Biography

Spotlight

Sandra is reputed across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories for her labour and employment practice. With further expertise spanning administrative law and civil litigation, market sources describe her as a "great lawyer who embodies community values."

Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

Sandra is the Administrative Partner for the firm's Yellowknife office. She practices in the areas of labour and employment, human rights, and administrative law. Sandra acts as an advocate for governments, private companies, and administrative boards in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Sandra works with clients in both unionized and non-unionized environments. She provides advice on wrongful dismissal, employment standards, occupational health and safety, labour relations, and human rights issues. She also conducts workplace investigations, assessments, and restorations for various clients.

Prior to joining Lawson Lundell in 2011, she clerked at the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Sandra then practised with a boutique litigation firm in Toronto, Ontario before returning to the north.

Professional Activities

  • Member, Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations Roster of Investigators
  • Vice-President, Law Society of the Northwest Territories
  • Member, Canadian Association of Counsel for Employers (CACE)
  • Member, Association of Workplace Investigators
  • Past Chair (2017-2019) and current member of  Labour and Employment and Administrative Law Sections, Canadian Bar Association, Northwest Territories Branch
  • Member, Discipline Committee, Law Society of Nunavut
  • Member, Discipline Committee, Law Society of the Northwest Territories (2018-2021)

Community Activities

  • Chair, Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation (2014 - 2020)
  • Past President, Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce (Aug. 2022 - Feb. 2023)

Recognitions & Rankings

Recognitions & Rankings

  • Chambers Canada 2024: recognized for General Business Law - Northern Canada and Arctic (Band 2)
  • Winner of Canadian Bar Association - Northwest Territories
    Community Service Award for 2019

Experience

Experience

Sandra’s experience includes:

Representing northern governments, corporations, municipalities, and aboriginal organizations with various commercial, employment and general litigation matters:

  • Has successfully conducted wrongful dismissal trials and other employment related litigation;
  • Acted for both debtors and creditors in collection proceedings in court;
  • Acted as co-counsel in an Inquiry under the Integrity Act in Nunavut;
  • Acted as lead counsel in four Coroner's Inquests in Nunavut;
  • Act as counsel in child protection cases in Nunavut; participate in court and trials regularly in the Nunavut Court of Justice; 
  • Appeared at various administrative boards and tribunals including Labour Standards Board and the Labour Standards Appeal Board; Motor Vehicles Act Appeal Board; Human Rights Adjudication Panel, Employment Standards Board;
  • Conduct workplace investigations for various governmental bodies;
  • Act for northern clients in negotiating collective agreements;
  • Assisting municipalities, hamlets, and aboriginal organizations with the drafting and interpretation of employment bylaws; 
  • Providing advice on the duty to accommodate and other obligations under the Human Rights Act;
  • Has successfully participated in Judicial led mediations in the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories, and the Nunavut Court of Justice;
  • Has participated in various types of mediation and arbitration for commercial and employment disputes; and
  • Has received advanced training in Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2013.

News & Publications

News & Publications

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

  • "Relevant Updates in Employment Law 2022", Chartered Professional Accountants of the Northwest Territories/Nunavut, September 15, 2022
  • "Employment Law for Northern Entrepreneurs", EntrepreNorth, April 6, 2022
  • "Conducting Workplace Investigations", Canadian Bar Association, Northwest Territories Branch, August 6, 2021, Co-Presenter
  • "Emerging Issues and Human Rights", 2017 Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 31, 2017, Co-speaker
  • "Update on Labour and Employment law in the North" National Referral Network meeting in Montreal, QC, June 16, 2016
  • “Human Rights and Privacy Law Update”, 2016 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, Co-speaker
  • "Managing Employee Disability and Privacy", 2015 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 28, 2015
  • "Child and Family Services Act Update", Senior Management Training"Half day training for Director of Family Services in Iqaluit, Nunavut, March 2014
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers 2012 Annual General Meeting; “The Conjuror Unmasked - Magic of a Spellbinding Defence: Toronto: 7 June 2012” , Young Lawyers’ Panel Discussion “Conquering the Generational Divide”
  • “Human Rights and Privacy Law Update”, Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 31, 2012, Speaker
  • “Build Your Brand, Build Your Practice”, Ontario Bar Association Institute, February 2011, Chair
  • "Insurance Law: Everything You Need to Know", Ontario Bar Association, October 2010, Speaker
Sandra MacKenzie, Lawson Lundell Photo
Yellowknife
t 867.669.5503
f 867.920.2206
* Law Professional Corporation

Assistant Contact

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario (2008)
  • Northwest Territories (2011)
  • Nunavut (2012)

Education

University of Windsor (LL.B., 2007)

Wilfrid Laurier University (B.A. Hons., 2004)

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