Tarissa L. Peterson has article entitled "Voyage of Injustice: The Socioeconomic Exploitation in the Cruise Industry" published in the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

McDougall Gauley LLP's Tarissa L. Peterson has had her article entitled "Voyage of Injustice: The Socioeconomic Exploitation in the Cruise Industry" published in the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law ("VJTL"). The VJTL is a notable legal journal focused on exploring current and emerging issues in comparative and international law.

Tarissa's article examines how the international legal architecture governing cruise ships facilitates systemic exploitation of crew members.

The article explores harsh working conditions at sea including excessive hours, substandard wages, discrimination, harassment, and limited access to legal recourse and explains how practices such as flags of convenience and complex jurisdictional challenges limit oversight and hinder workers’ access to justice. Drawing parallels to the “race to the bottom” model seen in other global industries, Tarissa argues that the current system of flag-state enforcement, mandatory arbitration clauses, and layered jurisdictional barriers often leaves crew members with limited protection under both international and domestic law.

The article concludes by proposing legal reforms, including expanding the ability of domestic courts to hear claims arising from work performed at sea, strengthening enforcement of international labour standards such as the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, and increasing transparency and regulatory oversight within the industry.

Tarissa is a litigation associate with a broad civil and commercial litigation practice. She has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Saskatchewan, including the Court of Appeal, Court of King’s Bench, Provincial Court, and various administrative tribunals.

Tarissa’s passion for broadening her global perspective led her to travel extensively, enriching her understanding of international legal and social issues and inspiring her to pursue a legal career focused on justice and reform. Driven by a lifelong passion for international relations, Tarissa completed academic work at Harvard University, culminating in a thesis under the guidance of Harvard Law Professor Gabriella Blum that highlighted the socioeconomic exploitation within the cruise ship industry. She continues to advocate for legal reform.

Tarissa's article can be found here.