Employment & Labour

In Canada, the framework governing employment relationships is complex, and there can be significant liability for failing to comply with applicable law.

Blakes Employment & Labour lawyers represent clients in many different sectors. A wide variety of private- and public-sector clients, including some of Canada’s largest employers, retain Blakes for strategic advice on contractual and compensation issues, dismissals, human rights complaints, disability accommodations, pay equity, occupational health and safety, union activities, collective agreements, and workplace safety and insurance issues.

Our clients rely on us for practical day-to-day guidance on numerous facets of employment law, including advice on hiring, employee relations, employment standards, outsourcing arrangements and employment terminations, as well as compliance with Canadian privacy law. Clients also call on us for advice on creating, revising, implementing and enforcing personnel and other workplace policies and to provide manager training programs to ensure that they are current on employment and labour law developments. Additionally, we offer strategic guidance to clients to ensure that their Canadian business operations are equipped to respond effectively to union-organizing drives and certification applications.

We often work with our colleagues in complementary areas of law, such as corporate and commercial, tax, intellectual property, and employee benefits and executive compensation to help clients expand into Canada or acquire and sell existing Canadian businesses.

As artificial intelligence presents new opportunities for employers, including in the recruiting process, workplace productivity and automating routine tasks, we advise clients on the evolving legal landscape and best practices for navigating challenges and establishing policies and practices.

When workplace disputes result in litigation or complaints to an administrative tribunal, clients feel confident retaining Blakes. Our Employment & Labour lawyers are experienced in employment litigation, including enforcement of non-competition and trade secrets agreements, wrongful dismissal litigation and related mediation processes. Our lawyers have defended clients against employment-related claims brought on behalf of province-wide classes of employees or former employees. We regularly litigate matters before courts at all levels throughout Canada and appear before provincial and federal human rights tribunals and labour relations boards. Additionally, we attend arbitration hearings on behalf of management and have represented clients in judicial reviews of arbitrators' decisions.