Sahar Talebi and James Scarfone are among a group of Windsor Law alumni being recognized for their outstanding contributions to the legal profession, leadership and commitment to advancing justice and serving their communities. (SUBMITTED BY SAHAR TALEBI AND JAMES SCARFONE/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
Each year, Windsor Law honours graduates whose careers demonstrate the impact lawyers can have beyond the courtroom — advancing justice, strengthening communities and upholding the values at the heart of the legal profession.
The Windsor Law Alumni Awards recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, leadership and service. Among this year’s recipients are Hamilton lawyer James Scarfone, who graduated in Windsor Law’s third class in 1973, and Sahar Talebi, a litigator at Lenczner Slaght and recipient of the Dual JD Transnational Leader Award.
For Scarfone, the recognition represents over five decades of connection to the law school that helped shape his career and his approach to the profession.
“Those of us in the early years, we were pioneers of a new law school,” he said.
He credits the school’s founders, early faculty and staff with creating a culture that viewed law not simply as a profession, but as a responsibility to promote the rule of law, civility and social justice.
That philosophy has guided his career, including leadership roles as president of the Hamilton Law Association, one of the founders of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and director with organizations including The Advocates’ Society and the Ontario Brain Injury Association.
“I am touched and grateful for this honour,” he said. “I have abiding and daily gratitude for my education and my career and Windsor Law for affording that opportunity to me.”
Talebi’s recognition reflects a similar commitment to using the law as a tool for advocacy and public service. Her work as a litigator includes representing the Canadian Council of Muslim Women as an intervenor before the Supreme Court of Canada in the constitutional challenge to Quebec’s Bill 21, where she advocated for the voices of Muslim women and communities affected by the legislation.
“What motivates me is a belief that as lawyers, we have an obligation to serve the communities in which we practice,” Talebi said.
She credits Windsor Law with providing the foundation for her legal career and shaping her belief that the law can be a force for good. Her public interest advocacy reflects the same preparation and dedication she brings to complex commercial litigation.
“Windsor Law is where my legal career began,” she said. “It’s where I gained the foundation that has shaped every aspect of my practice. To be recognized by that community is incredibly humbling, and I am beyond grateful.”
The stories of Scarfone and Talebi reflect the impact of a Windsor Law education and the many ways graduates continue to serve their communities, advance the profession and shape the future of law.