Suzanne Sabourin
Suzanne Sabourin is counsel in the Advocacy Group of Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and plays a key role in its government affairs and regulatory practice, as well as advocacy matters generally.
Informed by her extensive experience in government affairs, Suzanne's practice focuses on public law and regulatory matters. Her expertise encompasses a number of areas, including food law, public health, ethics, alternative dispute resolution and public law issues.
In her public law practice, Suzanne assists clients in navigating lobbying registration requirements and conflict of interest rules at the federal, provincial/territorial and municipal levels of government. As well, Suzanne supports clients in developing policies, programs and training to ensure compliance on lobbying activities for major domestic and international companies. Suzanne represents clients in complaints before the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada and the provinces, territories and municipalities.
Suzanne has extensive experience as well in complaint resolution, having established and advised on the implementation of national systems in financial/insurance services. She advises clients on consumer complaint best practices, including guiding principles, procedures, and processes.
In her active food law practice, Suzanne advises foreign and Canadian companies on a variety of issues, including supply chain, regulatory, compliance, food product labelling, packaging and marketing matters. She has drafted many regulatory submissions for clients relating to public health and other related policy matters. Suzanne has also provided advice on the business implications of multilateral trade agreements, particularly with respect to agriculture and agri-food products.
Suzanne provides guidance to clients on the legislative process and supports witnesses before various parliamentary committees of the House of Commons and Senate. She provides advice on Parliamentary rules of procedure, prepares submissions and briefs for presentations to Parliamentary committees with the aim of shaping legislation and regulations.
Suzanne is fluently bilingual and provides legal services in French and English.