Samantha "Sam" Hale

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...

Debi is a Partner at Sotos LLP and recognized as one of Canada’s leading franchise lawyers. With more than 30 years of experience, she advises Canadian and international franchisors across all industries on every aspect of Canadian franchise law, including franchise regulatory compliance and best practices for establishing and maintaining successful franchise systems and relationships. Debi also advises on managing cross-border transactions, supply and distribution agreements, corporate...

Shane is a strategic business adviser who has assisted in the acquisition, licensing, and marketing of some of the world’s most famous trademarks and IP assets. Shane is one of a select few Canadian practitioners recognized for his experience in commercial transactions regarding intellectual property assets and is frequently called upon by brand owners around the world to assist with their international acquisition and licensing plans. Shane has assisted clients with dozens of cross-bor...

Clare Burns is a senior trusts and estates litigator. She served as the Children's Lawyer for the Province of Ontario from 2003 to 2008 pursuant to an Order-in-Council appointment. As the Children's Lawyer, Clare's office was responsible to investigate, advocate, protect and represent persons under the age of 18 in proceedings before the courts and tribunals of Ontario. In this role, she supervised more than 11,000 cases including variations of trust, will challenges, passings of accounts, gu...

Richard Leblanc is a partner in the firm’s business law group. His practice focuses on business transactions including secured lending, acquisitions, and franchising and distribution law. Richard is a former executive of the Franchise Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association and is a member of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Canadian Franchise Association. Richard leads the firm’s franchise and distribution law practice. Richard advises on all aspects of franc...

Mr. Winkler has a well-deserved reputation in the Ontario legal community for good judgment and his practical, fair approach to conflict resolution. Mr. Winkler is Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Civil Litigation. Mr. Winkler regularly represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex factual and legal disputes both at trial and at all levels of Appeal. Mr. Winkler specializes in the area of media and defamation law. For media clients this includes the pre-screen...

Stephen is a member of the firm's litigation and labour groups, and is the co-chair of the civil group with responsibility over employment law, civil litigation, and class actions. He is bilingual and provides client service in both French and English. His practice focuses primarily on employment law, civil litigation, class actions, administrative law, and in assisting numerous unions, employees, and administrative agencies with litigation before courts, arbitrators, and numerous tribunals a...

Rod Northey is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office and past leader of the firm's Climate Change and Environmental Law Group in Canada. He is in his 35th year of private practice in environmental law and certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in this field. His current practice focuses on regulatory approvals and strategies across the full range of approval regimes involving the environment — including environmental assessment, land use, endangered species, cultura...

Bryce Edwards is a partner at OKT. He provides legal and strategic advice on lands and resource matters, on-reserve infrastructure, government to government negotiations, mining, energy, and land use planning. He is class counsel on national class actions regarding infrastructure on reserve, and does work addressing the intersection of Indigenous legal orders and the Canadian regulatory state. Bryce graduated from the University of Toronto, where he was the co-founder and first Editor-in-Chie...

Carlos Martins is a skilled litigator with over 20 years’ experience providing legal advice in diverse sectors. He is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and specializes in aviation and defamation law. Prior to joining WeirFoulds in 2020, Carlos was a founding partner of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP. Carlos has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition, he has appeared before variou...