Monique Pongracic-Speier, KC
Monique’s constitutional law practice includes counselling and representing clients in Charter claims, claims under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and with respect to federalism issues.
Monique’s work for Indigenous clients includes acting for First Nations in treaty rights and Aboriginal rights and title litigation. She also advises and represents Indigenous clients in cases involving historic wrongs and environmental damage to First Nations’ land.
Monique has argued cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Courts, all levels of Court in British Columbia, and the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench and Court of Appeal. She also appears before administrative tribunals.
A believer in the statement that “Justice is the aspirational application of law to life”, Monique is actively involved in the legal community as a volunteer. Monique is an Adjudicator with the LSBC Tribunal. For more than a decade, she has also contributed to professional development sessions on international, constitutional, administrative and workers’ compensation law. Between 2014 and 2018, Monique authored the international law chapter of the British Columbia Continuing Legal Education Society’s Annual Review of Law & Practice.
Monique is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and The Advocates’ Society.
Gita Keshava
Gita has acted as counsel in domestic and international commercial arbitrations, including with respect to large capital projects, and in investor–state disputes under NAFTA Chapter 11. This has included representation of clients in:
- a CAD $50 million domestic arbitration seated in Vancouver;
- a USD $250 million international commercial arbitration under the LCIA Rules seated in Mexico City; and
- a USD $120 million investment treaty arbitration under NAFTA Chapter 11 seated in Ottawa.
For Gita, more than anything, her legal practice is about helping her clients navigate and resolve complex problems. Clients appreciate her ability to simplify a dispute to its essence and communicate in a clear and understandable manner.
Community involvement is critical for Gita. She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Law Reform Committee and co-chairs the selection committee for the United World College Alberta Scholarship. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law on the use of arbitration in resolving alternative energy disputes.
Gita received her law degree from the University of Durham in 2015, her Masters in Law from the University of Oxford in 2016, and was called to the Bar in Alberta and British Columbia in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Prior to joining Ethos Law, Gita worked at a national law firm in their dispute resolution group. She previously worked at the International Court of Justice, the World Food Programme, and the Supreme Court of Namibia.
Marisa Ditata
Marisa enjoys the opportunity to interact with clients, assist with document preparation, conduct legal research, organize case materials, and work through unique challenges that each case may present with a view to providing the best legal services to each client.