Ethical Associates Inc. maintains a roster of diverse human rights lawyers, equity practitioners and adjudicators who work independently and are available to serve as dedicated neutrals in the resolution of complex disputes. Please contact us if you wish to retain any of the independent practitioners on our roster.

Margaret Leighton recently served as head of legal services to the 19 tribunals that comprise Tribunals Ontario. She has a long history in Ontario’s administrative tribunal community. Prior to her role at Tribunals Ontario, Margaret managed and directed the legal units of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario and regularly appeared on behalf of the SJTO tribunals before the Divisional Court and in the Ontario Court of Appeal. She was appointed in 2015 as a lawyer member of the Law Society of Ontario Tribunal.

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A graduate of both the University of British Columbia (B.A. Hons) and the University of Toronto (M.A. and LL.B.), Margaret practiced labour law before joining the Ontario public service. She has been counsel to a variety of administrative boards and tribunals including the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and the Board of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Between 2003 and 2006, Margaret was a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee Protection Division.

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Margaret also chaired the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals between 2017 and 2019 and continues to serve on CCAT’s executive committee as Past Chair. She is the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Administrative Law and Practice, co-authors the chapter on “Practice before Administrative Tribunals” in Canadian Legal Practice, and is a regular contributor to legal education and professional development programs.