Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Labour and Employment Law

Andrew Zabrovsky is a partner in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office and is the chair of the firm’s Human Rights Practice Group. Andrew advises clients in both the public and private sectors on all aspects of their labour and employment relationships, with a specific focus on human rights litigation, labour arbitration and workplace accommodation issues. Andrew takes a results-oriented approach to the law, and works with clients to help them achieve their desired outcomes, whether that ...

Karen Sargeant is Managing Partner of the Firm’s Ontario Region, with primary responsibility for leadership of the Firm’s Toronto and Ottawa offices. As Regional Managing Partner, Karen spearheads the region’s strategic direction, setting the highest standards for legal service delivery. Her leadership centres on fostering an environment that develops exceptional talent, promotes diversity, encourages innovation and prioritizes client service excellence. In her legal practic...

John Bruce is a management-side labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. John acts for an array of employers in the public and private sectors in all aspects of workplace law. John assists clients with: Advocacy, Litigation and Advice. He acts as employer counsel and advocate across Canada in grievance arbitrations, civil litigation, union issues, occupational health and safety cases, and human rights matters. Transactions and Strategy. He provides clients with str...

Patricia (Pat) Forte specializes in employment law and insurance defence. She has also completed courses in risk assessment, risk control and risk financing to receive her Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation, and has expertise in risk management in the profit and not-for-profit sectors. In the area of employment, her expertise includes representing clients on employment standards, contracts, policies, privacy, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, managing leaves of absence,...

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...

Barry Kuretzky focuses his practice in employment and labour law, and represents many of Canada’s largest companies. He regularly advises and represents clients at all stages of the employment relationship, from hiring to termination. His practice includes wrongful dismissal litigation, unjust dismissals pursuant to the Canada Labour Code, employment standards adjudications, human rights, including disability and accommodation matters, sexual harassment, general harassment, breach of fi...

Frank is a senior litigator in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He is a strategic counsel for his clients, and has significant courtroom and hearing experience representing clients in complex and high-profile cases. Frank represents his clients as a close and long-term advisor, and as a highly skilled advocate on their most important and challenging cases. Frank has particular expertise in arguing judicial review and appeals, and in litigation relating to the following: employment dispute...

Carey O’Connor is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She advises employers on a wide range of labour and employment issues, with particular focus on employment litigation, grievance arbitration and collective bargaining. Carey has substantial experience litigating matters related to occupational health and safety issues and collective agreement interpretation. She works closely with her clients to respond to and defend orders and charges under the Occ...

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...

Peter Engelmann is a labour and human rights lawyer in Goldblatt Partners' Ottawa office. ​He was a founding partner of Engelmann Gottheil, a firm that merged its practice with Sack Goldblatt Mitchell - now Goldblatt Partners - in 2005. Peter’s practice focuses on all aspects of labour law, human rights, pay and employment equity law and Charter litigation. He has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and appears regularly before arbitrators, human righ...

Alix Herber is a senior partner in the Labour, Employment & Human Rights group. She prides herself on providing high quality strategic advice to her clients in all areas of labour, employment and human rights matters. With over 20 years of experience, Alix is a strategic partner to her clients and provides practical solution oriented advice, all the while mitigating potential liability. Alix also has particular expertise in advising clients in the federal sector. In addition to providing ...

Shyama Talukdar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Shyama, 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 Shyama is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lia Boritz is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group at WeirFoulds. She has a broad litigation practice which includes civil, commercial and employment matters. Lia first joined WeirFoulds as an associate after summering and articling with the firm as a law student. She was then a Senior Associate at Book Law before returning to WeirFoulds. Lia has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from large corporations and public institutions to small businesses and ind...

Rachel practices labour, employment, and human rights law. She provides advice and representation to employers on a wide range of workplace issues. Rachel has represented provincially and federally regulated employers on wrongful dismissal, accommodation and disability, discrimination, and harassment matters. Rachel has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal in Ontario. Rachel also provides proactive advice to employers on all areas touching the w...

Kamal joined the Labour Law Group as an associate in 2015, after articling and summering at Koskie Minsky. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.Kamal is a dedicated advocate on behalf of workers and labour unions. During law school, he worked part-time assisting injured workers with workers’ compensation claims. Prior to law school, he worked as a union organizer.

Kate Shao is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Kate, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kate is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.