Group A (12:00 - 2:00 PM London Time)
Jason BIAFOREJason is qualified to practice law in Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. He began his legal career in private practice in Ontario before moving to New York where he worked for more than a decade as a public interest lawyer, representing clients in matters ranging from immigration law to disability rights and civil justice reform. Jason is a seasoned litigator, having appeared before various courts and administrative tribunals throughout his career. He pursued his law studies at Queen’s University Faculty of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in International Public Law, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Concordia University, Montréal. Jason is based in the OSLA Nairobi office.
Brandon Michael GARDNER
Brandon is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, and practiced law in the US before joining the UN in 2007, initially as a UN volunteer with the Department of Justice of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). He has since been employed as a legal officer in the United Nations in various roles. Prior to joining OSLA, Brandon worked with UNMIK’s Human Rights Advisory Panel and with its Rule of Law Liaison Office. Brandon holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Pittsburgh. Brandon previously served in OSLA’s Addis Ababa office (2016-2018) and is currently based in OSLA’s Nairobi office.
Mario HAINBOECK
Mario is a member of the Austrian bar in Vienna. He practiced as a criminal defence lawyer and in public law including disciplinary law. He served as a legal and human rights officer in peacekeeping and training missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Mali and also worked with Amnesty International in Vienna. In 2016, he joined the Appeals team of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Mario holds a law degree from the University of Vienna and a postgraduate degree in human rights from the European Inter – University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation. Mario is based at the UN Regional Service Center, Entebbe.
Jacqueline LULE
Jacqueline is a Barrister of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, an Arbitrator, (MCiArb) and a C.E.D.R Accredited Mediator. She practiced in immigration, employment, and criminal law for 17 years in the UK, and taught on the Bar Professional Training Course for over 10 years on a part-time basis. In 2015, Jacqueline took up partnership in a pan-African law firm based in Uganda, arbitrating commercial disputes, and advising large corporations foreign governments, Aid Agencies, INGO’s, and private companies on incorporation/registration, and their legal and regulatory responsibilities in Uganda in the areas of governance, employment law, corporate and commercial law; banking; and anti-corruption, bribery, and money laundering. Jacqueline holds LL. M’s in Human Rights Law, (1997), and Commercial and Corporate Law, (2012), from SOAS University of London and Queen Mary University of London respectively. Jacqueline is based at the OSLA office in Nairobi.
Shubha Suresh NAIK
Shubha is qualified to practice law in India and for ten years had served in the Legal Department of the Indian Navy. She has gained experience in the field of administrative, employment and criminal law whilst serving in the Indian Navy as a Judge Advocate Officer (Legal Officer). She holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) degree from Salgaocar College of Law, Goa, India and has obtained LLM from the National University of Singapore. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma from the Mumbai University, India in Alternative Dispute Methods. Shubha is presently based in the Addis Ababa office.
Kathleen WELSHMAN
Kate qualified as a barrister in Australia in 2004, litigating matters of administrative, commercial and criminal law. She has also been a professional writer since 2009, when her first novel was published by Random House. In 2014, she moved to France, where she obtained a Special Talent visa and continued her work. Kate began her career with the UN as a Legal Affairs Officer at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in 2021, where she worked in the French language. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Commerce) from the University of Sydney. She is currently serving in OSLA’s Nairobi office.
Group B (4:30 - 6:30 PM London Time)
Dorota BANASZEWSKADorota is qualified to practice law in Poland and Germany. She has experience in various areas of law including International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law. Dorota completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s of German and Polish Law degree at the European University Viadrina and her Master’s degree in Polish Law at the Adam Mickiewicz University. Her legal education also includes studies in Institut d’études politiques de Paris. Dorota is based in the New York office.
Kalaycia CLARKE
Kalaycia qualified as a lawyer in Jamaica and Barbados. She subsequently became a member of the Jamaica Bar and practiced law in Jamaica before joining the UN. Prior to joining OSLA, she worked as an Associate Legal Officer with the International Court of Justice. She holds an LLM in International Dispute Settlement from the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the West Indies. Kalaycia is currently based in OSLA’s Beirut office.
Julia KYUNG MIN LEE
Julia is qualified to practise law in Ontario, Canada, where she worked in private practice in as a litigation attorney in the areas of commercial, employment and human rights law. She joined the United Nations in 2012, working for the Prosecution’s Trial team in the case Prosecutor v. Ratko Mladic at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Julia has also worked as a legal intern at the Presidency of the International Criminal Court. Julia holds a Juris Doctorate from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Laws in civil law from Université de Montréal. Julia is based in the Beirut office.
Robbie LEIGHTON
Robbie qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales and worked as a criminal defence lawyer for five years, successfully defending clients charged with all manner of crimes including murder. In 2010 he moved to Côte d’Ivoire where he worked with the Danish Refugee Council, developing income generating activity projects for refugees. He later worked with the UNUCI Rule of Law section. Since joining OSLA, Robbie has gained a wealth of experience advising staff members on issues relating to their contract of employment and representing them before the UNDT and UNAT. Robbie has an MA from Edinburgh University and studied law at the College of Law in London. Robbie is based in the Geneva office.
Ana Giulia STELLA
Ana is qualified to practice law in Switzerland. Before joining OSLA, she worked as an attorney at law in private practice for 6 years, focusing on commercial and contract litigation. Prior to this, she worked at the International Trade Centre and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and she interned at the Latin American Economic System in Caracas, Venezuela and the Trade Law Centre in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Ana holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master’s degree in International Law from the Geneva University Law School, as well as a Certificate in International Commercial Arbitration from the American University Washington College of Law and a Certificate in Negotiation Strategies from Yale School of Management. Ana is based in the OSLA Geneva Office.
(The 6th participant in Group B is still being confirmed.)
For more information (and some fabulous headshots!), please click on the link below.