Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is recognized as a leader in Canada's labour and employment legal market, boasting an extensive national presence with strong bases in its Montréal and Toronto offices. Headed by André Royer in Montréal, the national practice group has expertise in health and safety, compensation and pay equity, human rights issues and employments standards, among other matters. In particular, the team stands out for its counsel on labour-management relations in unionized workplaces; Robert Bonhomme in Montréal is a name to note in this space, as is Danny Kaufer, who has a strong reputation in arbitration. The practice group also has extensive experience in sensitive litigation; Matthew Certosimo in Toronto represents employers in wrongful dismissal claims and labour arbitration. Occupational health and safety specialist Katherine Poirier is also recommended in the Montréal office. Daniel Michaluk joined from Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP in August 2020.

Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP has core expertise in employment standards, human rights matters, grievance and interest arbitration, occupational health and safety and civil litigation. Roy Filion QC has represented employers before the courts and administrative tribunals. James Knight is recommended for advice on collective bargaining and response to union organizing campaigns. The firm has three Ontario offices in Toronto, London and Hamilton.

Vancouver-based employment specialist firm Harris & Company acts for public bodies and private sector companies, leveraging extensive experience in employment and contractor agreements, terminations and restrictive covenants matters. On the contentious front, the team has experience in wrongful dismissal claims and employment standards complaints, among other disputes. Firm co-founder Eric Harris QC is a contact.

Known for its extensive public sector client base, Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP has experience of labour relations and collective bargaining, employment standards and employee contracts, among other matters. Toronto-based practice head Stephen Shamie is a contact in the team; he has defended of employers in arbitration, human rights hearings and labour board proceedings.

Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP is known for its expertise in labour relations, particularly in the field of construction. Other key areas of work include occupational health and safety, human rights, workplace investigations and pay equity. Contacts include Keith Murray in Vancouver and manging partner Keith Murray in Toronto.

McLennan Ross LLP's management-side labour and employment practice has a strong presence in Alberta and Northern Canada, where it acts for a variety of clients including regional governments and municipal bodies, education institutions, and domestic and international corporates. In line with its regional strength, the team has a good deal of expertise acting for clients natural resources industries. Tim Mitchell in Calgary is noted for his work for federally- and provincially-regulated employers. Maurice Dransfeld, Tom Ross QC and Michelle Theriault lead teams in Edmonton, Calgary and Yellowknife, respectively.

Vancouver-based boutique Roper Greyell LLP is very well known in Western Canada. The firm has a full-service labour and employment practice covering workplace management, labour relations, human rights and health and safety issues, and workplace investigations and employment litigation. Contacts include founding partner Thomas Roper QC and Jennifer Devins, who has experience in cases involving harassment, human rights and school law.

'Unfailingly responsive', Baker McKenzie is rated for providing 'helpful and practical advice' on contentious and non-contentious matters employment and compensation issues arising out of corporate transactions, labour relations and HR management. The team stands out in particular for its strength in employment disputes, with demonstrated expertise in discrimination claims, harassment and gender pay inequality. Practice head George Avraam in Toronto is recognized by clients as 'an impressive and unflappable negotiator and litigator'. Also recommended is associate Jennifer Bernardo, 'an exceptionally bright and focused young lawyer'.

Bennett Jones LLP provides comprehensive labour and employment advice to a number of major Canadian employers, balancing strengths in transactional support, standalone advisory work and court litigation. Among the team's core specialisms are occupational health and safety risk and incident management, various HR matters and terminations, restructuring-related employment matters, and labour relations. Calgary-based John Gilmore jointly heads the practice with Carl Cunningham, who advises federally and provincially regulated employers, and pension and benefits expert Susan Seller, both of whom are in the firm's Toronto office.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP handles a wide variety of labour, employment, human rights and workplace privacy matters. Of late, it has been among the leading firms for labour and employment work relating to Alberta's oil-linked economic downturn. The practice also stands out for its experience advising employers on issues linked to Canada's burgeoning marijuana sector. Richard Nixon in Toronto jointly heads the team with Allen Soltan in Vancouver. Calgary-based Michael Ford QC is well-known for acting for employers in collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes and contract administration matters.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP's employment and labour team has expertise in transactional matters and employment litigation. Other key areas of work include collective agreement administration, human rights and HR issues. Toronto-based practice chair Jason Hanson has extensive experience representing employers, conducting investigations, and Sven Poysa, who splits his time between Toronto and Montréal, is also recommended.

Miller Thomson has advised on a range of labour and employment matters, including labour relations and collective bargaining, non-union and executive employment, and attendance and disability management. The team also provides support on corporate restructuring, outsourcing and M&A. Hugh Dyer in Toronto is a contact for health and safety and human rights issues.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has advised employers on labour and union relations, workplace investigations, executive terminations, independent contractor agreements and wrongful dismissal claims. Kristin Taylor is the name to note in the practice group.

Toronto-based litigation boutique Lenczner Slaght handles a broad range of contentious employment matters, including cases arising from wrongful dismissal, the enforcement of restrictive covenants, unfair competition, and the misappropriation of trade secrets. Matthew Sammon heads the practice and has a strong reputation for handling employment disputes.

Labour and employment boutique Sherrard Kuzz LLP has a track record of advising on labour relations, strike and lockdown preparation, and workplace audits, among other matters. Toronto-based Erin Kuzz and Michael Sherrard are key contacts.