Employment is a fundamental part of an individual’s life. Difficulties at work, including the threat or actual loss of employment, raise immediate legal, practical, and emotional consequences.
We listen to and care about our clients’ concerns. Our lawyers provide competent, timely, and cost-effective advice and representation to address these concerns, as well as referrals to other professionals to help you find new employment. Our approach to providing legal services has proven successful: a recent survey showed that not only would the vast majority of our employment law clients refer family and friends to us for employment law advice, but they have done so already.
Our firm has a long history representing employees in both the private and public sector. Our clients work in fields including the federal, provincial and municipal public service, federal government agencies, armed forces and the RCMP, the high-tech industry, the banking and financial sectors, the health sector, manufacturing, and education.
We provide advice and representation on a full range of employment law issues, including:
- Wrongful dismissal and termination of employment
- Constructive dismissal
- Termination of employment for cause
- Mitigation and the duty to find alternative employment
- Human rights, disability, and accommodation
- Employment Standards Act claims
- Employment benefits, including maternity and parental leave
- Employment status: employee or independent contractor
- Harassment, bullying, and violence in the workplace
We also provide advice and representation in a number of specialized areas of employment law, including employee rights in a sale of business, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, cross-border employment issues, jurisdictional issues, and “whistleblower” protection.
Other Areas of Expertise
Labour Law
Our lawyers regularly present grievances on behalf of unions and employee associations on all matters arising from the interpretation or application of collective agreements.
Human Rights
Our firm regularly provides advice and representation to unions, organizations and individuals involved in human rights, pay equity, or employment equity matters.
Judicial Review and Appellate Advocacy
Our firm routinely provides representation to unions, individuals, and organizations who seek to attack or set aside actions taken by the government or tribunals
Employment Law and Wrongful Dismissal
Our firm represents individuals in a wide range of employment matters, including wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, employment standards claims, employee benefits and executive compensation.
Disability Benefits
Our firm provides assistance to individuals applying for Long-Term Disability Benefits and Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits, as well as representations before appeal tribunals.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Our firm provides advice and representation to individuals, unions and organizations respecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Charter.
Health and Safety / WSIB
Our firm provides advice and representation in matters concerning workers’ compensation and health and safety. This includes appearances before appeal tribunals.
Pensions and Retirement Benefits
Our firm provides advice and representation to individual employees and unions on matters such as retirement and disability pensions.
Professional Discipline
We regularly defend professionals who are the subject of complaints to their governing body, notably in the health care and education sectors.
Access to Information and Privacy
Our firm assists clients with their own research projects and can provide guidance and representation throughout the process, including complaints and court applications, to maximize results and reduce delays.
Whistleblower Protection
Our firm provides advice and advocacy to employees before, during, and after the whistle is “blown.” We provide guidance as to the scope of permissible disclosure and the procedural steps that are necessary before “going public.”
Advocacy Training
We have extensive experience in developing and presenting courses designed to teach advocacy skills to union representatives, at both basic and more advanced levels.