One year out of law school, Donya Vahidi is carving out her niche in Vancouver’s law scene. The 2015 TRU Law graduate is an associate at Boughton Law specializing in business, intellectual property (IP) and entertainment law.

Vahidi’s portfolio includes advising businesses on how to operate within the parameters of CASL—the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation that came into effect two years ago as a legal framework to govern the distribution of mass e-mail communications.

“I help ensure my clients can grow their business without violating privacy laws,” said Vahidi.

She discusses the scope of CASL, compliance regulations and consequences of breaching the anti-spam legislation in a recent online article from betakit.com.

The Vancouver native, who completed both her summer articles and articles at Boughton, says she enjoys working at the West Coast firm because it allows her to focus on clients in her hometown.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved with helping businesses in my community achieve their goals.”

As it happens, she also had the opportunity to work with TRU Chancellor, the Honourable Wally Oppal, Q.C., senior counsel at Boughton.

“I was fortunate enough to work with Wally on a number of files during my articles. He provides mentorship for many of the junior associates and is always willing to listen,” she said.

While she has been focused on intellectual property and business law over the past year, Vahidi has recently been named the newest member of the firm’s entertainment law group.  Thrilled with the opportunity, she adds this area of law is a natural fit with her IP and corporate/commercial experience.

Reflecting on her time as a student of just the second TRU Law class, Vahidi admits she and her classmates felt extra pressure to prove themselves, as law students and in the legal market.

“We rose to that challenge. We participated in competitive moots across Canada and organized an annual student-led conference,” she said, commenting on some of her experiences and her involvement with the Students Law Society (SLS).

“My class secured articling and associate positions in a wide range of firms across the country,” she added, attributing the overall class and individual success in part to the strong sense of community at TRU Law and the mentorship and support offered by faculty and staff.

Vahidi was called to the bar this year.