ABOUT
Stephany Mandin
Stephany Mandin is the founder and principal of Mandin Law, where she has built a reputation as a formidable and zealous advocate whose passion for client service shines through every facet of her work.
Acting for clients as varied and diverse as Canadian society itself, she uses a combination of negotiation, advocacy and strategic advice to resolve disputes in a wide range of practice areas – including complex commercial disputes, workplace claims and human rights complaints.
Whatever their background, clients know their matter is in safe hands with Stephany, who develops an approach tailored to the unique needs of the individual in front of her, taking into account the facts of their situation, their cost constraints and their ultimate goals.
From the very outset of her career, Stephany has left her mark on the legal profession. As a student at Osgoode Hall Law School, she made an immediate impression winning the first year negotiation competition, excelling in her studies and nurturing her passion for social justice at both Parkdale Community Legal Services clinic and Pro Bono Students Canada.
After her call to the bar, Stephany continued to shine, honing her negotiation and advocacy skills in practice – first at a leading litigation firm and later as a partner at commercial litigation boutique Goldman Hine, where she remains of counsel to the firm – before founding Mandin Law in 2018.
In a few short years, Stephany has established Mandin Law as a haven for every-day Canadians seeking its unique brand of caring, compassionate and individualized legal assistance.
Throughout her time in practice, Stephany has fed a constant hunger for learning, obtaining a masters degree in socio-legal studies, with a focus on Charter jurisprudence and economic discrimination. More recently, Stephany completed the Osgoode Certificate in Entertainment Law to support her burgeoning niche practice acting for artists in commercial deals and disputes.
In addition, Stephany has imparted some of her own knowledge to York University undergraduates, teaching a course on women and law to students at her alma mater.
Beyond work, Stephany plays an active role in the profession, as a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association and the Advocates’ Society. Outside of the legal community, Stephany also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Madison Community Services, a non-profit organization promoting health, recovery and integration of those with mental health challenges.
SERVICES
There are few scarier or more disorienting times in a person’s life than the early days of a legal dispute, especially if it is their first experience of our overburdened and often-overwhelming justice system.
At Mandin Law, Stephany’s calm and comforting manner combines with her practical and strategic advice to ease the stress of the situation for clients, allowing them to take control of their own matter and get themselves on the road to resolution, whether that arrives via the courtroom or some alternative form of dispute resolution.
ADVOCACY:
No two disputes are the same and no two parties ever enter litigation with the same aims, which is why Stephany structures her approach on an individual, results-driven basis. Whether a client wants to avoid a lawsuit, enforce a payment, or simply have their day in court, Stephany reviews the potential risks and rewards of each option before helping them settle on the plan of action that best suits their interests.
Stephany’s substantial trial experience has seen her argue cases at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. However, decision-making capability in our modern justice system extends well beyond the courts, and Stephany has encountered many of the administrative tribunals entrusted with those responsibilities in our province. During her career, she has advocated successfully for clients at the Ontario Labour Board, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, Ontario Securities Commission, Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal and the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board).
At Mandin Law, we provide experienced legal counsel across a broad range of civil and administrative matters, including:
SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
HUMAN RIGHTS CLAIMS AND CHARTER VIOLATIONS
If you believe that your Charter or human rights have been adversely impacted, Mandin Law can provide strategic advice tailored to your specific needs and circumstances for an effective resolution of your claims.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Mandin Law represents employers and employees at all levels of court, human rights and labour boards, and has successfully resolved employment issues such as workplace harassment, wrongful termination and breach of duties.
ENTERTAINEMENT LAW
Mandin Law has worked with a variety of musicians and other artists requiring assistance navigating the entertainment law sphere, including in disputes with labels and management over royalties, ownership of master recordings, intellectual property and licensing.
CONSTRUCTION LIEN CLAIMS
Mandin Law has acted for clients who have had a lien placed on their property, as well as for contractors seeking to enforce a lien. We provide advice in respect of the Construction Act, and can assist in effectively defending or pursuing your lien claim.
EXPROPRIATION, MUNICIPAL AND PLANNING DISPUTES (LPAT)
Mandin Law has acted for clients in respect of various municipal and re-zoning matters, and is experienced in the areas of expropriation claims by property owners, resisting or seeking to enforce a re-zoning application, judicial review applications and matters before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly Ontario Municipal Board)
COMMERCIAL AND CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES
From purchasing a house to buying a business, contracts touch every aspect of our lives. Mandin Law has experience representing clients involved in all types of contract dispute , including real estate agreements, lease and licensing agreements, franchise agreements, construction agreements, services and sales agreements, shareholder agreements and partnership agreements.
ESTATE LITIGATION
Whether you are seeking to enforce a Will, vary provisions for support or are in the midst of a family dispute respecting the distribution of assets, Mandin Law can provide you with the advice and representation best suited to your specific needs.
ARBITRATION OR MEDIATION
In addition to formal litigation, Mandin Law is experienced in alternative dispute resolution. Stephany believes in selecting the forum that will most effectively and efficiently resolve your matter and has represented clients in both mediation and arbitration hearings.
SERVICES
ADVICE:
Although the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” finds its origins in the medical field, it’s a maxim Mandin Law lives by. Not all legal work is reactive, and with the provision of strategic and practical advice, clients can identify and avoid potential issues by protecting their interests from the outset.
Thanks to Stephany’s extensive litigation experience, Mandin law has witnessed almost every imaginable way for a personal or professional relationship to devolve into an ugly court fight, and leverages those insights to reduce the chances of a similar breakdown happening in the future for clients.
While some conflicts are unavoidable, at minimum Stephany’s advice in the following areas best position her clients in the event things take a turn for the worse:
Workplace policies, training and investigations
In the last couple of decades, amendments to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act have revolutionized employers’ responsibilities when it comes to matters of workplace violence and sexual harassment. Mandin Law helps employers stay in compliance with ever-changing workplace laws, drafting policies, conducting training and investigating compliance when they arise. Stephany also routinely advises on matters related to human rights, Charter violations and constitutional issues.
Employment contracts
The written employment contract lies at the foundation an the relationship between employer and employee. Mandin Law prepares, reviews and critically evaluates these critical documents, ensuring they properly reflect the rights, obligations and expectations of the parties. Mandin Law also assesses severance packages and termination clauses – some of the most litigated provisions in the world of Ontario employment law.
Entertainment Law
At Mandin Law, Stephany puts her Osgoode Certificate in Entertainment Law to use on behalf of artists seeking to retain creative and financial control over their art, music and intellectual property. She also provides advice regarding licensing, royalties and publishing contracts.
Estate planning
Some family disputes are unavoidable, but the best way to minimize the changes of a fight over your estate after you’re gone is to have your Will and powers of attorney for property or personal care drafted by an experienced lawyer.
Family law agreements
Some family disputes are unavoidable, but the best way to minimize the changes of a fight over your estate after you’re gone is to have your Will and powers of attorney for property or personal care drafted by an experienced lawyer.
Corporate and commercial contracts
Mandin Law helps individuals and businesses ensure they are fully protected when entering into contracts such as shareholder agreements and residential or commercial leases.
NEWS
Court of Appeal upholds $50k aggravated damages award to long-term employee
Employers should be prepared to back up their reasons for dismissing an employee or risk leaving themselves open to a claim for aggravated damages, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In Krmpotic v. Thunder Bay Electronics Limited, the Court of Appeal for...
Independent contractors on fixed term contracts must mitigate damages, appeal court rules
Employers should take care when offering fixed-term contracts after the Court of Appeal upheld a $550,000 damages award to an independent contractor fired just seven months into a 72-month contract, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In the case of...
Lawyer Stephany Mandin shares her perspective on proposed Manitoba Legislation
Read Stephany Mandin's article on The Brandon Sun here.
Ontario’s franchise legislation gives the little guys a leg up
A recent Ontario Superior Court decision that cost the owners of the Wild Wing chain almost $1 million underlines the consumer-protection role of the province’s franchise legislation, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In the case of Jayasena Management...
Termination clause unenforceable after fundamental changes to employee’s role
Employment contracts may be rendered null and void if an employee’s role and responsibilities have fundamentally changed since they signed the agreement, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In Celestini v. Shoplogix Inc., the Court of Appeal for Ontario...
Post-secondary employers need guidance on sexual misconduct as NDA ban passes
A new law enhancing Ontario universities’ power to fire staff for sexual misconduct raises fairness and procedural concerns, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Under Bill 26, the Strengthening Post-Secondary Institutions and Students Act, any termination or...
Court of Appeal makes employment lawyers wait for clarity on Covid-19 leave
Employment lawyers will have to wait a little longer for the highly contentious debate over a pandemic-related leave to be settled after the Court of Appeal for Ontario declined an opportunity to weigh in, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. The provincial...
Supreme Court decision puts onus on Parliament to draft new extreme intoxication defence law
The ball is in Parliament’s court to come up with a constitutional law on extreme intoxication as a defence to serious criminal charges after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the existing bar on its use in cases of self-induced inebriation, says Toronto civil...
New law would force employer transparency about employee monitoring
Employers would face no new limits on employee surveillance under proposed electronic monitoring legislation as long as they tell workers what they are doing, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Bill 88, the Working for Workers Act, is currently under...
Ontario’s right-to-disconnect and non-compete changes symbolic for now
Headline-grabbing changes to Ontario’s workplace laws may be more symbolic than revolutionary in practice, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Premier Doug Ford’s provincial government hailed itself as a “first mover” on the path to the workplace of the...
OHRC policy provides framework for employer vaccine mandates
Ontarian employees will need more than a personal preference against Covid-19 vaccines to defy workplace mandates, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Since Sept. 22, Doug Ford’s provincial government has required patrons to show proof of vaccination with...
Controversial COVID-19 leave now divides the bench as well as the bar
The debate over a pandemic-related leave has migrated from the bar to the bench, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Ever since the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) was enacted last spring, employment lawyers have been locked in dispute over...
Clarity emerging on COVID-19 leave: shield not sword
Some employers may have taken advantage of a pandemic-related leave meant to shield employees, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. The Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) was first enacted in March last year – right after the pandemic took hold and the...
Court strikes blow against Covid quarantine hotel challenge
A civil liberties group face an uphill battle to defeat the federal government’s quarantine hotel policy after a judge refused to step in to the fray immediately, according to Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In his March 22 ruling, Ontario Superior Court...
High profile terminations for COVID-19 misconduct can be costly
Employers hoping to send a message with executive level terminations for COVID-19 breaches could get more than they bargained for, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. A series of high profile dismissals involving pandemic travel have hit the headlines in...
Supreme Court to hear arguments on extreme intoxication defence
Canada’s top court could offer some clarity over the use of extreme intoxication as a defence to serious criminal charges after agreeing to hear arguments on a controversial case, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Ontario’s Court of Appeal sparked outrage...
Judges aren’t the only ones who need sexual assault awareness training
Sept 28, 2020 Judges aren’t the only ones who need sexual assault awareness training The earlier sexual assault awareness and healthy relationship training can start, the better, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Legislators in each of the last two...
Precedent-setting ruling finds school board vicariously liable for teacher’s sexual abuse
A precedent-setting ruling declaring a school board vicariously liable for sexual abuse carried out by one of its teachers provides useful guidance for both educational administrators and sexual assault victims, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. CBC News...
Concerns around extreme intoxication defence overblown
Fears about loosening restrictions on the use of extreme intoxication as a defence to criminal charges may be overblown, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. In R v. Sullivan, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled that s. 33.1 of the Criminal Code – which...
COVID-19 highlights the true value of vulnerable essential workers
The COVID-19 crisis should prompt a reassessment of the value provided by Canada’s most vulnerable workers, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. With non-essential workers confined either to their homes or to the employment-insurance lines, Mandin, principal...
Decision clarifies rescission notice under AWA
A recent decision provides both franchisees and franchisors with some clarity on what constitutes notice of rescission under the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure), 2000 (AWA), says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin, who acted for the successful...
SCC convicts man despite errors in application of rape shield law
TORONTO — A man who argued misapplication of Canada's rape shield law had unfairly hamstrung his defence had his conviction restored last week even though the country's top court found errors in how judges had applied the provisions.In a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court...
Employees have options when harassed at work: Mandin
Victims of harassment should not be afraid to seek legal advice, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin.Mandin, principal of Mandin Law, has been involved in a spate of recent matters dealing with workers or students who took action against their employers or...
Harassment complaints part 1: Employers’ duties
In the first installment of a two-part series on harassment complaints, Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin discusses an employer’s duty to investigate.Organizations without a robust system for investigating harassment complaints are exposing themselves to...
New legislation not always the answer: Mandin
An Ontario Superior Court judgment awarding damages to a “revenge porn” victim demonstrates that legislative change is not necessarily the best path to justice, Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin tells AdvocateDaily.com.In the case, the court awarded $100,000 in...
Mandin Law: Finding ways to resolve legal disputes quickly, cost-effectively
After spending almost a decade at a Bay St. law firm, Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin has hung out her own shingle to continue her work assisting everyday people with their legal disputes.Although she's never worked in government, Mandin says she feels as...
Uproar over drunkenness defence a distraction to the main issues: Mandin
Critics attacking the judge and justice system over a decision to allow the accused to present a drunkenness defence in a sexual assault trial are missing the point both legally and socially, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin. Mandin, founder of Mandin Law,...
Ford government finding new ways to elicit change
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's new government has dug deep to find the rarely used parliamentary tools to quickly push through legislative change without having to draw up new bills, Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin tells Law Times.Usually, the provincial...
Mandin optimistic Bill 139 can offer balance
Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin tells Law Times she’s optimistic that last month’s enactment of Bill 139 will help balance a municipality’s power to make decisions with the province’s authority to step in.The bill, called the Building Better Communities and...
#MeToo can help clarify acceptable workplace behaviour
While the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement has made some people feel safer coming forward with sexual harassment allegations, it has also revealed a lack of understanding of what constitutes harassment and what is inappropriate in a workplace environment, says Toronto...
‘Tis the season to be aware of social host liability
People planning to host a holiday party have legal responsibilities to ensure their guests stay safe, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin.Mandin, principal of Mandin Law, says there are a few common-sense steps that hosts can take to mitigate liability."As a...
Canada: A Risky Business: A Constitutional Review Of Bill C-36
BY STEPHANY MANDINIn the landmark 2013 decision of Canada v Bedford, the Supreme Court of Canada declared that certain provisions of the Criminal Code, relating to the communication and engagement of prostitution, violated section 7 of the Charter of Rights and...
Canada: A Fighting Chance: The Importance Of Victim Advocacy In Sexual Assault Cases
BY STEPHANY MANDINThe recent verdict in the Jian Ghomeshi trial has sparked a growing public debate around how Canada's justice system deals with sexual assault. On March 24, 2016, Ghomeshi was acquitted by the Ontario Court of Justice on four counts of sexual assault...
Canada: A Guide To Disclosure Requirements Under The Ontario Consumer Protection Act
BY STEPHANY MANDIN The Ontario Consumer Protection Act, SO 2002, c 30, Sched A (the "CPA") specifies the financial disclosure obligations imposed on lenders in order to provide consumers with clear, transparent information about the details of their often complex...
Second time might be the charm for challenge of panhandling law: Mandin
A recently launched constitutional challenge to Ontario’s panhandling law has a better chance of success than a failed attempt more than a decade ago, says Toronto civil litigator Stephany Mandin.“The landscape has changed. We now have the benefit of almost two...
Ontario seeks to modernize Construction Lien Act
BY JEFF BUCKSTEIN Ontario is proposing major changes to the province’s Construction Lien Act to modernize the province’s construction lien and holdback rules, create a prompt payment system to ensure timely payment for contractors,...READ FULL...
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