Background & Experience
Sotonye Godwin-Hart is a lawyer at Koskie Glavin Gordon, where she represents Unions in all aspects of labour relations including terminations, workplace accommodation, contract and policy interpretation, and human rights matters. She advocates for clients in arbitrations, mediations, and before various administrative tribunals.
Sotonye brings a wealth of advocacy experience in Nigeria, where she represented unions in appellate advocacy. In British Columbia, she has appeared before both the Supreme Court and Provincial Court, handling complex legal issues with a strategic, results-driven approach. She also advises senior management and executives on employment matters such as contract negotiations, wrongful dismissal claims, and severance entitlements.
Beyond her legal practice, Sotonye serves as a board member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) BC Branch and the Board of Directors of Union Gospel Mission (UGM), a Vancouver-based charitable organization. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and reading great fiction.
Representative Matters
- Jasaitis v. Corporation of the District of West Vancouver and another, 2025 BCHRT 299
- Aava Whistler Hotel Limited v Unifor, Local 3000, 2024 CanLII 72133 (BC LA)
- Thind v South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority, 2022 BCSC 197 (CanLII).
- N.U.E.E. v. BPE. (2010) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1194) 538 S.C.
Education
- Certificate in Business Leadership – Rotman School of Management, University
of Toronto (2021) - Master of Laws (International Trade and Human Rights) – University of British
Columbia (2012) - Bachelor of Laws – Obafemi Awolowo University (2007)
Associations
- Member, Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia (2020)
- Member, Canadian Bar Association (2013)
- Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (2010)
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (2008)
Awards & Rankings
- Law Foundation Fellowship (2010–2012)
- Dale Carnegie Scholarship Foundation (2005–2006)
Publications
- Integrating Trade and Human Rights in West Africa: An Analysis of the ECOWAS
Experience (2012) 32 Windsor Rev Legal Soc. Issues