Malliha Wilson

Malliha Wilson is a Canadian lawyer.[1] She was formerly Special Legal Advisor at the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO).[2] She specializes in human rights, indigenous, constitutional, corporate and labour law, and other complex litigation.[2]

Wilson served as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Government of Ontario from April 2008-November 2016.[2] During this time, she is alleged to have engaged in frequent abusive and bullying behaviour toward her staff.[3]

Early life and family

Malliha Wilson is the daughter of Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson and Susili Wilson, whose father was S. J. V. Chelvanayakam. She has two siblings, Maithili and Kumanan,[4] is married to Helder Travassos and has a daughter (Melanie).[5]

Education

Wilson completed her undergraduate degree at the McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.[2] She completed her law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto, Ontario in 1981.[6]

Career

Wilson began her career in the Ontario Public Service in 1987.[7]

From 2000 to 2004 she served as the Legal Director for the Ministry of Labour, from 2004 to 2008 as the Director of the Crown Law Office-Civil, and then became the Assistant Deputy Attorney General.[2] Upon concluding an 8-year term in that role, Wilson became Special Legal Advisor at the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario.[2]

In 2009 she received by the South Asian Bar Association a Distinguished Career Award,[8] in 2012 by her alma mater, Osgoode Hall Law School, with a Gold Key Award for the Public Sector,[6] and in 2015 by the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers with a Lawyer of Distinction Award.[9]

Wilson currently serves on the Board of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy[10] the Board of the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association[11] and the Editorial Board of The Philippe Kirsch Institute[12] and the Principal’s Advisory Group at the University of Toronto Scarborough.[1]

Post career advocacy

The change in career, and shift in pace, has given Wilson time to reflect on how she can make a meaningful contribution in supporting those who are faced with unjust circumstances. Her current plans are to focus on human rights issues, the refugee crisis, the international criminal justice sphere, and ways in which these issues are experienced in Canada.[2]

Bullying allegations

An independent report by Leslie MacLeod, commissioned by the Ministry of the Attorney General, found that government lawyers were bullied by bosses contributing to a "toxic" workplace while Wilson was the assistant deputy attorney general at the ministry.[13]

In an email to Deputy Attorney General Patrick Monahan, a lawyer who worked as Wilson’s executive assistant called it "the worst of my professional experience," adding that Wilson "seemed to thrive on tearing down those who worked under her." A former Crown attorney who worked with Wilson similarly described her as "rude and ignorant."[14]

Wilson has responded to the accusations, stating "I am deeply concerned about any allegations that may suggest I treated anyone unfairly."[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Nava Wilson LLP".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From Tellippalai to the Supreme Court, Veteran Litigator Malliha Wilson". TamilCulture. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ Donovan, Kevin (23 February 2018). "'Bully' bosses issue 'swept under the carpet' until junior government lawyer sent email". Toronto Star. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Tribute to Prof. A. J. Wilson". The Island.
  5. ↑ "Maria Almerinda Travassos". Toronto Star.
  6. 1 2 "Seven distinguished Osgoode Hall Law School alumni receive awards". York University.
  7. ↑ "Diversity Chat at the Attorney General of Ontario". In-house Access.
  8. ↑ "SABA Toronto Past Award Winners". South Asian Bar Association of Toronto.
  9. ↑ "Awards & Past Recipients". The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers.
  10. ↑ "About". Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy.
  11. ↑ "Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Association". Osgoode Hal Law School.
  12. ↑ "Editorial Board". The Philippe Kirsch Institute.
  13. ↑ Donovan, Kevin (2018-02-21). "Ontario government lawyers being terrorized by 'bully' bosses, secret report reveals". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  14. ↑ Pazzano, Sam (23 February 2018). "Secret report conceals 'abusive' bullying boss and 'Pontius Pilate' leader: Lawyers". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  15. ↑ Donovan, Kevin. "'Bully' bosses issue 'swept under the carpet' until junior government lawyer sent email" (22 February 2018). Toronto Star. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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