Lead legal counsel announced for inquiry into missing, murdered indigenous women

OTTAWA — Susan Vella, a lawyer with extensive experience in representing victims of sexual trauma has been named lead counsel for the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women.

An award-winning Toronto lawyer, she will be responsible for building the inquiry’s legal team.

Formal hearings are expected to begin in spring 2017.

Vella has worked on behalf of a number of First Nation survivors of sexual abuse and the residential schools system.