About
Contact:
- E mariam.moktar@paliareroland.com
- T 416.646.6327
- F 416.646.4301
Clients turn to Mariam for her effective advocacy, sound judgment, and exceptional work ethic. Mariam maintains a broad litigation practice and specializes in commercial litigation, public interest litigation, employment law, human rights law, and administrative law. She has represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mariam has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada – Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and Administrative and Public Law. She was named “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40” by the National Bar Association and received a Precedent Setter Award from Precedent Magazine.
Mariam joined the firm after working at a leading litigation boutique and a prominent union-side boutique in Toronto. She also clerked for various judges of the Superior Court of Justice in the Central West Region and served judges of the Divisional Court.
Mariam is currently the Second Vice President of the Ontario Bar Association. She is also a member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Ontario – Greater Toronto Area, which assesses candidates for appointment as judges.
Education
- University of Windsor, J.D., 2012
- Carleton University, B.A., 2008
Bar Admissions
- Ontario, 2013
Professional Affiliations
- The Ontario Bar Association - Board of Directors - Treasurer
- The Canadian Bar Association
- The Advocates' Society
Awards
Awards and Honours
- Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 – Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Lawyer to Watch - Litigation - Corporate Commercial
- Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers 40 and Under award recipient – 2024
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2024 – Corporate and Commercial Litigation
- Windsor Law's "Emerging Leader in the Law Award" recipient – 2018
- Precedent Setter Award recipient - Precedent Magazine – 2018
- National Bar Associations' "Nation's Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40 Award" recipient – 2017
Community
Community Involvement
- Member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Ontario – Greater Toronto Area
- Treasurer, Ontario Bar Association
- Chair, OBA Investment Committee
- Vice-Chair, OBA Equality Committee
- Member of the Roundtable of Legal Diversity Associations
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association Equality Liaison Group
- Member of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association’s Legal Action Committee
- Former Member-at-Large of OBA Finance Committee
- Co-founder and Past-President of the Canadian Association of Somali Lawyers
Presentations
- Co-Presenter – Tips from the Bench for Trial Prep – Law Society of Ontario – April 19, 2024
- Presenter – Justice at Work – University of Windsor Faculty of Law – 2022
- Presenter – Competing Rights Issues: Balancing Freedom of Expression with Respectful Workplace – 10th Annual Human Rights Summit – Law Society of Ontario – 2021
- Panelist – “Strategies to Fight Discrimination in Law” – National Muslim Legal Conference – Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) – 2021
- Panelist – Presented on practice of labour and employment law – 2021 BLSA Canada 30th National Conference
- Speaker – Provided advice on pursuing a career in litigation as part of makingTheMove’s May chat series – MakingtheMove May chat series – 2021
- Panelist – “Employment and Income Support Issues in Light of COVID-19” – Employment & Income Support Town Hall, Muslim Legal Clinic & Positive ChangeTO – 2020
- Panelist – “The Role of Culture in Negotiations” – Osgoode Professional Development’s Certificate in Negotiation – 2019
- Panelist – “Cannabis in the Workplace” – Cannabis in the Workplace, Canadian Industrial Relations Association, GTA Chapter – 2019
- Presenter – “Using Social Media Evidence in Civil and Administrative Proceedings” – Social Media and Litigation – Law Society of Ontario – 2018
- Panelist – “Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Evidence Obtained on Social Media” – Keeping Up with the Times: How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of Digital Litigation – Ontario Bar Association’s Institute – 2018