The Legal 500 > Canada > Canada > Labour and employment

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s formidable national practice leans on sizeable platforms throughout the country, with particularly dominant teams in Toronto and Montreal. The group routinely advises on labour relations, human rights, occupational health and safety, and privacy-related matters, with strengths in both non-contentious and litigious issues. In Montreal, Robert Bonhomme is highly sought after for labour relations and Danny Kaufer enjoys a prominent reputation for his bargaining and arbitration expertise. Matthew Certosimo in Toronto is an experienced litigator, who represents employers and employees in complex contentious cases. Other key contacts in Montreal include national department head André Royer and occupational health and safety specialist Katherine Poirier.

Fasken’s impressively broad practice stands out across all the key pillars of labour, employment and human rights law, with strong skill sets in strategy, transactions and contentious issues. The firm’s extensive national footprint marks it as a top choice for federal employment and labour matters, particularly in the airline, TMT, banking and  energy sectors, and it also has leading cross-border practice. In terms of the latter, Toronto-based sector specialist Brian Burkett was invited by the Canadian Government to serve on the NAFTA Labour Consultation Group to assist in the formulation of the labour and dispute resolution provisions of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Seasoned litigator Douglas Gilbert, also based in Toronto, is another key figure in the practice group.

On the employment front, Norton Rose Fulbright provides strategic advice on restructuring, outsourcing and organization design, and also handles transactional support issues and litigation. The group brings to bear deep experience in construction-related issues, among other specialist industry matters, and also benefits from strong complementary expertise in health and safety, human rights and corporate immigration. Global practice head Richard Charney in Toronto is widely considered an authority in labour and employment matters. In Montreal, Michel Carle is highly regarded for his specialist experience in the manufacturing, retail and food industries, and Luc Beaulieu is rated for his impressive track record in complex labour relations cases.

Baker McKenzie’s labour and employment practice has a solid reputation in contentious cases, both domestic and, through its ability to link up with its wider global network, cross-border disputes. The team also routinely advises on employment counselling, labour relations, transactional support matters and global mobility issues. George Avraam, who chairs the North America employment and compensation group, is noted for his broad trial and appellate litigation practice. Also recommended is associate Jennifer Bernardo, whom clients have hailed as ‘exceptionally bright’.

Bennett Jones LLP houses a robust labour and employment practice, which is well balanced between standalone advisory and contentious matters, and transactional support work. In line with the firm-wide strength, the practice group, which has solid footholds in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, is particularly active in the energy and natural resources industries. Calgary-based John Gilmore, who had a strong recent run in M&A-related matters, and Toronto-based Carl Cunningham jointly head the department. The group was recently boosted by the arrival of new Ottawa-based senior counsel Lori Sterling, who was formerly federal Deputy Minister of Labour and Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Skills Development.

Dentons’ increasingly prominent labour and employment practice covers all the key pillars, with strong skill sets in litigation, investigations and health and safety law. The team also sets itself apart through its ability to lean on its global network for support in multi-jurisdictional mandates. Barbara B Johnston QC heads the Calgary labour and employment group and is recommended for her deep expertise in matters relating to drug and alcohol testing. Andy Pushalik heads the group in Toronto and advises a range of companies, charities and public sector organizations on contentious and non-contentious issues.

Boasting an impressive national footprint, McCarthy Tétrault provides on-the-ground employment and labour law advice from its Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary and Vancouver offices. The full-service heavyweight is best known for its ability to pair up with its corporate team to advise on major transaction-related matters, but it also packs a punch in labour relations, human rights, health and safety, and litigation. In Montreal, André Baril is highly regarded for his record in labour relations and labour disputes. Key names in Toronto include national group lead Tim Lawson and talented up-and-coming partner Trevor Lawson.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP has a solid record of handling the employment and labour aspects of corporate transactions and major restructurings, with notable expertise in multi-jurisdictional matters. In addition, the group routinely advises on employment policies, compensation matters, and employment and labour relations litigation. Toronto-based group chair Jason Hanson is experienced in all areas of labour and employment law, including collective bargaining and outsourcing. and Brian Thiessen, who splits his time between Calgary and Vancouver, is noted for his privacy expertise. Also recommended is Sven Poysa, a talented up-and-coming partner, who practices across the firm's Toronto and Montreal offices.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s labour and employment practice primarily supports the firm’s prolific corporate practice, advising on the labour and employment aspects of major transactional mandates. Spread across the firm’s Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal offices, the team also advises on standalone matters, including workplace policies and employment litigation. Andrea York, who focuses on employment, labour and privacy matters, heads the group from Toronto.

Gowling WLG’s sizeable international platform marks it as a popular choice for cross-border matters, particularly for inbound companies looking to establish a presence in Canada. The firm also handles a steady stream of employment litigation cases. Practicing across the firm's Vancouver and Calgary offices, Maxwell Brunette heads the group in Western Canada and focuses on labour relations, employment matters, human rights and privacy law. Kitchener-based Bettina Burgess leads the national group.

From its platforms in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, Stikeman Elliott LLP advises employers on all aspects of individual and collective employment matters. The firm’s full-service offering spans advisory, contentious and transactional issues, with its ability to provide seamless service on national cases standing out as a big draw for clients. Montreal-based Hélène Bussières is a popular choice for both contentious and non-contentious matters, and also has significant expertise in privacy and data protection law.

Torys LLP’s group has a strong emphasis on contentious matters and benefits its ability to link up with its formidable class action defence practice. The firm has handled some of the most high-profile employment class actions brought in Canada, including its recent work for the Canadian Hockey League and Uber. Moreover, the team also has significant experience in labour relations, human rights and occupational health and safety. Names to note include counsel Darryl Hiscocks and employment litigation head Lisa Talbot, both of whom are based in Toronto.

Aird & Berlis LLP’s workplace law practice spans labour, employment and occupational health and safety matters. Best known for its strength in corporate support issues, the group also advises on policy development, investigations and contentious matters. Department head Lorenzo Lisi has experience in representing employers in both provincial and federal matters.