With offices across Canada, Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP is a boutique firm dedicated to representing employers in workplace matters. Possessing in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare industries, the group is led by four partners: David Defrancesco in Toronto, Keith Murray in Vancouver, Loretta Bouwmeester in Calgary and Tara Erskine KC in Halifax. Vancouver -based Gradin Tyler has a strong focus on human rights issues and Victoria-based Kim Nusbaum advises on workplace policies and occupational health and safety. In Toronto, Sonia Regenbogen defends employers in cases of wrongful dismissal, discrimination and sexual harassment, whilst John Craig is rated for his strategic advice. In the last year, Bonny Mak  joined from Fasken.

Employers from the retail, manufacturing, tech and telecoms sectors regularly turn to the labour and employment team at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP for support in litigation, labour relations, human rights and employment matters. Shelley-Mae Mitchell leads the group from Vancouver, advising on employment policies and procedures, in addition to preventative advice. In Toronto, Matthew L.O. Certosimo, C.S. represents employers in labour and employment-related litigation, whilst Clifford J. Hart excels in collective bargaining and collective agreements. From the Calgary office, Laura Mensch advises on workplace restructuring and Duncan Marsden, KC supports employers in dismissal procedures and cost-saving exercises. The team also benefits from Danny Kaufer and André Royer in Montreal. At an associate level, Marie-Pier Emery is a key member of the group.

A leading firm in Canada for labour and employment, Fasken represents employers at a federal, provincial and international level. At a federal level, the group possesses strong expertise in the banking, energy and telecoms sectors. The practice is led by David Wong in Vancouver, Shane Todd in Toronto and Emilie Paquin-Holmested in Montreal. The group benefits from experienced counsel Brian Burkett, in addition to managing partner Karen Sargeant and Stéphane Fillion, who represents a number of employers from the pharmaceuticas sector. Magali Cournoyer-Proulx advises clients on labour standards and employment contracts, whilst Jackie VanDerMeulen specialises in pay equity. Litigator Alix Herber excels in representing clients in court actions and human rights tribunals. Clayton Jones and Gillian Round are also of note.

Preeminent in Canada for labour and employment, Norton Rose Fulbright is geared to support on the full range of matters including disputes, negotiating collective agreements and corporate reorganizations. The group is led by Herb Isherwood and Andrew Schafer in Vancouver, Patrick Galizia in Montréal, Jean-Sébastien Cloutier in Québec, Jennifer Hodgins in Toronto, Heather Cameron in Ottawa and Jeff Landmann in Calgary. Other key members of the team include Toronto-based Richard Charney, who is a key contact for clients in the energy, infrastructure and transport sectors, and seasoned litigator Daniel Leduc, CIRC. Chanelle Wong, Joseph Cohen-Lyons and Paul Macchione were promoted to partner. Dianne Rideout joined from Cassels.

Benefitting from offices across the major cities in Canada, McCarthy Tétrault handles the full range of labour and employment matters such as litigation, labour relations and occupation health and safety. In Toronto, practice head Tim Lawson focuses on collective bargaining and litigation, whilst Kate McNeill-Keller advises on statutory compliance and labour relations. At the Montreal office, André Baril stands out for his work on wrongful dismissals and workplace discrimination. The team was strengthened by the arrival of John Gilmore and Stephanie Henry to the Calgary office from Bennett Jones LLP. Gilmore represents clients on commercial transactions and restrictive covenants, and Henry advises on executive compensation and incentive entitlements. Shana Wolch left the firm in December 2024.

With a large labour and employment practice spanning Alberta and the North, McLennan Ross LLP has a notable emphasis on workplace investigations, litigation and collective bargaining. The team is led by three capable partners: Yellowknife-based Michelle Theriault, Edmonton-based Daniel Weber and Calgary-based Tom Ross KC. Ross represents employers in labour arbitrations, with particular knowledge of the construction industry. Tim Mitchell KC frequently assists in labour grievances and employment standards class action claims, and Chris Lane’s broad expertise covers strike planning and union certifications. Damon Bailey KC stands out for his work on judicial reviews and policy disputes.

The labour and employment practice at Baker McKenzie specializes in litigation, investigations and transactions. The group regularly advises on pay equity, pensions and collective bargaining. George Avraam spearheads the team in Toronto, focusing on commercial disputes, class actions and partnership disputes. Andrew Shaw typically advises on wrongful dismissals and labour relations, whilst Jennifer Bernardo exhibits skill in trial and appellate litigation. At an associate level, Ajanthana Anandarajah is also of note.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is a reference in the market for complex employment disputes, in addition to advice on the employment and labour aspects of corporate transactions. Toronto-based Andrea York leads the national team, with experience extending to litigation and regulatory advice. Holly Reid is another key member of the team at the Toronto office, with a proven track record advising on executive transitions and harassment allegations. Birch Miller (Calgary), Michael Howcroft (Vancouver) and Natalie Bussière (Montreal) are rated for their work in transactions and reorganizations. At an associate level, Alysha Sharma is of note.

Drawing on the firm’s wider international presence, Dentons is well-placed to support multinational clients on their labour and employment matters. The team has expertise in workplace investigations, litigation and occupational health and safety, and is under the joint leadership of Andy Pushalik in Toronto and Arianne Bouchard in Montreal. Pushalik has notable proficiency in collective bargaining and disputes, whilst Bouchard is geared to support on hiring, terminations and human rights. Other key members of the team include Calgary-based April Kosten and Jennifer A. Thompson, Vancouver-based Eleni Kassaris, and Montreal-based Virginie Dandurand.

Covering the entire scope of labour and employment law, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP advise on executive succession planning, human rights issues and litigation. Leading the team in Montreal, Hélène Bussières works on a multitude of matters including corporate governance and employment agreements, whilst practice co-head Seann McAleese focuses on transaction-related cases in Toronto. Louise Patry and Shari Cohen are also of note. With the arrival of Stephanie Pasternyk from Torys in May 2024, the team has strengthened their employment standards expertise.

Jointly steered by Toronto-based Carl Cunningham and Edmonton-based Laura Inglis, the labour and employment practice at Bennett Jones LLP handles arbitration, litigation and transaction-related employment mandates. Cunningham is devoted to compliance and employment contract matters, whilst Inglis excels in dispute resolution. In Calgary, Christine Plante focuses her practice on human resources matters. David Price joined the team from Stikeman Elliott LLP.

Gowling WLG has a proven track record in collective bargaining, workplace investigations and high-stakes litigation. The labour and employment group is led by three partners: Andrew Bratt in Toronto, Josée Gervais in Montreal and Maxwell Brunette between the Calgary and Vancouver offices. At an associate level, Alycia Riley is an active member of the team. Brigeeta Richdale arrived in April 2025.

A preeminent labour and employment group in British Columbia, Lawson Lundell LLP has extensive experience advising on occupational health and safety, labour relations and privacy issues. In the Vancouver, practice head Robert Sider KC is an authority on employment standards, collective bargaining and litigation, and Nicole Skuggedal focuses her practice on labour arbitrations and human rights matters. Ryan Berger is sought out for advise on harassment and dismissal cases, whilst Michelle Jones is well-versed in compliance.

Operating across Canada, Miller Thomson deals with a variety of contentious and non-contentious labour and employment issues, including wrongful dismissals, investigations and litigation. Claudia Desjardins Bélisle spearheads the team from Montreal, focusing her practice on defending employers in complex disputes. In Calgary, Jill Wilkie is a key contact for employers in the health, manufacturing and natural resources industries, whilst Lisa Goodfellow excels in human resources matters from the Toronto office.

Regularly sought out by employers in the aerospace, professional services and energy industries, Stikeman Elliott LLP is rated for its wide range of labour and employment services including employee privacy, human rights issues and incentive plans. The team is led by Gary T. Clarke KC (Calgary and Vancouver), Nancy Ramalho (Toronto) and Patrick Essiminy (Montreal). Kathleen Chevalier in Toronto is well-versed in complex litigation. Jordan Fremont joined from Bennett Jones LLP in July 2024, and Charif El-Khouri was promoted to partnership in January 2025.

Cassels is a one-stop-shop for labour and employment issues, possessing expertise in matters from workplace investigations and severance pay class actions to incentive compensation and collective bargaining. Practice head Laurie Jessome is a key contact for employers in the mining, finance and retail industries, and Jed Blackburn focuses on disputes. Managing partner Kristin Taylor advises on privacy, transactions and human rights issues. Camille Dunbar was promoted to partner.

The Toronto-based labour and employment group at Aird & Berlis LLP frequently assists in workplace restructuring, human resources matters and unionized workplaces. At the helm of the practice, Lorenzo Lisi  is equipped to handle employee claims, collective bargaining and acquisitions. Michael Horvat has in-depth knowledge of employment standards, union certification and grievances.

Defending employers in high-stakes class actions is at the core of the labour and employment practice at Torys. It also advises on labour relations, occupational health and safety and employment standards. Accomplished employment litigator Lisa Talbot leads the group, with extensive experience in disputes and risk mitigation. Jennifer Lennon is best known for her executive compensation work, whilst Rebecca Wise typically acts in workplace investigations. Counsel Darryl Hiscocks is the go-to advisor for major transactions.