Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Labour and Employment Law

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...

Stephen Shamie is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He has over 30 years of experience advising and representing employers on a wide variety of matters relating to human resources law. Stephen’s practice emphasizes the negotiation of collective agreements and the defence of employers in arbitration cases, human rights hearings, labour board proceedings and before the courts. He regularly negotiates collective agreements in the hospitality, med...

Sean Sells is an experienced labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He advises public and private sector clients on their complex and challenging cases. He has particular expertise relating to the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, fiduciary obligations, complex litigation; Constitutional/ Charter claims; employment disputes, labour injunctions and contingency planning and strike management. Sean has also acted as counsel in employment and concuss...

From complicated tenure grievances to every day labour arbitration cases, from Charter litigation to collective agreement negotiations, Emma Phillips has a way of taking problems, breaking them down and making the answers seem simple. A significant part of Emma’s work is for university faculty associations and their members. She fights to ensure that the rights of faculty members and librarians are protected, and that Ontario students continue to enjoy high quality public post-secondary...

A partner in the commercial litigation group, Barbara’s practice is divided three ways: Employment Law; Estates Litigation; and Commercial Litigation (which includes debtor-creditor matters and real estate disputes.) Her clients frequently include: employers; employees; owners of small and privately held businesses; land developers; insurance companies; and large financial institutions. Barbara is an experienced employment lawyer and litigator. She has represented both employers and emp...

André serves a large client base in the public, broader public and private sectors with a particular focus on health care and post-secondary education. His clients value his strategic input, practical advice and responsiveness. In addition to managing a substantial grievance arbitration practice in both official languages, André supports his vast client base by providing advice and legal representation in the context of collective agreement bargaining, preparation of employment ...

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...

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...

Elisa Scali is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office. She is a member of the firm's national Employment, Labour & Equalities (ELE) Practice Group and the leader of the Ottawa ELE team. Elisa works closely with employers to assist them in achieving and maintaining compliance with employment laws and offers practical solutions to manage and minimize employment-related legal risks. She regularly provides advice to employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitm...

Melissa Roth is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Labour and Employment Law. Melissa practices law in Kitchener, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Roth since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Roth is held by other lawyers.

A recognized leader and advocate, Carissa Tanzola is committed to delivering strategic business solutions while navigating legal challenges with integrity and efficiency. As the current Managing Partner of the Firm, she leads with innovation and passion, driving success for both her clients and the firm Carissa provides employers with expert legal guidance and representation for complex workplace issues. Her practice has a special focus in workplace health and safety, workers’ compensat...

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.

Sharaf Sultan focuses his practice on both employment and workplace immigration law. Sharaf has extensive experience in all aspects of employment law, including wrongful dismissal, design of policies and procedures, as well as workplace human rights matters. Sharaf advises both large and small employers on a wide range of workplace employment matters, including hiring and termination, performance management, drafting of workplace employment policies, restrictive covenants, and employment cont...

Gregory Power is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office but his practice extends nationwide. He provides strategic, practical and cost-effective advice to employers from coast to coast on a variety of workplace issues. Gregory chairs the firm’s Colleges Sector Practice Group and previously served on the firm’s Executive Committee. He is an experienced negotiator who provides strategic guidance during times of crisis and times of significant change. H...

Elizabeth Traynor is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Labour and Employment Law. Elizabeth practices law in London, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Elizabeth Traynor since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Elizabeth Traynor is held by other lawyers.

Esi Codjoe provides pragmatic and solutions focused legal advice to employers and employees, in both non-unionized and unionized private and public sector workplaces. That work includes assisting regulated professional organizations and regulated professionals with their unique employment, regulatory and governance needs. Esi conducts workplace investigations, reviews, and assessments for both large and small employers. Her experience as a former adjudicator, including as a Vice Chair at the ...