Malini Vijaykumar

Malini is an associate lawyer at Nelligan Law, and a member of our Employment and Labour practice groups.

Malini practices employment and labour law on a vast variety of issues, including: wrongful and constructive dismissals, grievance arbitrations, human rights complaints, harassment and other health and safety matters, privacy matters, contract negotiations, and general litigation. She acts for employees and unions in the public and private sectors, with a particular focus on the federal public service.

Malini has represented clients before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board, the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Provincial Court, the Canadian and Ontario Human Rights Tribunals, and other administrative adjudicators. She is equally comfortable with litigation and out-of-court negotiation, and regularly advises clients on both routes to bring a comparative perspective to their cases.

Malini is happiest when she is helping people navigate the complex and often intimidating legal system. She finds employment and labour law universally relatable, because almost everyone – from all walks of life – will interact with it sooner or later. When they do, she will be there to help them understand their rights and obligations. Malini works hard to provide compassionate and confident service to her clients, as well as fierce advocacy on their behalf. She is also frequently contacted by Canadian regional and national media outlets to speak on the top employment and labour law issues of the day.

While at law school, Malini found her passion for advocacy through her involvement with various moot competitions, placing first in Ontario and second in Canada for her argumentative skills. She also put this passion to work in the community, helping low-income Toronto residents with criminal law and refugee matters as a caseworker at the University of Toronto’s legal aid clinic.

Malini was recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers with the “Ones To Watch” designation, an award recognizing lawyers who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Outside of work, Malini enjoys coming up with inventive cookie recipes, adding to her prized board game collection, and travelling to new places whether they are halfway across the world or hidden in the backwoods.