Staff

JURIST’s Global Chief of Staff is Edgar Odongo. Edgar is a lawyer currently undertaking his pupillage at Kaplan and Stratton Advocates in Nairobi, aiming to be admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. An LLB graduate of the University of Nairobi and presently undertaking an LLM at the same university, Edgar joined JURIST in April 2021. In his time at JURIST, he has served in diverse capacities, ranging from News Writer and Editor to the Chief of Staff in Africa. In May 2023, Edgar was feted as a co-recipient of the Greg Johnson Collaboration Award. Edgar considers his JURIST experience not only fulfilling but life-changing.

JURIST’s News Managing Editor is Derren Chan. Derren is a 3L student at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia (CA) and a law student at the University of Hong Kong. Derren previously served as JURIST’s Hong Kong Bureau Chief and has a particular interest in constitutional law and international law.

JURIST’s Managing Editor for Long Form Content is James Joseph (he/him). James has completed his Master’s in politics and international law from Keele University School of Law in the UK and has been a staff correspondent for JURIST for two years. James also provides secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hazara in the UK Parliament and will start his PhD at Queen’s University Belfast School of Law in the fall.

JURIST’s Dispatches Managing Editor is Mashal Asim. Mashal is in her final year of LLB at the University of London. Beyond the classroom, she has gained practical experience through internships at law firms where she had the opportunity to work on a range of legal cases. Mashal is very interested in exploring the intersection of law with social justice concerns, including human rights and gender equality.

Sonja Rzepski is a Senior News Editor for JURIST. Sonja is a 3L at Vermont Law, concentrating on energy and international environmental policy. She was a staff correspondent for the JURIST before becoming an editor and enjoys writing about the law and its implications for peace, justice, human rights, tolerance, solidarity, and respect for the earth.

Salma Ben Souissi is a Senior News Editor for JURIST. Salma is a law graduate from the Université Libre de Tunis. She has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the European University of Tunis and an LLM in international human rights law from the University of Law in London. She joined JURIST in December 2023 as a News writer before becoming an editor. She is particularly interested in human rights and immigration law.

Ashley Wong is a Senior News Editor for JURIST. Ashley is a third-year student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law.

Sharon Basch is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Sharon is a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US) and has been on JURIST’s staff for two years. Sharon has contributed to JURIST’s News, Dispatches, and Long-Form content focusing on Israel and the Middle East, as well as the rule of law in the United States. With a Master’s Degree in Government: Diplomacy and Conflict Study, Sharon focuses on public and private international law.

Qurrat Ul Ain Rehman is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. With over nine years of legal experience, including a senior partnership at QR Law Associates and Consultants, she brings a wealth of expertise in diverse legal areas, ensuring meticulous client representation and satisfaction. Currently pursuing an LLM in International Human Rights Law at Brunel University London, her commitment to education is evident through her tenure as a Senior Lecturer at Bahria University, where she mentored students and organized events to foster a passion for law. Additionally, her role as a Gateway Assessor in the Citizen Advice Bureau provides her with a unique opportunity to contribute to society by assessing and advocating for the rights of individuals, ensuring equitable access to justice. Combining her passion for education with her dedication to community empowerment, she strives to make a positive impact in both academic and social spheres.

Tarazi Mohammed Sheikh is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Tarazi is a final-year BRAC University (Bangladesh) law student. She serves the International Law Students Association (ILSA) as a Student Director. Tarazi has a keen enthusiasm for exploring and engaging with public international law and human rights issues and is actively striving to make impactful contributions in these fields. She has also garnered recognition on national and international stages for her performance in debates, legal research, writing, and journalism. Tarazi is committed to making a lasting impact on the future of international legal education in South Asia and globally.

Pitasanna Shanmugathas is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Pitasanna is a 2L at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. He holds a Master of Global Affairs degree from the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. Pitasanna is also a documentary filmmaker and has co-produced a critically insightful documentary series on Canadian foreign policy as well as on Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. Since 2014, Pitasanna has volunteered with the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, an organization that supports refugees arriving in Canada upon fleeing torture and persecution. As a law student, Pitasanna has worked as a student clinician in the US at the Vermont Immigrant Assistance Clinic and as a summer student at an immigration firm in Canada, assisting asylum seekers. Pitasanna has also been involved in peace activism and refugee advocacy through Save the Children Canada, STAND Canada, and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace.

Mykyta Vorobiov is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Mykyta is a Ukrainian political analyst, journalist and political science student at Bard College Berlin. For the last two years, he has been developing articles on politics and law for CEPA, VoxEurop, JURIST and others.

JURIST’s Canada Bureau Chief is Jeffrey Wang. Jeffrey is a second-year student at the University of Calgary School of Law and has served on JURIST’s staff for the past year. Jeffrey served as a staff correspondent for JURIST before becoming an editor and is interested in trade and international law.

JURIST’s East Africa Bureau Chief is Natasha Kahungi. Natasha is a finalist law student at the University of Nairobi Faculty of Law and a Certified Public Accountant in training, currently serving as the Editor in Chief of the University of Nairobi Law Journal (UNLJ). With a fervent passion for the intersection of law and technology, digital rights, children and the law, human rights, gender rights, and data privacy, Natasha is dedicated to advocating for these areas of law to make a positive impact in the world.

JURIST’s North Africa Bureau Chief is Salma Ben Mariem. Salma is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of Sousse, Tunisia, with a Master’s in private law. She joined JURIST in February 2024 as a News writer. Salma is passionate about international business law and arbitration. She aspires to become a lawyer and specialize in international trade and business law.

JURIST’s South Asia Bureau Chief is Shashank Pandey (he/him). Shashank is a third-year student at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, India, pursuing a law and humanities degree. He is interested in researching and writing about socio-legal issues, with a particular emphasis on using his writing to advocate for reforms.

JURIST’s UK Bureau Chief is Elisabeth Driscoll. Elisabeth (Libs) is a second-year LLB student at the University of Bristol (GB). After joining the staff in December 2022, she served as Chief of Staff for a year before being appointed Bureau Chief in May. She is passionate about a variety of legal sectors, particularly medical law, human rights law and the politics of lawmaking and enforcement. After her 2025 graduation, Libs would like to continue to pursue her interest in legal journalism alongside qualifying for practice.

JURIST’s US Bureau Chief is Madeline Yingling (she/her). Madeline is a second-year law student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US) and joined JURIST in September 2023 as a News writer. She is primarily interested in international law and human rights.

JURIST’s Australia/New Zealand Chief of Staff is Jisue Chloe Kim. Chloe is a penultimate year student pursuing a conjoint degree in B.Com, majoring in tax, and L.LB (Hons) at Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka. Due to moving continents since a young age, Chloe is passionate about connecting people from all around the globe. She joined JURIST and took this leadership position to bring people together and to witness the unique perceptions each culture and mind demonstrates. Outside of her legal studies, Chloe loves taking care of her plants, scuba diving and cafe-hopping with friends.

JURIST’s Canada Chief of Staff is Tyler Li. Tyler is a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law who has a keen interest in corporate transactional work. Tyler is also a world-class debater and public speaker with many accolades on the international stage, being a Grand Finalist at the North American Universities Debating Championships and ranked 24th in the world at the World Universities Debating Championships in Belgrade. Tyler is currently working on cross-border transactions at a corporate law firm in Hong Kong and hopes to leverage their international background to expand JURIST’s reach by establishing a strong Canadian presence dedicated to democratizing legal information.

JURIST’s East Asia Chief of Staff is Chi Wai Hu. Chi Wai is currently a final-year student at the University of Hong Kong studying law and politics. He has been a news writer since December 2023. He previously worked at a public interest law firm in Hong Kong and is particularly interested in the interaction between international relations, geopolitics and law.

JURIST’s Europe Chief of Staff is Nova Kruijning. Nova is a graduate of Maastricht University in The Netherlands, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in European & International law. After completing her undergraduate degree, she pursued the post-graduate Diploma of Law in the UK. She has a keen interest in international law and global affairs, and after completing her Masters’ degree in 2025, would like to work in the field of international law alongside continuing to pursue her interest in legal journalism.

JURIST’s North Africa Chief of Staff is Abir Khlif (she/her). Abir is a dedicated legal scholar currently pursuing a Master of Law: Common Law at the University of Carthage. Abir’s expertise in legal advocacy, honed through academic achievements and practical experiences, positions her as a leading voice in advancing legal discourse in the region.

JURIST’s South America Chief of Staff is María Paz Rodríguez Galiano. She is a fifth-year student at the Facultad de Derecho PUCP (PE).

JURIST’s South Asia Chief of Staff is Ojjaswini Gupta (she/her). Ojjaswini is a fourth-year law student pursuing B.A. LL.B. (Honours) at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat. Her fervor for criminal law is matched by her deep-seated concern for human rights challenges, both within the conflicted corners of India and across the globe. She not only holds this concern close to her heart but actively delves into researching these critical issues. She aims to pursue a Masters degree and ultimately enter the judicial services. Outside her legal studies, she finds solace in exploring and reliving history through visits to ruins and significant historical sites, traveling to new destinations, and composing poetry.

JURIST’s US Chief of Staff is Jonnette Oakes. Jonnette is a third-year student at Washburn University School of Law (US). She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas. Jonnette became a member of JURIST in September 2023 as a News Writer before becoming an Associate Editor. Jonnette finds enjoyment in writing about the intersections of politics and the law.

JURIST’s West Africa Chief of Staff is Lana Osei. Holding an LLB degree from the prestigious Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), she serves as the executive secretary to the Centre for African Diplomacy and Global Engagement (Afroglobals) in Accra, Ghana. Beyond these pursuits, Lana is a thought leader, fuelled by a desire to shape the future through insightful writing. For Lana, writing is not merely a skill, but a “manifesto to her future self,” a powerful tool to envision a better world and advocate for the actions needed to achieve it. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Lana takes the helm with humility and the distinct privilege of leading a team that shares her values. She is committed to empowering her colleagues, fostering collaboration, and amplifying their voices to bring about positive change across the African continent.

JURIST’s Chief of Staff for Correspondents is Aynsley Genga. She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi School of Law and is currently at the Kenya School of Law undertaking the advocate training program.

JURIST’s Alumni Engagement Coordinator is Sean Nolan. Sean is a 3L at Southwestern Law School. Sean is a 3L at Southwestern Law School with a deep interest in labor and employment issues in the entertainment industry. Before law school, he spent nearly a decade working with musicians and managing a rehearsal studio in the Los Angeles area. Sean earned his B.A. in English from University of California, Santa Barbara, and amidst his legal studies maintains a healthy reading list of fiction and nonfiction alike.