Sarah Beamish

Sarah Beamish is the founder and principal of Beamish Law.

Sarah has acted in matters before the the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Provincial Court of Manitoba, the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench, the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Health Professions Appeals and Review Board, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, the Social Security Tribunal of Canada, the Indian Registrar, and the Seneca Nation of Indians Peacemakers Court, and in numerous environmental and impact assessment processes, mediations, and negotiations.

Before starting Beamish Law, Sarah worked at Toronto firms specializing in social justice and public interest litigation, and advocacy for Indigenous people, nations, and organizations.

Sarah is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, the National Association of Women and the Law, the Association of Human Rights Lawyers, Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, and the Employment Lawyers Association of Ontario.

Sarah won a 2023 Precedent Setter Award, in recognition of her legal achievements and community leadership.

HUMAN RIGHTS WORK

Sarah has been active in the human rights field for over 20 years, with a focus on Indigenous peoples’ rights, discrimination, and business and human rights.

From 2013-2021, Sarah was a member of the International Board of Amnesty International, including as Chair from 2019-2021 and Vice Chair from 2017-2019. In these roles, she helped lead the organization’s work on global strategy, law and policy, governance reform, and equity and anti-racism initiatives. From 2009-2013, Sarah was a member of the Executive Committee of Amnesty International Canada (English), and served as its President from 2010-2013.

Before becoming a lawyer, Sarah worked as a researcher with the Centre for Public Interest Law in Ghana, investigating the human rights impacts associated with the construction of a major gas pipeline. She was also a fellow with the One Justice Project, an initiative based out of McGill and Yale Universities that sought legal reforms to address grave violations of environmental law and economic, social, and cultural rights.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

From 2019-2023, Sarah was a lecturer at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where she taught a graduate course called “International Legal Challenges.”

Sarah is also a published author and regular public speaker, and has served as a judge with the Wilson Moot.

EDUCATION

Sarah holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law (where she was awarded the John Yaremko Human Rights Award and the Judy LaMarsh Prize for Feminist Analysis of Law), a Master of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (with Great Distinction) from Athabasca University.

PERSONAL

Sarah was born and raised in the Treaty 6 region in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Her ancestors come from throughout western Europe and Aotearoa-New Zealand, where she belongs to the Ngāruahinerangi iwi.

When she is not practicing law, Sarah enjoys games, art and design, being outdoors, fishing, and learning something new.