Léa Desjardins

Léa Desjardins is an associate in the Advocacy Department at Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office, where she practices Indigenous law, administrative law, and appellate advocacy. She is fully bilingual in French and English and fluent in Spanish.

Léa advises Indigenous communities and individuals on issues including specific claims, judicial reviews, class actions, Indigenous rights, the duty to consult, and registration under the Indian Act. Before joining Gowling WLG, she worked with Indigenous communities in Quebec and Ontario, focusing on child protection and the rights of Indigenous women and families through organizations like Quebec Native Women and Aboriginal Legal Services. She has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice and participated in Indigenous Alternative Dispute Resolution processes. She is also a member of the CBA’s Aboriginal Law Section.

In her administrative law practice, Léa has handled matters before administrative bodies and courts including the Social Benefits Tribunal, Divisional Court, and Federal Court. As a member of Gowling WLG’s Supreme Court of Canada Services Group, she assists with applications for leave to appeal, interventions, and procedural advice.

Léa’s experience spans the parliamentary and non-profit sectors, having worked with elected officials, the House of Commons, and advocacy organizations such as the National Association of Women and the Law.

She holds a J.D./LL.L. from the University of Ottawa’s Programme de droit canadien and an undergraduate degree in anthropology. During her studies, she researched human rights and Indigenous governance, and was active in student leadership and the Francophone legal community.