NICHOLAS VALELA

 

Nicholas is a Civil Litigation Associate at Black & Associates with a background in disputes, labour and employment law.  Nicholas recognizes that legal matters are stressful and can be time consuming. He supports his clients by ensuring that the file is driven forward to achieve the most just and expeditious result possible. Nicholas has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Small Claims Court, the Canadian and Ontario Human Rights Tribunals, the Social Benefits Tribunal, as well as the Ontario Labour Relations Board. 

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 Called to the Bar of Ontario in 2020, Nicholas graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 2019.  Before obtaining his law degree, Nicholas earned a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University in 2012 and an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences (magna cum laude) from the University of Ottawa in 2011.

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Prior to joining Black & Associates, Nicholas completed his articles and worked as an associate at a local boutique litigation firm.  There, Nicholas gained experience in the areas of general civil litigation, employment, defamation, and human rights law.  From there, Nicholas went on to obtain critical experience in labour relations during his time with a national labour union where he worked to protect and uphold the rights of workers. 

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During law school, Nicholas completed a number of advocacy oriented internships, including within Judges Chambers of the Ontario Court of Justice, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Secretariat, and in working with a Federal Member of Parliament. 

 

Of note is Nicholas' work surrounding our health care system.  In  2017, Nicholas worked with the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Health Law, Policy & Ethics where he wrote extensively on Charter litigation challenging Canada’s public healthcare system.  Prior to attending law school, he worked for three years with the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ottawa Hospital where he modernized its model of care for people living with HIV.  During that time, Nicholas also conducted related research in conjunction with Ottawa Public Health and the University of Ottawa.   

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Outside of work, Nicholas helped co-found and sat as a Board Member on a local queer organization: MAX Ottawa. His near decade of service to this organization was recognized in 2017 when he was awarded a Canada 150 Outstanding Community Builder Award.

 

Nicholas is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  He fancies himself an avid amateur cook and vintage aficionado.