Bio

Sydney is an associate with Cavalluzzo LLP and practices primarily in the areas of Labour Law, Aboriginal Law and Indigenous Rights, Professional Regulation, Workers’ Compensation, and Pay Equity.

Sydney regularly works with unions, associations, First Nations, and individual workers on various health matters, including workplace accidents and exposure to toxic substances, in the context of occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, and disability benefits schemes.

Sydney represents regulated nurses and midwives in professional regulation investigations and proceedings. Sydney also represents unions and individual clients at tribunals such as the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, and at grievance arbitration.

Since moving to Toronto in 2012, Sydney has been actively involved in community organizing and research. She has experience researching, teaching, and advocating for corporate accountability in the Canadian mining and oil and gas industries. She continues to organize for climate justice and is interested in the role that workers and trade unions can play in facilitating a just transition.

Sydney graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Law in 2019 with degrees in civil and common law and holds an HBA in Anthropology and Equity Studies from the University of Toronto. Throughout law school, Sydney was involved in the movement for migrant workers’ rights as a volunteer case worker at community legal clinics in Hong Kong and Montreal.

Education

  • Call to the Ontario Bar, 2021

  • Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law, McGill University, 2019

  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Toronto, 2016

Memberships

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • Ontario Bar Association

  • Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers

Related News

News/12 July 2024

Grassy Narrows Seeks Declaration that Ontario’s Mining Act Is Unconstitutional

Mining Act allows for mining staking with no consultation from affected Indigenous nations

News/6 June 2024

Grassy Narrows First Nation files lawsuit provincial and federal government for mercury contamination

Lawsuit argues Crown violated Grassy Narrows’ Treaty rights by failing to protect against and remedy the effects of mercury and other industrial contamination

Related Events

Event/Jun 24, 2022

Michael Thorburn and Sydney Lang participate in CALL Session: "Labour Lawyering in a Climate Crisis"

Session provides insight on climate-related changes to the workplace

Michael Thorburn and Sydney Lang participate in CALL Session: "Labour Lawyering in a Climate Crisis - Developing a Climate Competent Practice". This...
Event/Oct 6, 2020: 1:09 PM

Analysis of Bill 195 and the Legislation that Authorizes Employers to Override Collective Agreements

Just posted to our publications page is an analysis of the impact on the collectively bargained rights of employees of Ontario’s Bill 195 R...

Related Publications

Publication/6 October 2020

Analysis of Bill 195

Just posted to our publications page is an analysis of the impact on the collectively bargained rights of employees of Ontario’s Bill 195 "Reope...

Related Blogs

Blog/17 July 2024

Parliament’s Federal “Anti-Scab” Bill: A Step Forward for Organized Labour

A Summary of Bill C-58

On May 27, 2024, the House of Commons passed Bill C-58, a bill banning federally regulated employers from using replacement workers during strikes/loc...
Blog/5 July 2024

Key Takeaways from the UofT Occupy for Palestine Injunction

University of Toronto (Governing Council) v. Doe et al, 2024 ONSC 3755

On July 2, 2024, the University of Toronto obtained an injunction against a pro-Palestinian protest encampment taking place on its Front Campus. Thoug...
Blog/17 November 2023

FSRA Consultation on approach to Family Law Rules raises important issues for Pension Plan Administrators

Despite consultation fatigue in the last few months, pension plan administrators should consider key issues raised in the consultation on Family Law Rules.

The Consultation on Family Law Rules raises issues that will set the direction for FSRA relating to its first rules in the pension sector since being ...
Blog/7 September 2023

Environmental & climate risks at work: HEAT

Employees should be aware of their rights under existing human rights, workers’ compensation, and occupational health and safety legislation

The health impacts of extreme heat are widespread and will impact workers across sectors. Heat stress is a human rights and health and safety issue th...