Jackie VanDerMeulen practices all aspects of labour, employment and human rights law. She is a skilled advocate who regularly represents employers in labour arbitrations, interest arbitrations, federal and provincial labour board matters, human rights proceedings (including pay equity), employment litigation and applications for judicial review. She supports also employers with collective bargaining and day-to-day employment advice.
Jackie has a particular expertise in pay equity, employment equity and other aspects of equitable pay. Her technical knowledge of the pay equity process, including job evaluations and compensation comparison, together with her advocacy experience and knowledge of labour relations, have positioned Jackie to collaborate with dozens of Canada's largest employers on their pay equity strategies.
Jackie is recognized as a leading lawyer in several rankings, including:
- Ranked by Chambers in Employment & Labour Law in Ontario
- Recognized by Lexpert in the category of Workplace Human Rights
- Recognized by Legal 500 as a "Next Generation Partner" in Labour and Employment
- Received a Lexpert "Rising Star" award in 2022
In 2023, Jackie was invited to join the FETCO delegation representing Canadian employers at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. She acted as the representative on the Committee on Application of Standards and was appointed to the ILO’s Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group.
Jackie distinguished herself while studying at both McGill University and the University of Toronto and was awarded the prize for the highest standing in undergraduate economics. Jackie is a dedicated mentor for students in the LAWS program, which aims to support, guide and motivate high school students who face challenges in engaging successfully with school and accessing post secondary education.