CRIMINAL DEFENCE

Julianna Khou is a strategic and results-driven criminal defence lawyer with over a decade of experience advocating for clients at all levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Her practice is focused on complex criminal litigation, constitutional challenges, and high-stakes trials, with particular expertise in Charter applications, sexual assault proceedings, and appellate advocacy. She is recognized for her ability to develop compelling legal strategies, conduct meticulous case analysis, and advance principled, persuasive arguments in legally and factually complex cases. She is known for combining strategic judgment with clear, practical advice, ensuring clients understand both their legal position and the path forward at every stage.

Julianna is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, followed by a Master of Arts in Political Science. She later earned a Master of Science in Gender and Social Policy from the London School of Economics and completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Ottawa. She articled and practised as an associate lawyer at the Alan D. Gold Professional Corporation, where she worked on high-profile and complex criminal cases, including sexual assault and violent offence matters. Under the mentorship of Alan D. Gold, she was afforded the valuable opportunity to develop a deep understanding of trial advocacy, judicial decision-making, and appellate litigation across a wide range of criminal and regulatory contexts.

Since launching her own practice in 2015, Julianna has acted as lead counsel on a broad range of criminal defence matters, including Charter motions, preliminary inquiries, trials, and jury trials, in both English and French. She regularly conducts rigorous cross-examinations of police officers, forensic experts, and vulnerable witnesses, and has successfully argued applications resulting in charge withdrawals, acquittals, stayed proceedings, and other favourable outcomes. Her constitutional practice includes challenges under sections 7, 8, 9, and 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as complex applications under sections 24(2), 276, and 278 of the Criminal Code.

Since 2015, Julianna has also participated in the government pilot program providing independent legal advice to sexual assault complainants, ensuring that their legal rights and privacy interests are protected in section 276 and 278 proceedings. In addition to her defence practice, she serves as per diem duty counsel with Legal Aid Ontario at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, where she represents accused persons in both contested and consent bail hearings and advises on Charter rights, surety obligations, and rehabilitative release planning.

Julianna is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Bar Association, the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. Born in Paris, France, she is fluent in English and French, proficient in Cantonese, and has a working knowledge of Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Spanish. A firm believer in the protection of civil liberties, she approaches every case—whether involving an individual or a corporation—with focused preparation, strategic judgment, and an unwavering commitment to principled advocacy.