Shefali Rajaputra

Shefali is an internationally trained lawyer in Gowling WLG’s Waterloo office and a member of the firm’s Employment, Labour and Equalities (ELE) Group. Her practice focuses on employment law.

As a skilled strategist and negotiator, Shefali has a proven track record in change planning and implementation, managing complex employment disputes, and delivering pragmatic, real-world advice to employers. Her approach blends technical precision with business-oriented thinking, enabling her to deliver solutions that align with each client’s operational and strategic goals.

Shefali regularly advises clients on a broad range of workplace matters, including employment contracts, terminations, enforcing restrictive covenants, executive compensation structures, including long-term incentive plans and equity-based awards, workplace policies, and day-to-day human resources matters. She also supports clients through the employment aspects of corporate transactions (M&A, private equity, and venture capital), providing end-to-end advice from due diligence to post-closing integration.

Shefali also has expertise in Canadian accessibility laws and helps employers meet compliance obligations under federal and provincial accessibility legislation through policy development, training, and direct engagement with regulators.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Shefali practiced at a top-tier full-service firm in India, where she advised on both employment and corporate law. She is qualified to practice in both Ontario and India, and her international background gives her a unique ability to manage cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters with insight and confidence.

Shefali enjoys partnering with clients to craft innovative, practical solutions to their employment challenges ensuring not only compliance, but long-term success. Her collaborative style and deep subject matter knowledge make her a go-to advisor for both internal and external stakeholders.