fasken Martineau. She has served as Chair of the Ontario
Women’s Network (OWN) at Fasken Martineau since 2013.
OWN is focused on mentoring women lawyers to ensure their
retention and career growth, and provides networking and
business-development opportunities. Alix leads development
of a series of events for OWN, providing opportunities to
connect with clients while encouraging collective personal
and professional development. At the series opener, guest
speakers provided strategies for developing a leader’s
mindset, followed by sessions focused on the art of thriving
and mindfulness for lawyers as part of the “Living Fulfilling
Lives” theme. She is a past member of the Human Rights
Watch Toronto Network and a past board member of Jessie’s:
The June Callwood Centre for Young Women.