Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Labour and Employment Law
Karen Jones is a top lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Labour and Employment Law. A former registered nurse, Karen brings a rich perspective to her legal practice, including valuable insights on health care as it pertains to professional discipline, medical negligence and health law. Before becoming a lawyer, Karen travelled widely and worked in a variety of fields, from construction to investigations to politics and community activism. As counse...
Mark Geiger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Labour and Employment Law. Mark, 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 Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andrew C. Lewis is a top lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Labour and Employment Law. Andrew is widely respected for his thoughtful and incisive work, expressed through clear, sharp writing and a meticulous attention to detail. He practices as a litigator in a wide variety of employment, civil, commercial and administrative matters. In employment law, Andrew is frequently consulted in contract ne...
A member of the Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut bars, Sébastien Lorquet is a lawyer, strategist and negotiator with more than 20 years experience assisting employers with their most challenging human resources issues. He assists the firm's clients with a wide range of issues relating to labour relations, grievance arbitration, union certification, strikes, dismissals, corporate policies, personnel management, restructuring, human rights and labour standards. Sébastien has extensive ...
Daniel Pugen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Daniel, 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 Daniel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
One of Canada’s leading litigators, Gillian is renowned for her empathy, fearless advocacy, and dedication to her clients. Gillian maintains a diverse civil litigation practice involving administrative and public law, professional liability (as preferred counsel for LAWPRO), health law, employment law, and general commercial litigation. Most notably, Gillian is one of Canada’s leading experts in gender-based violence and frequently takes on cases involving sexual assault, abuse, h...
Ruben Goulart is a workplace lawyer based in Oakville, Ontario , and the founder of Goulart Workplace Lawyers . With more than 30 years of experience working in and alongside the human resources field, Ruben advises employers on practical solutions to workplace challenges. His experience working directly with business owners and organizational decision makers has shaped a business‑focused approach to legal counsel, helping employers address workplace issues that intersect with broader operati...
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...
Bettina Burgess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Bettina, who practices law in Kitchener, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bettina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Craig Rix is Hicks Morley’s Managing Partner and is a labour and employment lawyer in the firm’s Toronto office. Craig’s practice is dedicated to change management, collective bargaining negotiations and rights arbitration advocacy in both the public and private sectors. Craig is an advocate, negotiator, relationship-builder and problem-solver. Applying a broad skill base forged through experience at the bargaining table, the boardroom table and an early career leave as a se...
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...
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 ...
Stephen Goodwin practises labour and employment law in Hicks Morley's Waterloo office where he advises employers on all aspects of human resources law. Stephen has appeared extensively before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, at labour arbitrations as well and in the courts defending wrongful dismissal claims. Stephen has in-depth expertise in collective bargaining, having bargained over 50 collective...
Shane is co-leader of the firm's national Labour, Employment and Human Rights (LEHR) group and leader of the Ontario LEHR group. Shane advises employers on workplace issues and represents them in legal proceedings. Shane worked as a human resources professional before becoming a lawyer. He knows how workplace issues or changes can impact an organization. With this in mind, Shane works to find the most efficient way to resolve issues, or to support employers through major initiatives, includin...
Evan Campbell joined Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP as a partner in 2022 after practicing as a partner in a national law firm. Evan provides proactive advice to private and public sector employers on a variety of issues, including discipline and terminations, employment standards, human rights, employment contracts and workplace policies, workplace safety and insurance, and industrial and construction labour relations. Evan’s private sector clients range from Fortune 500 entities to...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.