Lauren J. Wihak, K.C., joined McDougall Gauley LLP in 2017, after spending the first seven years of her practice split between a Vancouver litigation boutique and a major national law firm in both Ottawa and Vancouver.

Prior to starting her career has a lawyer, Lauren had the privilege of clerking for the Honourable Mr. Justice Louis LeBel of the Supreme Court of Canada (2009-2010) and the Honourable Madam Justice Georgina R. Jackson of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan (2008-2009). She is called to the bar in Saskatchewan (2009), Ontario (2010), and British Columbia (2011). Lauren received her King's Counsel appointment in 2024. She is fully fluent in French and English.

Lauren’s civil litigation practice focuses on public and administrative law, appellate litigation, and constitutional litigation. In addition to a vast array of representative work helping clients in any number of civil litigation matters, Lauren also has considerable experience dealing with appeals, and for application for leave to appeal and for leave to intervene, including before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Lauren has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, the Court of Appeal for Manitoba, and various trial courts across Canada including the Court of King’s Bench for Saskatchewan. She has also appeared before a number of administrative boards and tribunals.

Lauren has designed an upper year law school course entitled Appellate Advocacy and Principles, which she has taught at the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan since 2018. She has also authored a number of papers and articles, some of which have been cited by Canadian courts including the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan. Lauren has spoken and presented at numerous conferences and seminars both in Saskatchewan and across Canada on administrative law, legal writing, and appellate advocacy.

Accordingly, Lauren has been recognized by her peers across the Country as a Best Lawyer in Canada (Administrative and Public Law), and has been listed in the Canadian Lexpert Legal Directory in the area of Regulatory and Public Law since 2023. Lauren was featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation, in both 2023 and 2024.

Lauren continues to be an active member of her profession. She served for five years on the Canadian Bar Association’s Supreme Court of Canada Bench and Bar Committee, including two years as its Chairperson. She also served three years on the Executive for the Advocate’s Society’s Appellate Advocacy Practice Group. Including as its Chairperson in 2023-2024. Lauren has been involved in a volunteer capacity with the Wilson Moot, a national moot bringing together law students from across Canada to address important questions of constitutional litigation, since 2011, as a team coach, volunteer judge and, since 2024, factum grader.

Lauren received her Juris Doctor in 2008 from Queen’s University, where she was a member of the Dean’s list during each of her three years of study and was awarded the Dean’s Key at graduation. Lauren also holds a degree in Communication and Psychology from the University of Ottawa, where she was awarded the Silver Medal.