Madiha Vallani

Madi is a practical and solution-driven lawyer, advising clients on a range of Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) matters. Madi advises on opportunities and risks relating to ESG topics and assists clients to fulfill their ESG strategies. Madi has both private practice and in-house legal experience, and prior to joining KPMG, served as ESG Legal Counsel to one of Canada's largest banks. 

Madi has experience in advising various business functions on topical ESG issues, including disclosure risks (e.g., greenwashing and disclosure due diligence), ESG governance (e.g., policy development and training), and ESG regulatory and legal compliance (e.g., Modern Slavery Act reporting). Madi has also advised clients on environmental compliance matters, environmental litigation, energy law, and Indigenous legal issues. As an environmental litigator, she supported clients from start-to-finish through the litigation process and represented clients before Ontario Courts and Tribunals. 

Madi has experience working with a variety of clients across multiple industries including forestry, financial services, and transportation. Clients she has worked with include businesses, municipalities, First Nations, Crown corporations, and individuals.

 

Professional and Industry Experience

ESG Legal Risk and Disclosure

• Advises clients on ESG legal risks pertaining to public disclosures (i.e., Sustainability Reports, Climate Action Plans, and Corporate Reporting on Social Issues), including conducting due diligence reviews to identify potentially misleading statements in public disclosures.
• Conducts applicability analyses of ESG-related legal and regulatory compliance requirements in Canada and beyond.
• Advises clients on ESG corporate governance and ESG stakeholder engagement (e.g., responding to ESG shareholder proposals and stakeholder inquiries).
• Educates clients on emerging and contemporary ESG trends, regulatory requirements, guidance, risks, and opportunities through publishing articles, leading training sessions, and delivering presentations. 

Environmental Law, Compliance, and Regulatory

• Advised corporate and individual clients on the development of their environmental compliance programs.
• Educated clients on their environmental and regulatory requirements and responsibilities under legislation, policy, and case law.
• Litigated contaminated land and energy law disputes.
• Guided clients through environmental aspects of business transactions (e.g., the purchase and sale of contaminated land, development of contaminated sites).