Best Lawyers in Canada for Labour and Employment Law

Andrew has been involved in a wide range of commercial disputes, with a focus on insolvency and restructuring, shareholder disputes and employment matters. His clients include private individuals, small businesses, and major corporations. Andrew regularly acts in various capacities for parties to insolvency and restructuring matters, including as counsel to the court-appointed Monitor or Receiver, as counsel for the directors and officers of insolvent corporations, and as counsel for other in...

David is a nationally recognized employment law expert who focuses on the strategic, efficient, and effective resolution of workplace issues and challenges for both employers and employees. He believes that the most productive and successful work environments are those in which both employer and employee are treated with respect. This abiding belief in fairness makes him a compelling advocate in negotiations and in court, rendering David an opponent to be reckoned with. David specializes in a...

Ryan Berger is a leading privacy and employment lawyer, with a primary focus on providing strategic advice to businesses and employers. Ryan leads the firm’s Privacy Group and routinely advises public and private sector organizations on data protection, business confidentiality and privacy compliance, risk management strategies, breach response, access to information, and litigation. Ryan manages breach response teams for clients, including forensic investigation, crisis communications ...

Michael began his legal career with Bennett Jones LLP. Michael joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2003. In 2020, Michael was appointed King’s Counsel by Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer. Appointments of King’s Counsel are awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and have demonstrated exceptional leadership. LITIGATION PRACTICE Michael is an accomplished advocate and maintains an active civil and commercia...

Daniel Condon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law . Daniel, who practices law in Markham, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Risling is an experienced litigator with a talent for negotiating and finding creative resolutions for his clients. He is a member of the Executive Committee at McLennan Ross, and focuses his practice on insurance, education, and labour and employment. With deep knowledge of the insurance industry, David represents and advises insurers on a variety of insurance matters, including coverage, liability, and quantum issues. He handles files involving personal injury, negligence law, profess...

Mark practises all areas of labour and employment law, representing both public and private sector employers before labour boards, arbitration boards, the courts and numerous employment-related administrative tribunals. Mark’s practice also involves providing proactive and strategic advice to employers in labour and employment matters. Mark has acted as lead counsel in many significant collective agreement arbitrations, wrongful dismissal matters and proceedings before both the Ontario ...

Chris Foulon is a Founding Partner and the Managing Partner of Israel Foulon Wong LLP. He represents both employers and employees in a wide range of employment and labour matters including: wrongful dismissals, injunctions, Employment Standards Hearings, disputes before the Ministry of Labour, workplace safety matters, Occupational Health and Safety charges and matters before the Human Rights Tribunal. Chris also advises employers with respect to union organization drives and responding to ap...

Carl Peterson is a partner of the firm and since his call to the bar in 1984, he has worked in all areas of labour law with special expertise in the construction industry and health and safety litigation. In addition to defending employers against health and safety charges, he has been quite active in developing policies and seminars for employers to prevent accidents and avoid litigation. Carl has a great deal of experience in assisting non-union and union employers develop positive employee...

Ellen Bessner is an experienced, tough-minded commercial litigator, known for her determination and common sense advice. After 25 years of practice on Bay Street at prominent Canadian law firms, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Gowling WLG, Ellen joined Babin Bessner Spry LLP in 2014, where she is a leader in commercial and securities litigation, employment litigation, insurance defence, directors’ and officers’ liability, professional negligence, class actions, and regulator...

Audrey Charest practices labour and construction law at our Montreal office. She cumulates several years' experience in the construction industry as a lawyer in labour relations, occupational health and safety and criminal law. Audrey works on a variety of business and management issues, including the application and interpretation of Bill R-20, collective agreements and workforce management. She also has experience as a corporate trainer on psychological and sexual harassment in the workplac...

Since the beginning of her career, Karine Fournier has focused her practice exclusively on labour, employment, and human rights. In addition to frequently appearing before different courts, Karine also plays a key advisory role, particularly during certification applications and collective bargaining negotiations. A true master negotiator in the field of collective bargaining, Karine has gained renown for over 15 years for her success in handling numerous collective bargaining negotiations in...

Claire Vachon assists clients in all areas of labour and employment law in both official languages. She is licensed to practice law in Québec and in Ontario. Claire is the former leader of Fasken’s Labour, Employment and Human Rights Practice Group. For close to two decades, Claire’s work has been focused on the education sector. Drawing on an extensive knowledge of this sector’s legal and political environment, Claire has become a trusted advisor to many Ontario scho...

Susan B. Barber KC is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Labour and Employment Law. Susan B., who practices law in Regina, Saskatchewan, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Adrian is an experienced, sought-after, and trusted labour and employment lawyer committed to providing exceptional service and advice. With over two decades of experience, Adrian offers comprehensive advice to employers across both unionized and non-unionized environments. His clients span industries and sectors, from construction to transportation, to energy and beyond. He advises and advocates for clients on issues including collective bargaining, employee discipline and dismissal, human r...

Éric Lallier assists employers in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada and advises them on a wide range of legal matters, including the interpretation and application of collective agreements and employment contracts, court actions, occupational health and safety issues, grievance arbitration, and penal matters. He also acts for clients of the firm before various administrative and judicial tribunals. In his practice, particular focus is given to specific areas of the law, including civil pr...