Valerie Sedlezky

About Valerie Sedlezky

Charities, foundations and nonprofits are the whole of Valerie Sedlezky's practice. An associate with the Private Client Services Group at Gowling WLG in Toronto, Sedlezky has worked only in charity and not-for-profit law since being called to the Ontario bar in 2023. Clients include both public and private foundations, along with charities and nonprofit groups based in Canada and abroad.

The work follows an organization from start to finish. That can mean setting one up and getting it registered as a charity, keeping that registration in good standing, sorting out governance questions and disputes among directors or members, or handling a merger or a wind-up. On the compliance side, Sedlezky advises on fundraising, gifts, investments, conflicts of interest and work done outside Canada. The sectors served are wide: health care and long-term care, schools, faith groups, recreation, community and social services, and industry associations.

Sedlezky makes a point of keeping advice practical and focused on solutions, so an organization can work through its legal and governance rules and still pursue its mission. Outside client files, Sedlezky has sat as a Member-at-Large on the Ontario Bar Association's Charity & Not-for-Profit Law section since 2025 and has presented at both OBA and CBA programs, including a March 2026 session on handling difficult directors and members. Sedlezky holds a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School and an honours psychology degree from the University of Ottawa.