Melanie Polowin is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office. Since 1993, Melanie has advised a broad range of private sector Canadian and international employers of all stages and sizes, on every phase of the employment relationship, from recruitment through termination, start-up to wind-down. Her focus is on providing pragmatic, real-world advice and solutions to employers. She assists buyers, sellers, investors and new entrants into the Canadian market to understand and manage the employment aspects of corporate life-cycle events, including financings, mergers, acquisitions and IPOs. She also works closely with clients to implement meaningful proprietary interest and non-competition protections and to develop effective customized templates, contracts, policies, compensation plans, and risk-reduction strategies. Melanie is a skilled strategist with extensive experience in change planning and implementation and managing and resolving employment disputes. She has been repeatedly recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada, receiving the Best Lawyers 2015 Employment Law "Lawyer of the Year" award in Ottawa.
