Joseph Cheng

Joseph Cheng is General Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada’s National Litigation Sector (Ontario Regional Office).  In this capacity, he litigates on behalf of federal government departments and agencies in the areas of constitutional, administrative, human rights, and regulatory law.   Mr. Cheng is called to the Bar in Ontario, and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts & Science (Hon.) from McMaster University.  Following law school, he clerked at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.  From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Cheng completed an Interchange Assignment as Counsel and Manager of Legal Research with the Office of the Chief Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice.   

Mr. Cheng is Co-Chair of Osgoode Professional Development’s Crown Liability Conference.  Mr. Cheng is a past-Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law Section and a past co-Chair of the OBA’s Annual Charter Conference. 

Mr. Cheng has served as a Board Member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada's Equity Advisory Group, and a Council Member of the University of Toronto’s Law Alumni Association. 

Mr. Cheng was the inaugural recipient of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers’ Young Lawyer of the Year Award and an inaugural recipient of Precedent magazine’s Precedent Setter Award, in recognition of his contributions to the legal and broader community.   He is also the recipient of an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto in recognition of his voluntary service to the Faculty of Law.