Renée Vinett is Managing Partner of Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP – and before becoming a lawyer, she was a registered nurse. Licensed since 1985, she worked in catastrophic injury case management before obtaining her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a Toronto personal injury lawyer and a mass tort practice lawyer with a medical depth that distinguishes it from lawyers who have only ever practised law.
Called to the Ontario Bar: 2002
As a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation (Law Society of Ontario, designated 2016), Renée handles personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, accident benefits, long-term disability, and institutional abuse claims. She leads HSH’s Canadian Essure litigation against Bayer (featured on CBC’s The Fifth Estate and FRANCE 24) and the Allergan textured breast implant recall litigation. She also handles talcum powder and ovarian cancer claims. She teaches at Osgoode Hall, has spoken at the Women in Litigation Symposium and the North American Brain Injury Society Annual Conference, and serves as Managing Partner of the firm.
Cases Renée Handles
- Personal injury lawyer – motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury
- Mass tort lawyer – Essure (Bayer); Allergan breast implant recall
- Talcum powder and ovarian cancer claims lawyer
- Accident benefits (SABS); long-term disability lawyer
- Institutional sexual abuse claims lawyer
Notable Results
- Past results are not predictive of future outcomes.
- $2 Million – 15-year-old suffered spinal cord injury jumping in swimming pool
Awards and Recognition
- Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation – LSO (2016)
- Listed in annual peer-reviewed Canadian legal directory – Personal Injury; Lexpert® Ranked 2026
Professional Memberships
- OTLA; The Advocates’ Society; OBA; TLA; WLAO; College of Nurses of Ontario
Education
- Called to the Ontario Bar: 2002
- LLB – York University, Osgoode Hall Law School (2000)
- Nursing (Honours), Cum Laude – Middle Tennessee State University (1985)
Contact Renée Vinett in Toronto
Call: 877-771-7006 | Direct: 416-361-7560
Email: rvinett@hshlawyers.com | Website: hshlawyers.com/team/renee-vinett/
Free Consultations · Contingency Fee Basis · Home and Hospital Visits · Multilingual Services
FAQ’s
Why is Renée Vinett’s dual background as a nurse and lawyer significant?
Renée was a registered nurse in catastrophic injury case management from 1985 before obtaining her LLB from Osgoode Hall in 2000. She reads medical records as a clinician, engages medical experts with clinical authority, and understands what injuries mean for a client’s life in ways that purely legal training does not provide. This translates into stronger preparation and more persuasive advocacy.
What is the Essure device and why is there litigation in Canada?
Essure was a permanent birth control device manufactured by Bayer that has been linked to chronic pelvic pain, device migration, perforation, and autoimmune reactions. Bayer discontinued the product. Renée leads HSH’s Canadian litigation on behalf of Canadian women who suffered harm from the device.
Is Renée Vinett involved in the Allergan breast implant litigation?
Yes. Renée leads HSH’s litigation arising from the Allergan textured breast implant recall, which was issued after research linked the implants to a rare form of lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). She represents Canadian women who suffered harm. A free consultation is available.