Theresa Donkor
Office: (416) 629-4800, ext 102
Collect: 1 (833) 628-4802
Email: theresa@rudnickilaw.com
Theresa Donkor is Rudnicki & Company’s senior associate. She practices criminal defence, with a focus on appeals from conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Theresa has advocated for clients in all manner of cases before all levels of court, including at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Theresa also advocates for complainants in sexual offence cases. She represents complainants on applications to access their private records and to admit those records and other sexual activity evidence at trial. She gives complainants expert advice about navigating these challenging and intimidating procedures and makes sure that their voices are heard and their privacy and dignity respected by relevant decision-makers.
Racial justice is at the heart of Theresa’s practice. She is committed to fighting systemic racism in our criminal legal system and fearlessly advances race-based arguments in court. She has kept defendants out of jail in serious cases because of the need to remedy Black over-incarceration, has argued for the need to account for the harsh jail conditions faced by racialized prisoners, and has had her clients’ convictions overturned because their trial lawyer lacked the cultural competence to defend them effectively.
Theresa’s fierce advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. She often speaks to the media on topics of racial justice, social justice, and criminal law. She has appeared on prominent news networks including CBC, TVO, and CP24. She is routinely asked to make submissions on the impact of proposed legislation on Black communities before the Canadian Senate.
Outside of her practice, Theresa is the Director of Advocacy for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, sits on the board of Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth, and serves on the Young Advocates’ Standing Committee of The Advocates’ Society. She also mentors law students and regularly speaks on panels at conferences and seminars across the country.
If you are looking for a dedicated advocate or racial justice expert to assist with your case, call or write Theresa today.