Mae Jane Nam

Mae J. Nam is a strategic and empathetic advocate whose practice includes union‑side labour law, employee‑side employment law, professional regulation, human rights law, constitutional law, and international human rights law.

Since joining Ryder Wright in 2017 and becoming a named partner in 2022, Mae has developed a reputation for thoughtful strategy and steady, determined advocacy. She is trusted in complex and politically sensitive matters due to her ability to stay level‑headed under pressure while developing creative and practical solutions.

Mae has experience advising unions through complex rounds of bargaining, strikes, and novel situations in labour relations. In 2025, Mae took on a secondment working in senior management for one of the largest public sector unions in Ontario where she was responsible for overseeing large table negotiations for units ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 workers.

Mae’s strength as a negotiator lies in her ability to quickly identify leverage points and work toward agreements that address her clients’ priorities. As a litigator, she is meticulous, clear, and unwavering, incorporating a trauma-‑informed approach in sensitive matters. Mae has secured meaningful arbitration results including improved privacy protections and enhanced accommodation rights for workers facing health-related barriers.

Mae has appeared before courts at every level in Ontario, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2023, Mae served as co‑counsel in the landmark Ontario Court of Appeal decision striking down Bill 124 . Mae has also made submissions before the Supreme Court of Canada on the Charter rights of freedom of association , freedom of expression , and the right to vote .

Before joining the firm, Mae represented Ontario Public Service and health care workers in in-house union roles. Earlier in her career, she organized education workers at McGill University and co-founded a community center for Philippine migrant workers and their families.