Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Labour and Employment Law

Bruce Sevigny is a recognized leader in the Ontario labour and employment law field, having practised exclusively in this area for more than twenty-five years. Bruce regularly advises both employer and employee clients on a wide range of labour and employment law issues, including wrongful dismissal litigation, employment contract issues, federal and provincial labour board proceedings (including union certification and decertification applications), human rights complaints, labour arbitratio...

Kelly Doctor has the smarts to see all possible solutions, and the heart and practical intuition to reach the best ones for her clients. She’s driven to fight for the rights of people experiencing disadvantage and discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere in their lives. While she loves to litigate, she also works quietly behind the scenes to advise clients on how to handle difficult situations in the workplace and negotiate resolutions to them. A former Supreme Court of Canada law ...

Chris joined the firm as a summer student in 1992, and worked as an Articling Student before returning as an Associate after his call to the Bar in 1995. He has been a Partner in the firm since 2001. Chris practices in all areas of labour relations and employment law, including arbitrations, Labour Board proceedings, collective bargaining negotiations and civil actions for wrongful dismissal. In addition, he represents clients in workplace safety and insurance matters, human rights litigation...

Emily Lawrence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits Law, Health Care Law and Labour and Employment Law. Emily, 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 Emily is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Bernie‘s practice focuses on arbitration and labour board representation for numerous private and public sector unions both federally and provincially. Bernie also specializes in education law and represents teacher federations and their members in matters arising under collective agreements and before the Ontario College of Teachers. Bernie provides policy and strategic advice to clients, in the area of collective bargaining, and collective agreement administration. He has a special in...

As a member of the firm since 2005 and as a partner since 2012, Laura practices exclusively in the area of employment law and labour relations on behalf of management. She advises and represents employers in a variety of industrial and commercial sectors including automotive, retail and logistics. She is also involved in collective bargaining and labour relations in the broader public sector. She handles wrongful dismissals, human rights, employment standards, grievances, health and safety an...

Charles Hofley is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office who maintains a fully bilingual practice. He has more than 30 years of experience advising employers on a broad range of employment and labour matters including terminations, collective agreement negotiation and administration, human rights and social service matters. Charles is an experienced negotiator and regularly appears before boards of arbitration, administrative tribunals and all levels of co...

Mark Fletcher is a Partner with Grosman Gale Fletcher Hopkins LLP. Mark is an experienced trial lawyer who is regarded by his peers and ranked by LEXPERT and recognized by Best Lawyers as one of the leading employment lawyers in Canada. He advises and provides representation to both employers and employees in wrongful dismissal actions, executive compensation disputes, and in human rights cases. Mark is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Cases on Employment Law (CCEL) and is the Editor fo...

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...

For over 30 years, trade unions have relied on Steven Barrett to represent their interests, and the interests of their members, in all types of legal proceedings. Grievance and interest arbitration, labour relations board applications, collective bargaining – Steven does it all and makes it look easy. That’s why a member of parliament once referred to Steven as “the Wayne Gretzky of labour law”. From protecting the scope of bargaining unit work, to challenging discipli...

Jodi Martin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Labour and Employment Law. Jodi, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jodi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Soft spoken, but with a steely resolve, Fiona Campbell represents trade unions and employees in a wide variety of labour, employment, pension, and human rights matters. Fiona does everything from helping employees negotiate their employment contracts and termination packages, to representing employees and trade unions before labour and human rights tribunals, to arguing judicial review applications and constitutional cases in the courts. She has particular expertise in the federal public serv...

Biography Andrew Shaw is a partner in the Firm's Employment & Compensation Law Group. Prior to attending law school, Andrew held labour relations/human resources positions at both private and public sector companies. In these roles, he managed workplace disputes and grievances to an appropriate resolution, assisted internal clients with the interpretation of employment-related legislation, and provided counsel to senior management as required. Andrew assists clients with all aspects of th...

Jennifer is a Labour, Employment, and Human Rights lawyer and partner at Ross & McBride LLP. She was called to the bar in July of 2003 and has practiced exclusively in the firm's Labour and Employment Group since that time. She regularly appears before the Courts, the Human Rights Tribunals, Arbitrators, the Labour Board, and other administrative tribunals on employer and employee issues. In addition, she also regularly advises employers on matters dealing with employment relations, emplo...

Ashley is a partner in the firm, practicing out of the Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto offices. Ashley provides practical, proactive advice and representation to management in a variety of organizations – large and small, unionized and non-unionized, public and private sector. Ashley’s practice includes all facets of labour and employment law. It ranges from human rights, workplace investigations, occupational health and safety, employment contracts, executive compensation, and emp...