It may surprise you to learn that Christine Davies did not start her career in the courtroom. Christine began her litigation career as a research lawyer, immersed in complex legal issues and nuanced research questions. When an opportunity arose to practice another form of advocacy, the transition was a natural one. Christine, who has always been comfortable on her feet, jumped into her role as a litigator, drawing on her appreciation for the minutiae of the law and constant curiosity that was fostered at the start of her legal practice.
Today, Christine is a partner at Goldblatt Partners LLP and a prominent litigator who regularly appears before labour arbitrators, administrative tribunals, and the civil courts. Her practice currently focuses on wrongful and constructive dismissal actions, human rights applications, and long-term disability claims. Christine also champions Goldblatt Partners LLP’s pro bono practice, describing pro bono work as something all practitioners should not only be doing, but want to be doing.
Christine’s desire to be an advocate for individuals facing real impact is borne out by her cases. For example, Christine is acting for R.L., a new mother who lost her job during the pandemic, in a case now before the Federal Court of Appeal. On behalf of R.L., Christine argues that the design of a temporary provision under the Employment Insurance Act that allows for a one-time credit of insurable hours infringed R.L.’s equality rights under section 15(1) of the Charter. This provision has a discriminatory impact on women such as R.L. who were more likely to need access to special benefits and regular benefits during the pandemic. Christine also acts for B.H., an immigrant and widowed woman unable to qualify for certain CPP death, survivor, and orphan’s benefits, in an appeal before the Social Security Tribunal Appeal Division. On behalf of B.H., Christine argues that certain sections of the CPP violate B.H.’s equality rights: the CPP states that a person’s contributory period includes all years from when a person turns eighteen, regardless of whether that person was in Canada and able to contribute to the CPP.
These cases not only highlight how section 15 rights should be considered in the everyday circumstances of pension entitlements and benefits, but also the importance of counsel, like Christine, who advocate for clients facing extraordinary legal challenges due to the discriminatory effects of legislation and systems that impact their standard of living.
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