Natalia Rodriguez

With an analytical mind and a predilection for strategic efficiency, Natalia cuts through the noise and breaks down the issues from a legal and business perspective to better position her clients for a positive outcome and an early resolution.
Bio
Natalia practices civil litigation and dispute resolution, with an emphasis on commercial litigation, public law litigation and appellate advocacy. Natalia isn’t just an advocate, she’s a trusted advisor that provides clear, direct and practical solutions to any matter that comes her way. She is a fearless advocate who is used to untangling even the most complex and nuanced challenges.
In May 2022, Natalia was appointed Senior Commission Counsel to the Public Order Emergency Commission, established to inquire into the circumstances that led to the Federal Government's declaration of emergency in February 2022, and the measures taken for dealing with the emergency. From 2012-2014, Natalia served as Commission Counsel for the Elliot Lake Commission of Inquiry investigating the collapse of the Algo Centre Mall and the subsequent emergency response.
Natalia is experienced in conducting trials, appeals, motions, applications, judicial reviews, mediations and arbitrations. She has advocated on behalf of clients at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal, as well as in commercial arbitration proceedings. She has an enhanced Government of Canada security clearance (Top Secret ).
Prior to entering private practice, Natalia clerked for three justices of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and for Justice Louis LeBel at the Supreme Court of Canada. Clerking provided Natalia with a unique vantage point into how judgments are made and how to draft and argue persuasively. In her practice, Natalia draws on a wide range of life experiences, including growing up in both Spain and Canada and being a high school and elementary school teacher prior to law.
Natalia is fluent in Spanish and provides legal services to Spanish-speaking clients. She is an active member of the legal profession, often writing and speaking on issues relating to diversity in the judiciary and in the profession. In 2023, Natalia was elected a bencher of the Law Society of Ontario and was appointed an adjudicator of the Law Society Tribunal of Ontario. Natalia is the articling principal at Conway and a student mentor.
Law and justice have always been an innate part of life for Natalia. The middle of three girls, Natalia was often the one delegated to making arguments or pitching a point to her parents. A self-described nerd, law just made sense for her. These days, Natalia’s continuing practice skills program consists of negotiating settlements with her 9-year-old and making submissions to her 4-year-old as to why he should eat his carrots.
Affiliations
- The Advocates’ Society
- Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
- County of Carleton Law Association
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
Professional Achievement and Community Involvement
- 2023 | Recognized in the Lexpert guide to Canada's leading lawyers
- 2023-Present | Bencher, Law Society of Ontario
- 2023-Present | Adjudicator, Law Society Tribunal of Ontario
- 2023-Present | Mentor, Mentorship Program, The Advocates' Society
- 2023-Present | Mentor, CABL/BLSA Mentorship Program, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers / Black Law Students' Association
- 2019-Present | Mentor, Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
- 2012-Present | Volunteer, Law Help Ontario, Pro Bono Ontario
- 2021-2023| Director of Policy & Programs, Board of Directors, Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
- 2021-2023| Member, Equity Advisory Group, The Law Society of Ontario
- 2021-2023| Member, Diversity and Inclusion Standing Committee, The Advocates' Society
- 2020-2023| Member, Mid Career Advocates Standing Committee, The Advocates’ Society
- 2020-2023| Member, Diversity, Inclusion and Representation Working Group, Mid Career Advocates Standing Committee, The Advocates’ Society
- 2020-2023| Member, Host and Category Lead, Podcast Working Group, The Advocates’ Society
- 2014-2017 | Member, Board of Directors, The Children’s Bridge
- 2010 | Queen’s University Medal in Law – Second Highest Standing
- 2010 | David Sabbath Prize in Appellate Advocacy, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
- 2010 | David Sabbath Prize in Advanced Issues in Contract Law, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
- 2010 | Cassels, Brock & Blackwell Award in Practice Skills, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Publications
- Author, "Russell G. Juriansz: Reluctant Trailblazer", The Advocates' Journal, Fall 2021. Available here.
- CTV Power Play: Fortin's Lawyer on Judicial Review. Watch here.
- “So You Want to Be a Judge: Diversifying the Judiciary”, The Advocates’ Society, Advocacy Matters, Spring 2021. Available here at page 17.
- Host, “Systemic Racism Viewed Through the Lens of Historical Jurisprudence”, The Advocates’ Society, Friends Who Argue Podcast, February 2021. Listen here.
- Host, “The Ever-Evolving Career of YASC Civility Award Winner Omar Ha-Redeye”, The Advocates’ Society, Friends Who Argue Podcast, February 2021. Listen here.
- Author and Speaker, “The SCC Takes and Uber to Unconscionability”, County of Carleton Law Association, 40th Civil Litigation Updated Conference, November 2020.
- Panelist, “Diversity in the Judiciary”, Hispanic Heritage Day 2020, Law Society of Ontario and Canadian Hispanic Bar Association, October 2020.
- Rodriguez, N. (2017). Section 93: Why Canada Needs to Prune the Living Tree. Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law, 11(1), 153-176.
- Author and Speaker, “Suing a Foreign Power in Ontario”, County of Carleton Law Association, 34th Civil Litigation Updated Conference, November 2014.
- Author and Speaker, “Standards of Review: Does the Standard of Correctness Still Exist?”, The Commons Institute, 180 Minutes of Administrative Law Conference, February 2014.