Janessa Mason

Janessa (she/her) is a criminal defence lawyer at Ascendion Law, a boutique litigation firm in Vancouver. Her practice includes traditional criminal law, as well as regulatory and white-collar defence. She is a seasoned advocate at all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as at regulatory and administrative tribunals in both B.C. and Ontario.

Janessa is a graduate of the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, where she focused her studies on criminal law and social justice. During her time at UVic, she was passionately involved in student government and co-chaired the student mentorship program. After returning to Vancouver, Janessa worked at a national full-service firm, practising primarily in the areas of employment and human rights litigation. She earned her undergraduate degree from UBC as an Academic All Canadian, where she studied forensic psychology as a varsity track and field athlete.

As part of her practice, Janessa is passionate about access to justice, mentorship and serving underrepresented communities. She is a supervising lawyer with Access Pro Bono Students Canada, and proudly works with her local BLSA organizations. Outside of work, you may find her travelling with her husband, watching Formula 1 or digging in her garden.