Best Lawyers in Canada for Labour and Employment Law

An experienced litigator who represents management in all matters relating to labour relations and employment law, Daryn has a particular focus on the interpretation and application of collective agreements, the Ontario Labour Relations Act and the Employment Standards Act. While Daryn partners with employers in all sectors, he has noted and extensive experience in the broader public sector, including with municipalities, hospitals and children’s aid societies. He is first and foremost ...

Andrew practices in the areas of constitutional law, appeals, administrative law, labour and employment law, and pension litigation. He clerked for Madam Justice (now Chief Justice) Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989-90. Prior to joining Paliare Roland, he worked at a national law firm, and taught law at Ottawa University and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He has appeared in more than 20 cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, and regularly appears before ...

Chris provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals in all aspects of labour and employment law, with particular experience handling drug and alcohol-related labour issues in the workplace. In his labour law practice, his clients include owners and contractors involved in large construction projects, health-care providers, and industrial clients. Always forward-thinking, Chris develops long-term labour relations plans that navigate issues and builds a foundation for success...

Robert Dupont’s practice encompasses every aspect of labour and employment, human rights and administrative law. He offers clients extensive experience in labour relations, specifically the protection of personal information, pay equity and pension plans. For many years businesses have trusted Robert to advise them on the cross-border flow of personal information, collective bargaining and restructuring. Robert has also won their trust by representing clients before various arbitration ...

Jack Siegel, a member of the Blaney McMurtry Labour and Employment practice group, focuses largely on workers' compensation, wrongful dismissal, occupational health and safety and human rights matters. Jack is a former Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Ontario Bar Association, and has been listed in Best Lawyers in Canada for Workers' Compensation Law every year since 2006, and was named by that publication as 2014 Lawyer of the Year in the field of Workers’ Compen...

Dirk Van de Kamer’s labour and employment law practice is concentrated on representing management. Dirk advises employers on a broad range of topics that include matters relating to the interpretation and administration of collective agreements, as well as human rights, employment standards, occupational health and safety, and wrongful dismissal matters. Dirk has appeared as counsel in grievance and interest arbitrations as well as proceedings in other administrative forums and the cour...

John Peters is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. John, who practices law in Ottawa, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Melanie Polowin is a partner in Gowlings' Ottawa office, practising in the Employment and Labour Law National Practice Group. Melanie advises Canadian and international employers, from start-ups to well established companies, on how to effectively manage all aspects of their employment relationships, from recruitment and hiring to termination. Melanie also assists businesses and investors with the employment aspects of corporate life-cycle events, including starting up, financing, mergers and...

Lorrie Por is a Partner with Harrison Pensa and Practice Lead of the firm’s Employment and Labour Law group. Her practice is restricted exclusively to employment law issues, and human rights law for employers and business owners. Employers and business owners in all industries and institutions turn to Lorrie for assistance with their employment and human right law issues and her advice and activities are valued by companies and business owners in all areas of Canada and internationally....

Jane’s practice focuses exclusively on advice and advocacy to public and private sector employers in all areas of workplace law. Jane represents both union and non-union clients. Jane has extensive experience assisting clients in addressing labour law, employment law, human rights and disability management matters. She regularly advocates for clients during labour relations disputes, collective bargaining, interest arbitration and grievance arbitrations. She also regularly represents cl...

Stephen Krashinsky is a labour lawyer in Goldblatt Partners' Toronto office. His practice focuses on grievance arbitration and Ontario Labour Relations Board matters. Born and raised in Montreal, Stephen attended the University of Toronto, where he achieved both his bachelor of arts and his law degree in five years. He was called to the bar in 1981. Stephen’s legal career protecting the rights of workers began during the summer following his second year of law school, when he attended t...

Jill Wilkie is a trusted advisor to employers and specializes in advising on all aspects of labour and employment law, and is the Leader of Miller Thomson’s Labour & Employment Group. She has developed significant expertise in assisting clients in the health, manufacturing and education industries, as well as in Alberta’s Indigenous communities. Jill’s experience includes advising on the discipline and dismissal process, the defence of wrongful, constructive and unjust d...

Andrew C. Lewis 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. Andrew C., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bonnie Roberts Jones is counsel to Hicks Morley in its Toronto office. Having practised for 25 years, she provides advice on a wide range of civil and commercial matters including executive termination advocacy, shareholder disputes, directors’ liability, defamation and contractual disputes. Bonnie has significant class action experience, having acted on a number of these unique lawsuits. Bonnie graduated from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia in Va...

Daniel Chodos, a senior partner at Whitten and Lublin, has 17 years of extensive experience in employment law. Engaged by both employees and employers, Daniel concentrates on finding the resolution that best meets the needs of his client. Daniel is thoroughly skilled in handling workplace disputes, severance negotiations, wrongful dismissals, harassment, and human rights issues. Daniel’s expert skill in wrongful dismissal cases is demonstrated in his courtroom victories. However, what s...