Lauren J. Wihak joined McDougall Gauley LLP in 2017, after spending the first six 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 as 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).  Relying on the experiences and knowledge gained during the course of her two clerkships, Lauren’s civil litigation practice places an emphasis 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 applications for leave to appeal and for intervener status, and with appeals (including appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada).

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

Lauren is a sessional instructor at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law, teaching Appellate Advocacy and Principles.  She is fully fluent in French.

Lauren is 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 for two years as its Chairperson.  She has also served on the CBA’s Legislation and Law Reform Committee.  Prior to moving home to Saskatchewan, Lauren served as the coach of the Thompson Rivers University Wilson Moot Team for five years.  The Wilson Moot is a national moot, which brings together law students from all across Canada and focuses on constitutional law.  She continues her support of the Wilson Moot by acting as a volunteer judge.

Lauren has authored several 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.  She is the author of a legal blog entitled “The Admin Law Blog”, providing commentary and analysis of important and interesting administrative law decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada and other Canadian courts.  She has spoken and presented at numerous conferences and seminars on administrative law, across Canada.

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.