Employee Clients

More than ever before, the legal rights and obligations associated with an employment relationship are being documented in formal employment contracts. We are regularly called upon to draft, interpret and challenge such contracts, and have therefore acquired a specialized expertise in dealing with such matters as Termination Provisions, Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Restrictions, Stock Option Agreements, Change in Control/Golden Parachute Provisions, Independent Contractor Agreements, and other related employment contract issues.

As a specialty labour and employment law firm, we have extensive experience in all aspects of Wrongful Dismissal Litigation, and have represented clients before all levels of courts in Ontario, and in the Federal Court of Canada. We are also experienced advocates in related employment litigation, including matters involving Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Agreements, Fiduciary Duties, Intellectual Property Rights, and related Injunction Litigation. In addition, we offer specialized advice and representation in connection with Judicial Review Applications involving arbitration decisions, and decisions of the federal and provincial labour boards.

We advise clients on the requirements and potential consequences associated with provincial and federal employment standards legislation, including such issues as Hours of Work, Overtime, Terminations & Lay-offs, Pregnancy & Parental Leave, and the potential Personal Liability of Directors & Officers. Our involvement in these issues ranges from the preliminary assessment of employment standards requirements, to the ultimate adjudication of formal employment standards complaints.

Although labour legislation guarantees that employees have the right to decertify their trade unions during designated “open periods”, complicated procedures and union opposition often prevent employees from exercising this right. We have extensive experience in guiding employees through the decertification process, and in helping employees overcome typical union opposition and stalling tactics. In addition, we are able to counsel and assist employee groups in the formation and/or certification of their own Employee Associations, in situations where employees are looking for a less formal (and/or more responsive/accountable) alternative to traditional unionization.

We are experienced counsel in matters involving allegations of Discrimination and/or Harassment in the workplace environment. We regularly represent clients involved in formal complaint proceedings before the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. We also provide specialized advisory services in connection with internal Harassment Policies and Harassment Complaints/Investigations.

We are experienced counsel in matters involving allegations of Discrimination and/or Harassment in the workplace environment. We regularly represent clients involved in formal complaint proceedings before the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. We also provide specialized advisory services in connection with internal Harassment Policies and Harassment Complaints/Investigations.

As a specialty labour and employment law firm, we have extensive experience in all aspects of Wrongful Dismissal Litigation, and have represented clients before all levels of courts in Ontario, and in the Federal Court of Canada. We are also experienced advocates in related employment litigation, including matters involving Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Agreements, Fiduciary Duties, Intellectual Property Rights, and related Injunction Litigation. In addition, we offer specialized advice and representation in connection with Judicial Review Applications involving arbitration decisions, and decisions of the federal and provincial labour boards.

As a specialty labour and employment law firm, we have extensive experience in all aspects of Wrongful Dismissal Litigation, and have represented clients before all levels of courts in Ontario, and in the Federal Court of Canada. We are also experienced advocates in related employment litigation, including matters involving Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Agreements, Fiduciary Duties, Intellectual Property Rights, and related Injunction Litigation. In addition, we offer specialized advice and representation in connection with Judicial Review Applications involving arbitration decisions, and decisions of the federal and provincial labour boards.

We are frequently called upon by employee clients to review the adequacy of a severance package. In many cases, employees may have more significant entitlements than those offered initially. In such circumstances, we can provide representation with a view to effectively negotiating with the former employer, or their counsel, in order to ensure our employee clients are treated fairly at the end of their employment.

Although labour legislation guarantees that employees have the right to decertify their trade unions during designated “open periods”, complicated procedures and union opposition often prevent employees from exercising this right. We have extensive experience in guiding employees through the decertification process, and in helping employees overcome typical union opposition and stalling tactics. In addition, we are able to counsel and assist employee groups in the formation and/or certification of their own Employee Associations, in situations where employees are looking for a less formal (and/or more responsive/accountable) alternative to traditional unionization.

Although labour legislation requires that trade unions represent bargaining unit employees in a manner that is not “arbitrary, discriminatory or in bad faith”, many employees encounter situations where they do not believe that their unions are adequately representing their interests. This can be particularly unsettling in situations where a union fails or refuses to advance a meritorious grievance, or advances a position with the employer that runs contrary to the interests of the bargaining unit employees. We are leaders in this unique and often complicated area of labour law, having represented numerous employee clients in formal complaint proceedings before both the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Canada Industrial Relations Board.