shakeel@derstinepartners.com
DERSTINE PARTNERS Criminal Lawyers
559 College Street, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
M6G 1A9

Cell: 416-276-3364

Arooba Shakeel

Arooba Shakeel is an associate at Derstine Partners, where her practice focuses on criminal litigation. Arooba is a fierce advocate for her clients and she is committed to ensuring access to justice and the protection and advancement of her clients’ constitutional rights.

Prior to joining Derstine Partners, Arooba articled and worked as an associate at Swadron Associates, a boutique firm committed to social justice. While at Swadron Associates, Arooba appeared as co-counsel on the winning side of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Attorney General (Ontario) v G, a case challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario’s sex offender registry as it applied to people found not criminally responsible due to mental disorder. Arooba also served as counsel before the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.

Arooba obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Western Ontario in 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), specialization in Criminology, from the University of Waterloo, where she graduated with highest distinctions.

During her legal studies, Arooba was a caseworker at the University of Western Ontario Community Legal Services where she provided legal representation to under-privileged groups. Arooba also served as a research assistant, represented Western Law at the national mooting competition – Gale Cup, and interned at criminal defence firms. Following her second year of law school, Arooba was a summer student at Henein Hutchison LLP.

Arooba sits on the Women’s Committee of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association. She is also a member of the Trial Lawyers Association and The Advocates’ Society.