Melynda Layton Law Office

1986 - Called to the Ontario Bar Melynda began her career as a litigator in 1996. She started at a small Toronto boutique law firm and worked at Bay Street firms and Ottawa firms. She started her practice in 2006 and came to Layton Law Office with her twenty years of legal experience and her career history. She has always enjoyed working with clients. Melynda advises employees and employers on a variety of matters that arise in employment relationships. She advocates for both individuals and organizations before the Employment Standards Branch (Ontario Ministry of Labour), the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and at common-law court. Melynda Layton also speaks and writes regularly on employment issues. She covers subjects from employment contracts to independent contractor issues, from workplace freedoms benefits and policies to parental leave and pregnancy leave, and from restrictive clauses to other problems. She holds a Master of Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Law from Carleton University. Melynda Layton, a lawyer who previously worked in management, devotes time to her community by speaking out and participating in her community. Melynda is a member of the board of directors of iSisters Technology Mentoring Inc., a Canadian charity founded in 2001 and dedicated to using technology as a tool to help women in Ottawa acquire the skills they need to participate fully in the social and economic life of the community.

Melynda Layton receives high praise from all reviewers. Clients admire her professionalism, empathy, and legal knowledge. They appreciate how she goes above and beyond to educate and support them through the legal process. Her advice has been helpful in a range of legal issues, including wrongful termination and workers’ compensation, guiding many clients to favorable outcomes. Many clients are grateful for her openness and honesty, thanking her for telling them the truth about their lawsuits, even when it means losing a case. Clients describe how empowering and transformative their interactions with Melynda have been. They express deep gratitude and encourage others to hire her. Additional compliments include the simplicity of scheduling an appointment by the reviewer who was astonished she did not have to wait for an intake staff to call her one or 2 days later. A minor complaint is that her high rates can put a financial strain on some clients. However, this is a common issue in law firms. In general, Melynda Layton is highly recommended for anyone who requires legal assistance with employment law.