FROESE LAW
ASHLEE FROESE
FOUNDER
BRANDING LAWYER
OUR TEAM
Ashlee Froese is a branding & fashion lawyer and trademark agent. She has been practicing law since 2007. She is recognized by the Law Society of Ontario as a Certified Specialist in Trademarks Law; 1 of 6 female lawyers to carry that designation. Since 2017, Ashlee is consistently listed in the World Trademark Review as one of the top 1000 trademark lawyers in the world. In 2019, Ashlee was one of 39 lawyers across Canada to be granted the Lexpert Zenith Award, which recognizes her as a change maker in law. In 2021, Ashlee was granted the World Intellectual Property Review’s Diversity award as an Influential Woman in IP, one of only 69 lawyers worldwide. In 2022, Ashlee was an awardee with the Canadian Law Awards in the Female Trailblazer of the Year category. Prior to launching Froese Law, Ashlee was a partner on Bay Street. She fast tracked to partnership within 6 years.
Ashlee's scope of practice includes trademarks, copyright, contract, licensing, domain name, social media, marketing/advertising, packaging/labeling and start up corporate laws.
Ashlee holds numerous leadership and mentorship positions including, executive committee member (Ontario Bar Association), brand strategy council member (Canadian Marketing Association), advisor (Ryerson Fashion Zone), committee member (Intellectual Property Institute of Canada), committee member (International Trademarks Association), past co-chair (Fashion Group International), and past-chair (Toronto Intellectual Property Group), chair (City of Toronto's Fashion Industry Advisory Panel).
Ashlee is a frequent guest speaker and published author on branding and fashion law. She has lectured at law schools, universities, law societies and industry associations throughout North America. She has been published in magazines, academic publications and is a contributing author to a book. Ashlee frequently provides her commentary to the media on leading branding and fashion law matters.
Salman Rana
OF COUNSEL
COPYRIGHT AND MUSIC LAWYER
Salman Rana is a Toronto based music, copyright and licensing lawyer working with musicians, artists and others in the creative industries who has been practicing law since 2006.
In addition to Salman's legal practice, he is also an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's Creative School (previously Ryerson University) where he teaches in the Creative Industries and Professional Music programs. He teaches and lectures on copyright law and policy, cultural studies of law, the sociology of law, celebrity, creativity and management principles in the creative industries.
Salman was a performing artist and a founding member of the Hip Hop artist collective, The Circle, along with celebrated artists Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, Choclair and Jully Black.
Salman studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School and holds masters degrees in law from McGill University and the University of Oxford. He is currently a doctoral candidate at McGill University's Faculty of Law where his work explores the intersection of artistic subcultures, law and normativity.
Drawing on his legal practice and academic research and teaching, Salman provides valuable insight into artists and entrepreneurs in the cultural industries sector.
Rasha Shamat
DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STRATEGY
Rasha Shamat brings a rare blend of business acumen and intellectual property insight to Froese Law. With over 2 decades of international experience in business development and marketing and 15 years dedicated to the evolving world of intellectual property, Rasha has a unique ability to connect strategic growth with meaningful intellectual property value.
Rasha’s international career spans diverse industries including software, publishing, and non-profits, and she’s worked closely with startups and SMEs across fintech, clean tech, and consumer goods sectors. Rasha’s approach is tailored, and strategic helping businesses locally and internationally navigate complexity and unlock the value of their ideas through strong legal frameworks.
Rasha is also a passionate advocate for IP education, having led numerous workshops to elevate awareness of IP asa driver of innovation and long-term value. With a thoughtful approach and the ability to translate technical concepts into real-world business impact, she builds relationships that are both meaningful and results driven.
In addition, Rasha is a graduate of all three levels of CCI’s Innovation Governance Program, equipping her with advanced tools to guide innovation-driven companies through the intersection of business, IP, and modern governance.
At the heart of it all, Rasha is passionate about helping businesses turn ideas into real-world value through intentional IP strategy, forward-looking governance, and meaningful collaboration.
Antonio has been a law clerk since 2005. In addition to his years of experience with incorporations, amalgamations, continuances, dissolutions, and ongoing corporate maintenance matters, he has extensive experience in various areas of corporate law, franchise law, tax reorganizations, estate freezes, including share and asset purchase and sale transactions, due diligence reviews and trust work.
Antonio also has extensive experience in the area of not-for-profit and charities law. He has assisted with charitable registrations, continuances and maintenance of private and public foundations and charitable organizations. Antonio is a member of The Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Antonio Viera
CORPORATE LAW CLERK
Hillary LeBlanc
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
As an Acadian-Senegalese woman, Hillary has spent her career working in Communications in the non-profit sector helping share stories of those in marginalised communities she herself has lived experience in. From this, Hillary founded BlackLantic, a podcast bringing East Coast voices to the world. As a journalist she has written for Narcity. CBC, ByBlacks, Addicted Magazine, AnnKM, produced her own radio series and hosted several red carpets. From sustainability, philanthropy or highlighting marginalized communities, her voice aims to be an extension for any who remain unheard.
She sits on Fashion Group International Toronto’s board and has recently co-curated Cry Baby Art Gallery and thrown a fashion show in the space!
She was nominated for Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by the Black Business Initiative, has won the inaugural Canadian Women’s Foundation Feminist Creator Prize, and received distinction from the House of Commons.
She holds a degree in English from l’Université de Moncton.
Alex is a second year law student at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law (at TMU), where he is actively engaged in the intellectual property law community as a competitor in the upcoming 2025-2026 Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Moot.
He brings a unique background to the Froese Law team, holding a Master of Engineering and Public Policy from McMaster University. His graduate thesis involved co-designing a governance framework for the repsonsible adoption of artificial intelligence in a healthcare setting, giving him direct experience in navigating the intersection of technology, policy, and law. Alex also holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences, where his undergraduate research on COVID-19 diagnostics led to a co-authorship in a leading scientific journal.
At Froese Law, Alex supports the firm's practice by conducting legal research on a range of intellectual property, corporate, and technology law issues. In his spare time, Alex tutors math and science to high school students.
Alex Brown
LAW STUDENT INTERN