Our office is proud to welcome Brittany Whalen to our team as an associate lawyer. Brittany uses her innovative problem-solving and conflict management skills to ensure clients feel comfortable and supported throughout their matter. Brittany is terrific at making sure clients are well-informed about their rights and options.
Brittany was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016 as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 2017. She previously worked as an associate lawyer at a firm in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. In this role, she had the opportunity to work on several high-profile criminal and civil litigation matters and also established a successful family law practice.
Brittany is also an experienced legal and policy consultant with extensive knowledge of human rights. She is well known for her minority rights advocacy and received national attention for her role in a landmark transgender rights case where her client received the first gender-neutral birth certificate in Canada. This case was the catalyst for policy and legislative reform in Canada aimed at promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Brittany has always held a passion for social justice issues and holds specialized training to provide trauma-informed legal services to harm survivors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the “Pathways Foundation” which is a community healing and support group. She also worked in collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault and Crisis Prevention Centre (NLSACPC) and the Public Legal Education Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN) to offer free legal services to individuals who have experienced sex and gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination.
Brittany passionately believes in the power of education. She spent time volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania, where she helped build a schoolhouse and teach English to primary students. She is also involved with the “Cambodian Legal Education for Women” (CLEW), a charity that helps support disadvantaged women living in Cambodia through a four-year law degree.
Brittany was born and raised in the Durham Region. She holds a B.A. from Queen’s University where she also earned a Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa where she also received a notational in International Law. Brittany also holds Alternative Dispute Resolution training from the University of the West Indies in Bridgetown, Barbados, through Canada’s Centre for Trade Policy and Law. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, yoga, travelling, and exploring her creative side.
We are proud to have Brittany as a member of our team!
