Our Team ⁄ Jillian Siskind
Jillian is an experienced litigator, advisor and certified construction adjudicator. She has extensive legal experience conducting litigation at all levels of court in Ontario as well as prosecutions, discipline hearings and administrative tribunals. Prior to founding the firm Jillian M. Siskind & Associates in 2017, Jillian gained her advantage in the courtroom from her fast-paced practice as a crown attorney at both the provincial and federal levels of government and then as Senior Counsel in-house with industry regulator.
Jillian’s approach to legal problems is comprehensive, collaborative and strategic with a view to creative and cost-effective resolution. With extensive experience as a senior advisor in corporate, legal and political settings, Jillian focuses on open communication with clients to ensure that each issue is thoroughly and properly addressed and resolved.
Jillian was a trusted advisor and was depended upon for her ability to quickly gain the confidence of her colleagues… As someone who consistently performs at a very high level, I have confidence in Jillian’s abilities and endorse her as an individual you should consider carrying on a business relationship with.
Howard A. Bogach
Areas of Practice
Regulated Industries/Professions
Jillian provides counsel to regulators both in tribunals and courts, and also as a trusted advisor. As a litigator, Jillian represents a number of Ontario industry and professional regulators in matters related to:
- licence registration, suspension and revocation
- complaints processes
- compliance advice
- discipline hearings
- provincial prosecutions
- tribunal hearings
- civil litigation and appeals
- judicial review applications
Litigation
Jillian represents clients in all manner of litigation disputes including breach or enforcement of contracts, negligence actions, privacy torts, collections actions and defence litigation. She has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. She regularly participates in mediations, arbitrations and negotiations to find creative and cost effective resolution for litigation matters.
Jillian has a certificate in Construction Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and has extensive experience in resolving residential construction and real estate disputes. Jillian has represented clients in numerous residential construction and new home warranty disputes in court, mediations, arbitrations and at the Licence Appeal Tribunal for disputes between multiple parties. Jillian has deep knowledge of the new home warranty program in Ontario and the many issues that arise such as delay, defects in workmanship and materials, major structural defects and deposit refunds for both freehold homes and condominium projects.
Privacy, Access to Information and Data Protection
As the former Chief Privacy Officer at Tarion Warranty Corporation, Jillian was exclusively responsible for all issues relating to Privacy and Access to Information. Jillian drafted the Access to Information and Privacy Policy. She was responsible for all data protection policies, data management policies, management of Privacy breaches and Access to Information Requests.
Jillian acts as a consultant to organizations with issues related to privacy and privacy breaches, Access to Information, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation and data protection strategies.
Community Involvement and Education
Jillian is an active member in the Executive branches of the Ontario Bar Association. She is a serving her second term on the Executive Board of the Administrative Law Section and is a past member of the Executive Board of the Real Property Section. Jillian is also an active member of the Society of Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) where she is a member of a number of committees. She is also on the task force of Shurat Hadin, an organization that represents the rights of victims of terror internationally. Jillian was previously a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Education and Training, a not-for-profit organization helping new Canadians, at-risk youth and vulnerable people. Jillian also served for seven years as the President of Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR).
Jillian graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1996 with a B.A. and the University of Ottawa in 2000 with an LL.B / J.D (cum laude). She then received her LL.M from the University of Toronto in 2005. Jillian was awarded a Certificate in Construction Law from Osgoode Hall Law in 2016 and became a Certified Construction Adjudicator in 2020. Jillian was called to the bar in Ontario in 2002.