DAVID SHELLNUTT
Dave is a dedicated advocate for individuals who have suffered injuries and injustice. Dave has 8 years of personal injury and human rights law experience. Before founding the Biking Lawyer LLP, Dave worked at a premier Bay Street litigation and personal injury firm. He then worked with one of Canada’s leading disability and human rights lawyers.
Aside from being a passionate and accomplished lawyer, Dave is also a survivor of violence and a bike crash victim. He knows all too well what it means to personally go through recovery and navigate sometimes unforgiving systems. Dave is uniquely qualified to represent survivors of violence and other injured people as a result of this shared experience.
“I am blessed and thankful for my recovery. My experiences have made me determined to use what I have learned to help my clients.”
As a fierce litigator, Dave advocates on all fronts for his clients. In the courts, in the press, with insurers, treatment providers, and government, including the city and police, where necessary.
CHANTELLE PLEASANT
Chantelle entered the legal world as a Criminal Defence legal assistant over 10 years ago, and since then, she has developed into a fierce, highly skilled Senior Law Clerk and Office Manager.
Seven years ago, Chantelle completed the Humber College Law Clerk Program while raising 2 children, recovering from lived-experiences of violence, and began working as a Law Clerk. As a dedicated learner and advocate, Chantelle sought further opportunities to help her community. While clerking and raising a family, she obtained her Police Foundations Diploma in 2019. Chantelle hoped for a career where she could actively support victims of sexual assault and human trafficking and be an agent for change in how her community was policed.
Since joining the Biking Lawyer LLP, Chantelle’s views on how she can advocate for her community have shifted, and her career aspirations have grown as well. Chantelle applied and was admitted to law school, commencing Fall 2021.
Chantelle’s legal career is expansive. Over the past decade, Chantelle has worked in criminal defence, family, employment, litigation, and personal injury. Personal injury is now home to Chantelle.
Chantelle entered the legal profession as a hardworking legal assistant and a dedicated mom to her two children; The Biking Lawyer LLP Team is excited to see Chantelle’s continued progression into an effective and strong client advocate. She will continue to support The Biking Lawyer LLP and our clients until she commences her quest to law school.
JOEL ZANATTA
Joel Zanatta is a committed cycling enthusiast and experienced bike lawyer. Joel is a partner of Hammerberg Lawyers in Vancouver. He is also the founder of The Cycling Lawyer. Joel’s passion for cycling started at a young age. Since his youth he has been riding on and off road, enjoying the diverse variety of terrain that British Columbia has to offer. Joel is committed to the wellbeing of cyclists. He is a director of the BC Cycling Coalition and a proud sponsor of Cycling BC. He founded The Cycling Lawyer in the hope of improving cycling safety and cycling accident advocacy.
DENIQUA EDWARDS
Deniqua has spent the past nine years as a human rights and anti-poverty advocate, providing policy research and analysis for NGOs such as Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA); and serving on the executive team of Amnesty International at Carleton University. During her time at law school at the University of Ottawa, Deniqua applied herself to front-line legal service delivery by volunteering in pop-up legal clinics and interning for human rights and poverty lawyers.
After her call to the Ontario Bar, Deniqua served as Staff Lawyer and Outreach Coordinator at Canada Without Poverty (CWP). At CWP, she submitted several reports to United Nations Committees assessing Canada's compliance with international human rights law. Further, she led a national roundtable of anti-poverty community organizers to push for a comprehensive response to poverty during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Motivated by her lived-experiences, Deniqua became a lawyer to protect and defend those placed on the margins of our institutions, structures and communities. With this in mind, she joined the Biking Lawyer in November 2020, ready to zealously represent our clients as they recover from their injuries; and to continue combatting oppressive structures.
MEET THE TEAM
The Biking Lawyer LLP team is in part made up of 3 lawyers with several decades of experience in personal injury and human rights law. We are cyclists, advocates, and lawyers.
Our focus is top tier client service. Our lawyers are compassionate and caring, but we are also fierce, strategic and effective. We achieve great results for our clients, while ensuring their dignity is respected as well.
Getting you on the road to recovery and securing the compensation you deserve to live a full and meaningful life drives our every move. Our clients are our priority.
We take a progressive approach to litigation. We help individuals and aim to secure systemic changes. Our team is here for you.