Shane's passion for social justice and human rights originated from his time living in rural eastern Canada and witnessing first-hand how working class and poor people are disproportionately and systemically affected by the criminal law.
During a portion of his legal education Shane worked with one of Toronto's top criminal defence firms. There he assisted on cases that included charges of first degree murder, prohibited firearms, fraud, narcotics, theft, assault and prostitution. The experience solidified his commitment to provide fierce representation for all clients regardless of the allegations.
With the goal of providing his clients with the best defence possible, Shane founded Martínez Law. Today the firm offers its services across Toronto, Brampton, North York, Scarborough, Oshawa and beyond. Through combining a social justice perspective with innovative legal analysis and tireless dedication, Martínez Law is able to guarantee its clients a loyal and aggressive criminal defence against the charges they are faced with. Shane has also acted as counsel in Coroner's inquests in relation to the deaths of people who have been killed by the police or who have died in jail.
From September 2013 to March 2014 Shane completed a period of academic leave to become qualified to practice law in the Commonwealth Caribbean. During that time he lived in Kingston, Jamaica, and assisted attorney-at-law Michael Lorne as part of the defence team for dancehall artist Shawn Storm, one of the co-accused in the Vybz Kartel murder trial.
In addition to practicing law, Shane regularly writes and lectures about police brutality, racial profiling, the prison industrial complex and transnational labour. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Law Union of Ontario, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, and the Prison Lawyers Association. Shane also works closely with Justice 4 Migrant Workers (J4MW) providing legal education and pro bono assistance for Caribbean and Mexican migrant farm workers in southern Ontario.
Media
Recent news coverage
Shane's legal advocacy & commentary has been featured on:
June 12, 2017 - CHCH News - Coroner’s inquest into the death of a Chilean man, jailed on immigration charges
August 8, 2016 - CBC Metro Morning - Migrant farm workers lose belongings in fire
August 5, 2016 - Jamaica Star - Farm workers lose everything in Canada fire
January 24, 2015 - Toronto Star - Toronto jail inmate says he was sent to solitary for having HIV
July 3, 2014 - Toronto Sun - Conjugal visits 'not an automatic right'
June 24, 2014 - CBC - Inmates continue legal fight to wear upside-down maple leaf t-shirts in prison
May 29, 2014 - Kingston Whig - Inmates' lawsuit over T-shirts not over: lawyer
March 13, 2014 - Jamaica Gleaner - Vybz Kartel Trial: The legal teams
July 29, 2013 - CBC - Migrant worker in Leamington awarded $23K in damages
October 2, 2012 - Toronto Star - Kingston Penitentiary won't deliver Toronto Star letters to inmates
August 30, 2012 - Toronto Star - Canadian inmates sue government over T-shirt ban
Shane Martínez B.A., LL.B, L.E.C.
Barrister & Solicitor
Content copyright 2014. Martínez Law. All rights reserved. Content on website is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not automatically establish a solicitor-client relationship.