Monique Pongracic-Speier, KC

Monique maintains a general litigation practice. She provides advice and acts for clients in a variety of public and private law matters, including constitutional cases, other claims involving government, cases to advance the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples, administrative law matters, private law cases with a public interest component, and workers’ compensation issues.

Monique has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada® 2024 and 2025 for her work in the areas of Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Practice, and Administrative and Public Law.

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 and is an Adjudicator with the LSBC Tribunal.

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, and is the recipient of Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch’s 2024 Harry Rankin, QC Pro Bono Award. For more than a decade, she has also contributed to professional development sessions and written materials on topics in international, constitutional, administrative and workers’ compensation law.

Monique is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and The Advocates’ Society.

604-569-3022, ex 1
monique@ethoslaw.ca
1-866-591-0597

Gita Keshava

Gita has a broad litigation practice, representing clients in various forms of dispute resolution. She has a particular interest in public law, including constitutional and administrative law, as well as international law. She has appeared in both the British Columbia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench on a variety of civil matters. She was recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada® as “One to Watch” in 2022.

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.

604-569-3022, ex 4
gita@ethoslaw.ca
1-866-591-0597

Alanna Crouse

Alanna is developing a general civil litigation practice. She has a particular interest in public law, having focused on constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law. She has represented clients at various levels of court including the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court, as well as before administrative tribunals.

Alanna earned a Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor from McGill University in 2021 and was called to the Bar in British Columbia in January of 2023. She articled and was an associate with Alison Latimer, KC.

Outside of the legal profession, Alanna also has experience in science. Prior to law school she earned a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University, and a Master of Science in Human Genetics from McGill University. Alanna worked at the Centre for Genomics and Policy where she contributed to national and international projects concerning law, policy, and healthcare.

Alanna is passionate about civil liberties and equality, which ultimately fueled her transition from science to law. Alanna co-wrote and implemented the first McGill University Post-Graduate Student Society (“PGSS”) Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy, and sat on the PGSS Equity Committee. She has also facilitated anti-oppression workshops and was a crisis support volunteer to survivors of gendered and sexual violence. Alanna currently sits on the Board of Directors of the West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund (“LEAF”).

604-569-3022, ex 5
alanna@ethoslaw.ca
1-866-591-0597

Marisa Ditata

Marisa has worked in a legal environment for more than 25 years. She relocated to British Columbia from Ontario in 1997 and acquired experience at several law firms in Vancouver. She then continued her legal studies at Capilano University in the paralegal studies program, graduating in 2006. Marisa joined Ethos in 2013 and has assisted counsel in a variety of litigation matters at all levels of Court in British Columbia, and Supreme Court of Canada.

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.

604-569-3022, ex 2
marisa@ethoslaw.ca
1-866-591-0597