Shupeng (Tammy) Jian

Before attending law school in Canada, Tammy practised as a litigator in Shanghai, representing clients in civil and labour litigation at both trial and appellate levels. Over nearly three years as an associate at a Shanghai law firm, she drafted litigation documents and managed client communications for more than 120 cases.

Her work included a precedent-setting labour law case that clarified the criteria for renewing labour contracts upon termination, and a complex labour appeal she settled for 40% of the amount awarded at trial, enabling her client to meet the requirements for an initial public offering. She also represented employees in collective bargaining and class actions, with two cases recognized among the top ten cases of 2022 by the District Trade Union.

In addition to contentious work, Tammy provided general corporate counsel to more than 30 clients and authored labour and employment law articles published on the official media platforms of district trade unions.

Tammy earned her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2026. During law school she worked at a tax litigation boutique in Toronto, where she drafted pleadings, motion materials, affidavits and other court documents, and assisted with preparing for examinations, motions, trials and appeals. She also summered at a Toronto family law firm, conducting initial client consultations.

Her legal research training includes serving as a researcher for Osgoode’s Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Law Moot and conducting legal research for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance in support of its litigation. She judged the Lerners Cup moot in 2024 after competing in it the year before.

Before her J.D., Tammy completed an LL.M. at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she was named to the Dean’s Honor List.

At Starkman & Zhang, Tammy’s responsibilities include drafting pleadings, legal memoranda and affidavits, preparing case summaries and factual chronologies, conducting legal research, and supporting counsel in preparing for examinations, motions and trials.

Her years of frontline litigation practice in Shanghai taught her how to manage a heavy caseload under pressure, build client trust, and deliver work that is accurate, structured and ready for court.

Tammy’s profile combines Chinese civil law training, years of courtroom practice in Shanghai, and a Canadian common law education. This background gives her practical comparative insight in matters involving Chinese parties, Chinese-language documentation and cross-border disputes.

She is fluent in Mandarin and English, enabling her to communicate directly with Chinese-speaking clients and review Chinese-language legal materials without reliance on third-party translation.