Vanessa Payne is a member of SGM's legal research team and practices primarily in the areas of labour and administrative law. She joined SGM as an articling student and returned to the firm following her call to the Ontario Bar in 1993.

Vanessa’s practice focuses on the preparation of legal argument for judicial review and appeal hearings at all levels of the Ontario courts, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. Vanessa has particular expertise in the area of picketing injunctions and co-ordinates SGM’s civil and labour litigators to defend striking or locked-out union members in injunction proceedings. She also assists SGM’s litigators with the preparation of legal opinions and other written submissions and pleadings.

Vanessa received her law degree from the University of Toronto, graduating with honours. She also has a bachelor of arts degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University.

Vanessa is a member of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers and was a member of the founding board of directors of the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario).