contributors
JANICE RUBIN
Janice Rubin is co-founder and co-managing partner of Rubin Thomlinson LLP. She is recognized
as one of Canada’s leading employment lawyers and regularly appears on the Best
Lawyers and Leading Practitioners lists in Canada. While recognized for her depth of expertise
in all areas of employment law, Rubin is considered a leading authority in the area of
workplace harassment and workplace investigations. In 2015, she received the Employment
Lawyer of the Year Award as part of the National HR Awards. Rubin Thomlinson LLP was
most recently recognized as one of Canada’s top employment law boutiques by Canadian
Lawyer magazine. Read the article that Rubin co-wrote about the evolution of workplace human
rights, starting on page 22.
TITUS TOTAN
Titus Totan is an associate lawyer at Rubin Thomlinson LLP, a boutique law firm specializing
in employment law and workplace investigations. He supports both employee and employer
clients in all areas of employment law, including employment standards, contractual obligations,
terminations, investigations and workplace human rights. He provides strategic advice
on workplace disputes, and has successfully represented clients before varying levels of provincial
courts and tribunals. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Totan worked for the Treasury
Board of Canada Secretariat, where he contributed to the creation and implementation of professional
development initiatives for federal public servants. Read the article that he co-wrote
about the evolution of workplace human rights, starting on page 22.
SUSANNE BALPATAKY
Susanne Balpataky is a partner at Speigel Nichols Fox LLP and has practised at the firm since
her call to the bar in 1991. She is an experienced employment lawyer and commercial litigator
who has expertise in employment litigation for both employers and employees. She
has been able to put to good use her prior experience working at the Ontario Human Rights
Commission in acting for employer respondents in several human rights complaints. Balpataky
has appeared as lead counsel on matters before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (including
the Commercial List, Bankruptcy Court and Estates Court), the Ontario Divisional Court
and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Read the article she wrote about the impact of medical marijuana
on the workplace, starting on page 35.
AVRA DAVIDOFF, M.C., R. PSYCH
Avra Davidoff is a workplace psychologist and associate at Canada Career Counselling and the
Leadership Success Group. She currently practises in the areas of career development, leadership
development and diversity. Davidoff holds a master’s degree in counselling psychology,
with a career counselling specialization, from the Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology at
Athabasca University. Read the article she co-wrote, which explores how Canadian employers
can do better when it comes to maternity leave transitions, starting on page 37.
LAURA HAMBLEY, PH.D., R. PSYCH
Dr. Laura Hambley founded Canada Career Counselling and has worked in the field of career
development since 2001. She holds a master’s degree in applied psychology and a Ph.D. in industrial/
organizational psychology from the University of Calgary. As an adjunct professor of
psychology, Hambley regularly contributes to research in career development. Read the article
she co-wrote, which explores how Canadian employers can do better when it comes to maternity
leave transitions, starting on page 37.
4 ❚ OCTOBER 2016 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL