Best Lawyers in Canada for Labour and Employment Law

Michelle MacGillivray is a labour and employment lawyer who takes a focused, strategic, and practical approach to solving workplace problems. Michelle works to find the most efficient way to resolve issues, or to support employers through major initiatives, including sale and acquisition of businesses, reductions in force, and policy changes. She prides herself on providing proactive, timely, and high-quality advice to her clients to help them manage the litigation and reputational risks that...

Mark Mason is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. His practice includes arbitration advocacy, employment litigation, human rights proceedings and the entire spectrum of collective bargaining, including interest arbitrations and strike management. Mark advises a variety of public and private sector employers and brings a practical and solution-focused approach to the legal services he provides. Mark is recognized as one of Ontario’s leading counsel in t...

Kelly VanBuskirk is recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Labour and Employment Law. He is also a Top Ranked lawyer by Lexpert and his firm, VanBuskirk Law, has been named a Top Labour and Employment Law firm by HR Law Canada. For 33 years, Kelly has practiced labour, employment, and human rights law and has represented employers, employees, unions, and commissions in trials and hearings in the New Brunswic...

François-Nicolas is a litigator, negotiator, author and renowned speaker. He is recognized for his people skills as well as his communication skills, notably when speaking on topics relating to labour relations. He is the firm’s resident artist and his marked interest in contemporary art has allowed the firm to considerably develop its art collection. He joined Monette Barakett as a student in 1998. He has been a partner since 2008 and oversees talent recruitment and leads the fi...

Lawrence Witt is an experienced labour, employment and human rights law practitioner. He regularly acts on behalf of clients in labour and employment litigation matters before administrative tribunals, arbitration tribunals as well as first instance and appellate level courts. Lawrence has developed considerable expertise in electronic discovery and data preservation, the drafting and pleading of injunction applications seeking the enforcement of restrictive covenants, return of information a...

Joel Fairbrother is an employment lawyer. He is a partner and co-founder of Bow River Law LLP. Joel's key practice areas are employment law, labour law and human rights, but he does some general civil litigation as well. Prior to law school, Joel obtained a BA degree in Political Science from University of Alberta. He attended law school at University of Saskatchewan and obtained his Juris Doctor in 2011. Joel has experience litigating at all levels of court and many different tribunals in Al...

Alan takes an engaged, focused and enthusiastic approach to his practice. He thrives on finding solutions and resolutions, which drives him to pay attention to facts and details, never assume anything, and meticulously gather information to make the case solid. He brings both a serious focus and a sense of humour. Alan is a leading lawyer in workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety issues. His practice focuses on representing employers in matters involving assessments, o...

Robin N. McFee, K.C. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Labour and Employment Law. Robin N., who practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robin N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Irv Kleiner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Irv, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Irv is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dianne Jozefacki is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She advises employers on a wide range of labour and employment matters, with a particular emphasis on energy sector and school board matters and employment litigation. Dianne appears as counsel on a variety of labour and employment disputes, including wrongful dismissal and defamation claims, grievances and human rights proceedings. She has represented clients in trials, appeals, tribunal hearings and l...

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...

Dan is a dedicated advisor and strategic problem solver. He is known for providing timely, practical advice and unrelenting advocacy. He leverages his tireless work ethic and substantial experience to achieve measurable results for his clients. Dan is an accomplished litigator and advisor to union and non-union employers with respect to labour, employment, workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, and administrative law issues. He is well-versed in termination issues, human...

Frédéric Desmarais's practice covers all aspects of employment and labour law, with a focus on civil employment law matters and litigation, such as duty of loyalty and restrictive covenants. He is also knowledgeable in federal labour and employment law. Mr. Desmarais provides federal and provincial jurisdiction employers with strategic advice on how best to manage their workforces. He acts on behalf of employers before the appropriate authorities, including administrative tribun...

Michael practises labour and employment law. He represents employers in all aspects of labour and employment law disputes, including arbitrations, labour board hearings, human rights matters, workers compensation matters, employment standards matters, and wrongful dismissal actions. Michael has acted as counsel for employers in several industries and sectors, including post-secondary institutions; newspapers; supermarkets; transportation companies; printing companies; beverage companies; tele...

Boris Subara is a Partner in Fasken’s Ottawa office and is a member of the firm’s Labour, Employment & Human Rights group. He practices in all areas of labour and employment law and provides practical advice and representation to employers and management on a wide range of issues that arise during the course of the employment relationship. Among other things, Boris advises both provincially and federally regulated employers with respect to terminations, human rights issues, th...

Claudia Desjardins Bélisle represents employers in all types of labour and employment matters, but has developed a special expertise in complex litigation surrounding violation of restrictive covenants and violation of proprietary and confidential information obligations, supporting employers during unionization campaigns and the application of the Charter of the French Language. She regularly represents employers before courts and grievance arbitrators. She advises them on union certi...