Danielle Stampley

Lawyer

EDUCATION

  • Osgoode Certificate in Pension Law, 2020
  • Call to the Ontario Bar, 2016
  • Call to the New York Bar, 2010
  • American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2009 (summa cum laude; Gillet Prize for highest academic standing in graduating class)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Advocates’ Society
  • Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
  • American Bar Association

Danielle, a partner at the firm, has represented clients at all levels of court in multiple provinces across Canada, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Canada Industrial Labour Relations Board and various professional regulatory bodies.

In her labour practice, Danielle advises and advocates for unions and professional associations on a wide range of issues: certification, collective agreement matters, labour board matters and civil litigation, particularly judicial review and appellate proceedings. Danielle also advises unions and professional organizations on their pension and benefit plans and represents them in court. She has advised both private and public-sector unions in multiple sectors, including energy, post-secondary education and transportation.

In her employment practice, Danielle advises non-unionized employees throughout the employment relationship. She regularly reviews employment agreements, assists with new employment negotiation, and provides advice and representation after an employment relationship has ended. She has represented employees in civil and human rights proceedings from a wide range of industries, including finance, technology, start-ups, health care and post-secondary education. Danielle also represents employees in employment-related class actions.

Danielle began her employment and labour practice at a boutique employment and labour firm in Toronto. Before that, Danielle was a litigator in New York, where she represented pension funds and other institutional investors in securities class-action litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Danielle served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mary Ellen Barbera on the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Outside of work, Danielle volunteers with Democrats Abroad Canada and Pro Bono Ontario.

Recent Representative Work

Fighting for Fairness in the Gig Economy

Danielle is passionate about ensuring workers are treated fairly. Representing Ontario Uber drivers against Uber is a highlight of her practice. Danielle is co-counsel to the Class in Heller v. Uber (an action that seeks the protection of the Ontario Employment Standards Act for all Uber drivers in Ontario). The action was certified as a class proceeding in August 2021 in a decision the Windsor Law Class Action Clinic named as one of the top five most notable class action decisions of 2021. Certification was hard fought after first arguing (along with Michael Wright) before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada that that Uber could not force drivers to arbitrate their claims in The Netherlands.

Protecting Pension Benefits
Changing circumstances can lead to big pension questions. In 2020, while representing a local union in the energy sector, Danielle advised on two transactions involving the transfer of more than $300 million in pension assets and liabilities. In 2021, Danielle worked with another union caught in the CCAA process to negotiate crucial pension benefit changes to better ensure the pension’s long-term sustainability for members. In both instances, Danielle worked closely with the clients, the employers, and employer counsel to ensure a smooth transition and negotiate terms that met the unions’ objectives.
Good Doctors Fighting Bad Faith

Danielle (with Michael Wright) has been retained by physicians across Canada to hold administrators accountable and remedy their bad faith treatment of her clients. In 2016, she and Michael were co-counsel to Dr. Gabrielle Horne in a 33-day jury trial in Halifax that resulted in the largest-ever damages award in Canada for loss of reputation, which was largely upheld by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. The jury found that Dr. Horne’s colleagues had abused their power over her privileges and damaged her reputation as a researcher and physician. Bad faith is always difficult to prove, but helping Dr. Horne was a strong motive to overcome the most challenging legal issues.

Here to Help

Enlist objective advice and committed legal representation. Whatever your challenge—no matter how fundamental or involved—Wright Henry will help you navigate the shoals and arrive at the best possible destination. We offer wide-ranging expertise and a proven record of success.