EMILY MCBAIN-ASHFIELD practices in the fields of labour, administrative, and human rights law.

Emily received her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2021 and was awarded the Common Law silver medal.

Prior to joining RavenLaw LLP as an associate, Emily completed her articles working as a judicial law clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In 2024, Emily was appointed Commission Counsel to the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.

Sarah Millman is based in the firm’s Toronto office. She practices in the areas of labour and employment, human rights, administrative law, and constitutional law. Sarah is dedicated to advocating with workers and unions to assert their rights.

Before joining the firm, Sarah worked as a policy analyst for First Nations’ leadership on the West Coast, providing strategic advice to support the advancement and implementation of Aboriginal title, rights, treaty rights, and the right to self-determination. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto as a Bragg Loran Scholar and continues to be involved with the Loran Scholars Foundation as a volunteer. She holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and an LLM in Human Rights and Criminal Justice from Queen’s University Belfast, where her thesis was focussed on anti-carceral approaches to sexual violence.

While at Osgoode, Sarah was a Case Worker in the Workers’ Rights Division of Parkdale Community Legal Services, advocating alongside non-unionized workers in matters before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and provincial courts, and contributing to systemic advocacy to enhance the legal protections available to workers. Her academic writing has appeared in the Alternative Law Journal and she has expertise writing policy submissions aimed at all levels of government.

Sarah is passionate about ensuring clients feel their voices are heard in legal processes and committed to leveraging the law in solidarity with social movements.

Claire Michela litigates grievances and negotiates collective agreements for unions. She also provides individual advice and representation on human rights issues. She digs in to understand your workplace and its challenges, to help you solve them at the local level.

Claire completed her articles with RavenLaw before joining as an Associate in 2021.
Claire has been involved with labour organizing since 2014, as a representative of her union local made up entirely of casual employees. While there, Claire was responsible for her local’s grievances, launched a pay equity complaint, and negotiated two Collective Agreements, resulting in retroactive increases to thousands of employees.

In her spare time, Claire enjoys playing the piano, skating, kayaking, and hiking.

Year of call: 2020 (Manitoba), 2024 (Ontario)
2019: Juris Doctor (University of Manitoba)
2014: Bachelor of Arts (University of Winnipeg)

Professional organizations:

• Canadian Bar Association
• Manitoba Bar Association
• Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers

Ryan Nerbas is born and raised in Winnipeg, and he practices employment, human rights and administrative law from RavenLaw’s Winnipeg office. Ryan is dedicated to supporting workers through conducting severance package reviews, advising on wrongful terminations and representing workers in court and before administrative tribunals where necessary.

Prior to joining the firm, Ryan received his law degree from the University of Manitoba where he received academic awards in tort law and advanced oral advocacy. After graduating law school, Ryan articled and worked as an associate at the largest litigation boutique in Winnipeg for several years, where he represented workers in wrongful termination proceedings, conducted severance package reviews, appeared as independent counsel for victims of sexual violence in the Provincial Court of Manitoba, and litigated a wide variety of complex disputes before the Court of King’s Bench and the Manitoba Court of Appeal, in addition to successfully representing clients before a number of administrative tribunals.

In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his friends and family, wrangling his two cats, Frank and Alfie, and participating in recreational sports.