Sinéad Dearman

Sinéad is an associate at OKT. Her focus is on promoting and protecting the rights of First Nations children, youth, and families. Her goal is to work alongside First Nations to realize their visions for family and community well-being. She also practices general civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and negotiation.

Sinéad articled in the area of children’s law representing minors involved with the child protection system before the Ontario Court of Justice. She also protected minors’ interests in wills and estates, trusts, and in civil litigation. Her other legal work includes representing “mentally incapable” individuals, and advising on education and child protection laws as they relate to Aboriginal people. Before law, she held a range of community-based advocacy and research positions in the areas of family well-being, addictions, gendered labour, and others.

Sinéad received her J.D. from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where she received academic and leadership awards including: Jackman Humanities Institute Fellow, Gina Caldarelli Memorial Prize, John Willis Award, Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, and the Dr. Michael Lutsky Award. While in law school she served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Indigenous Law Journal, participated in the Kawaskimhon Moot, and volunteered with a Dean’s Committee and numerous other groups.

Sinéad volunteers as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Aboriginal Legal Services and as an organizer of the annual Strawberry Ceremony for Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans, and Two-Spirits.

She is a member of the Ontario bar.

Practice Areas

• Child Protection/Child Welfare
• Governance
• Social Services
• Education
• Civil Litigation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution/Negotiation