Rotary Cambridge PH Weekly Bulletin March 5 2026 (Mar. 05, 2026)

Speaker Profile: Dalia Perez, JD, ME
Core Qualifications & Roles:
* Education: Graduate of Michigan State University College of Law (Joint American/Canadian JD program) and holds a Masters of Jurisprudence. She also completed an Honours BA at the University of Ottawa in Ethics and Society, with a Minor in French.
* Current Positions:
* Co-Founder and Principal Partner, Perez and Perez (Cambridge-based general practice).
* In-House Senior Legal Counsel.
* Adjunct Professor of Business Law, University of Waterloo (starting May).
* Advocacy: Strong advocate for inclusion, access to justice, and community service, embodying the Rotary principle of "Service Above Self."
Speech Highlights & "Two Truths and a Lie" Analysis
Dalia structured her presentation around her biography and a gamified icebreaker, challenging the audience to identify which of the following experiences was false:
* Filmed a reality TV pilot with Lionsgate.
* Represented a defendant in a first-degree murder sentencing.
* Worked on a high-profile celebrity divorce case.
The Lie: Dalia did not work on a high-profile celebrity divorce case (though she joked that she would take one if offered).
Biography and Background: "Where It All Began"
* Early Life: Born in Markham, Dalia grew up in Orangeville, Ontario. She appreciated Orangeville as a small, predominantly white town, which provided a contrast to the diverse environments she sought later in life.
* University of Ottawa: Motivated to gain independence from her parents, she chose the University of Ottawa despite never visiting it. She loved the "government city" dynamic and pursued an ethics degree primarily as a prerequisite for law school.
* Meeting Her Husband: Dalia met her husband, Kizzer, in a first-year "World Religion" class. She humorously recounted the awkward icebreaker where students were grouped by religion (she is Jewish, he is Muslim). They became friends, then partners, and have been together for 13 years.
* Two Weddings: Dalia and Kizzer had two distinct celebrations:
* Cultural/Religious Wedding: A vibrant, traditional Pakistani wedding (celebrating Kizzer's heritage).
* Vegas Wedding: After a long engagement, they married in Las Vegas only after finishing law school and the bar exams, to focus on their education.
Career Pathway and Legal Experience
1. Legal Education (Michigan State University):
Dalia and Kizzer attended Michigan State University (MSU) for a joint American and Canadian JD program. She was drawn to the different dynamic of a US school, especially a "Big Ten" sports school, and "bleeds green" as a Spartan fan.
* Truth #1: The Reality TV Pilot: While at MSU, Lionsgate producers (the team behind Dance Moms) scouted students for a reality TV competition. The show, which filmed a pilot but was not picked up, centered on students competing for a job at Jeffrey Fieger's law firm (Fieger is a prominent Michigan lawyer known for the Jack Kevorkian case). Dalia was selected and had to hide the fact that Kizzer (who also joined the cast) was her fiancé. She shared that the experience gave her insight into which parts of "reality" TV are authentic and which are "coached" (scripted or encouraged) by producers.
2. Legal Practice in Michigan:
After graduating, Dalia decided to begin her legal career immediately in Michigan, as the US system does not require articling (allowing graduates to start immediately as junior counsel) and she enjoyed the litigious, direct nature of US practice. She was formally sworn in before a judge in Michigan court.
* Insurance Fraud Defense: Her first role was in insurance fraud defense, primarily for automobile insurers. She worked closely with private investigators to uncover complex fraud rings (involving lawyers, doctors, and chiropractors) who would stage accidents or exaggerate injuries (e.g., using fraudulent MRI clinics) to collect huge benefits.
* Truth #2: First-Degree Murder Resentencing: While working in Michigan, a major US Supreme Court case determined that mandatory life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders were unconstitutional. Judges were required to hold resentencing hearings for all incarcerated "youth" (who had been sentenced to die in prison) to consider mitigating factors like immaturity.
* Case Study: Lamont Harper: Dalia took a pro bono case representing Lamont Harper, who was 17 when he was involved in a fatal gang-related double-shooting in Detroit. He had already served about 23 years of his "life without parole" sentence when Dalia met him in a high-security prison.
* The Transformation: Dalia initially felt intimidated, as a young, petite lawyer alone in a room with a very tall man convicted of murder. However, she quickly recognized that Lamont had genuinely transformed over his decades in prison. He finished high school, found faith, and maintained a clean record.
* Success: Dalia had to draft a comprehensive "resentencing package" that not only argued his legal case but detailed his entire "plan for success" on the outside (housing with his mother, guaranteed employment from a charity that hires parolees). She successfully got his sentence converted to 27 years. He was released shortly after she moved back to Canada. She stays in contact with him, and he is now a stable, employed tree trimmer in Detroit who works with the ACLU to mentor at-risk youth and prevent them from following his path.
Career Shift: In-House and Corporate Law
1. Return to Canada:
Dalia and Kizzer decided to return to Canada, choosing Ottawa as their destination. This decision was largely driven by Dalia's observation of the "political climate change" in the US and the difficulties of starting a family there compared to the Canadian system.
2. Re-Licensing:
Because they hadn't completed the extra year for the dual degree, Dalia and Kizzer had to go through the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) process. This required them to pay substantial fees, study, and pass exams to validate their American education, and then complete the Canadian bar exams to practice law in Ontario. (She still maintains active licenses to practice in both Ontario and Michigan).
3. Move to In-House Counsel:
Seeking a less stressful lifestyle than the high-demand, migraine-inducing litigation world, Dalia shifted her focus to in-house corporate roles.
* CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association): Worked as a Corporate Compliance Officer, overseeing trademarks (realtor, MLS, DDF). She jokingly noted that she would have to "annoy agents" all over the country to correct their misuse of "realtor" versus "salesperson."
* CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation): Worked for this major Crown corporation, managing vast aspects of corporate law, including litigation support, advisory, contract negotiations (leasing, etc.), and substantial tech agreements.
Dalia's Modern Practice: Cambridge
Dalia and her family moved to Cambridge approximately two years ago. Dalia genuinely loves the city for its unique small-community feel. She lives in West Cambridge.
1. Perez and Perez (Formally Al Perez and Presla):
Dalia and her husband recently "pushed forward" on establishing their own general practice law firm.
* Philosophy: They offer a full suite of services but unique "fractional general counsel" services for businesses of all sizes, allowing small companies to access on-demand legal advice without the cost of a full-time staff lawyer.
* Community First: They prioritize flexibility. Dalia shared a moving story about a self-represented client with a disability who needed a document but couldn't drive. Rather than forcing her to spend 90 minutes on a bus, Dalia (who was traveling with her kids at the time) met the woman in a parking lot to deliver the document, a neighborly gesture that symbolized her commitment to community service.
2. Additional Roles:
* Activate Games: Dalia is currently the sole In-House Counsel for Activate Games. She is passionate about the high-tech entertainment company, which combines gaming with fitness (describing it as being "inside a video game").
* Waterloo adjunct Professor: Dalia is starting a new position teaching Business Law at the University of Waterloo in May, which she is very excited about.
Key Takeaways and Audience Interaction
Community Engagement:
Dalia is committed to free legal education and currently has a series running with the Cambridge Library on various topics, including a well-received seminar on wills at the Hespeler branch (with upcoming events at other library branches). She also recently did a "Smart Marketing" seminar for small business owners through the Waterloo Region Small Business Center.

Editors note The above is IA generated by Gemini which means it may or may not be accurate as some times it hallucinates, When in Spain trying to watch Olympics i wanted to know How Rachel Homan was doing curling for the bronze medal. Chat GPt confirmed she Won and Gemini Confirmed she lost. When i asked how could that be they saud they were hallucinating as the game hadnt started yet.

I think Jim J might have thanked her and am sure PrezKeith did official thanks