Workplace law-focused boutique Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP handles matters ranging from labour relations, employment law, human rights and workplace investigation for clients working in the telecoms, education, healthcare, security and hospitality segments. Leadership of the group is shared between Toronto-based managing partner David Defrancesco, Vancouver-based Keith Murray, Alberta-based Loretta Bouwmeester (disputes and regulatory proceedings) and Tara Erskine KC, who splits her time between Halifax, Toronto, and Calgary. Additional key contacts include Gradin Tyler, highlighted for his ‘strong litigation skills’; and the ‘extraordinarily attentive’ Kim Nusbaum, both of whom are based in Vancouver. In Toronto, labour, employment and human rights all-rounders Sonia Regenbogen and John Craig are also noted.

The practice group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is regularly instructed by corporate clients in the construction, energy, transportation, financial services, pharmaceutical and tech segments for its labour and employment expertise. Litigation and arbitration, collective bargaining, labour relations, pensions and benefits and workplace investigations constitute core areas of focus for the team. Vancouver-based Shelley-Mae Mitchell directs the national department and specializes in preventive advice, employment policies and employment litigation. Key contacts at the Toronto office include litigator Matthew Certosimo and labour and employment all-rounder Clifford Hart. At the Montreal office, senior counsel Danny Kaufer and labour relations specialist André Royer are noted. Laura Mensch (labour, employment, occupational health and safety) and Duncan Marsden are key contacts in Calgary.

The ‘phenomenal’ team at Fasken is regularly instructed by aerospace, telecoms, financial services, energy and logistics sectors for its labour and employment expertise. Core areas of expertise include contract review, training, hirings and dismissals, labour board proceedings and class action defence. Leadership of the group is shared between Vancouver-based David Wong, Toronto-based Shane Todd and Montreal-based Emilie Paquin-Holmested, all of whom specialize in labour, employment and human rights law. Also noted are Montreal-based Stéphane Fillion, praised for his ‘great commercial sense' and 'pragmatic solutions’; Magali Cournoyer-Proulx (advisory employment work and litigation); and Deborah Furtado. In Toronto, Ontario managing partner Karen Sargeant; Alix Herber (‘practical and expedient advice'); Jackie VanDerMeulen (labour arbitrations, federal and provincial labour board matters); and counsel Brian Burkett are additional names to note.

McCarthy Tétrault‘s labour and employment group supports clients on litigation mandates, collective agreement negotiations, human rights litigation and a range of advisory and transactional mandates. The group operates from offices in Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Calgary and Vancouver. Toronto-based Tim Lawson heads up the national practice group. Additional names to note at the Toronto office include Sunil Kapur, who routinely represents financial services, manufacturing, transportation and healthcare clients in labour board proceedings; and all-rounder Kate McNeill-Keller. André Baril in Montreal and Shana Wolch in Calgary are also noted. John Gilmore joined the firm's Calgary office from Bennett Jones LLP in August 2024.

The labour and employment group at Norton Rose Fulbright provides advisory and contentious support to aerospace, energy and mining-sector clients, delivered from offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Montréal and Québec City. The practice is co-led by a seven-strong group: Herb Isherwood and Taryn Mackie in Vancouver; Patrick Galizia in Montreal; Jean-Sébastien Cloutier in Quebec City; Jordan Kirkness, who splits his time between Toronto and Ottawa; Heather Cameron in Ottawa; and Lindsay Mullen in Calgary. Additional key contacts include Richard Charney (Toronto) and Daniel Leduc, CIRC, who splits his time between Montreal and Quebec. Gilles Rancourt departed the firm in September 2024.

The Toronto-based labour and employment practice at Baker McKenzie is well-placed to handle a range of advisory, transactional and contentious mandates, such as compensation arrangements, discrimination, harassment and gender pay equity litigation, and support with M&A transactions. The practice is directed by George Avraam, who majors on trial and appellate litigation. Also noted are Andrew Shaw (workplace disputes, collective bargaining and workplace investigations); and Jennifer Bernardo (labour, employment and corporate matters).

The team at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP specializes in employment litigation and providing employment advice on corporate transactions involving the financial services, oil and gas, retail, tech and aerospace segments. National practice lead Andrea York is based in Toronto and handles both advisory and contentious mandates. Also in Toronto, Holly Reid takes care of harassment and misconduct allegations. Calgary-based Birch Miller, Vancouver-based Michael Howcroft and Montreal-based Natalie Bussière are noted for their expertise in litigation.

Dentons's labour and employment practice is equipped to represent clients in employment and benefits-related litigation, as well as providing transactional support, carrying out workplace investigations and training programs, and advising on health and safety matters. The national practice is co-directed by Toronto-based Andy Pushalik (workplace restructurings, discrimination and harassment complaints, contentious mandates) and Montreal-based Arianne Bouchard, who handles collective and individual labour matters. Additional key contacts include April Kosten (Calgary), Eleni Kassaris (Vancouver) and Virginie Dandurand (Montreal).

Aird & Berlis LLP's Toronto-based practice is equipped to handle a range of advisory and contentious labour and employment matters, among them employment agreements, executive compensation, workplace harassment, collective bargaining and litigation. Practice head Lorenzo Lisi steers the practice and specializes in defending employers against employee claims, grievance and labour board litigation and advising on acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings. Michael Horvat routinely assists manufacturing, transportation and retail-sector clients with general labour and employment law issues.

The practice group at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP handles a range of employment, labour and executive compensation issues, including wrongful dismissal claims, grievance arbitrations and the negotiation of collective agreements. Montreal-based Hélène Bussières and Toronto-based Seann McAleese share leadership of the practice and both take care of advisory and contentious mandates. Also noted are Montreal-based Louise Patry and Toronto-based Shari Cohen, who ‘invariably brings the highest standards of client service and legal expertise’.

The lawyers at Bennett Jones LLP‘s Alberta-based labour and employment practice specialize in acting for telecoms, construction, energy, industrial and healthcare-sector clients in both contentious and advisory capacities. Litigation, arbitration, disability claims, health and safety, compensation and workplace investigations are among the group’s core areas of strength. The employment services practice is jointly led by Carl Cunningham, who manages the on-boarding and separation of C-Suite executives and transfers related to corporate transactions, and pensions and benefits expert Susan Seller. Also noted are Calgary-based Christine Plante and Edmonton-based Laura Inglis. Aldona Gudas, who specializes in assisting management with employment matters, joined the Montreal office in December 2023. Former practice head John Gilmore departed the firm in mid-2024.

The practice group at Gowling WLG regularly assists financial services, manufacturing, tech, life sciences, retail and public sector clients with a range of advisory and contentious labour and employment matters. Leadership is shared between Toronto-based Andrew Bratt, Maxwell Brunette, who splits his time between Calgary and Vancouver, and Montreal-based Josée Gervais. Bettina Burgess of the Kitchener office is an additional key contact.

Lawson Lundell LLP‘s British Columbia-based practice takes care of a range of labour and employment matters, among them occupational health and safety matters, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, workers’ compensation and benefits litigation. Practice lead Robert Sider KC specializes in advising on the labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions, as well as day-to-day labour and employment issues. Also noted are Nicole Skuggedal (arbitration); Deborah Cushing (wrongful dismissal, employment standards, business immigration, labour relations and human rights issues); and Ryan Berger, who focuses on employment and dismissal cases.

Stikeman Elliott LLP's labour and employment practice is routinely instructed by clients in the aerospace, professional services, energy, food and drink, tech and retail sectors for its expertise in labour standards, incentive plans, collective bargaining, and executive employment agreements. The team is co-led by Gary Clarke, who splits his time between Calgary and Vancouver; Toronto-based Nancy Ramalho; and Montreal-based Patrick Essiminy. Kathleen Chevalier, who specializes in day-to-day human resource matters, is an additional name to note.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP's practice group handles a range of labour and employment law mandates that includes collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, workplace investigations, executive employment agreements and wrongful dismissal claims. Toronto-based Laurie Jessome directs the practice and specializes in advisory employment mandates, workplace investigations and contentious matters. Also noted are managing partner Kristin Taylor and commercial litigation specialist Jed Blackburn.

The employment capabilities of the group at Torys take in hiring and dismissals, occupational health and safety matters, executive compensation matters, workplace investigations and employment litigation. Lisa Talbot steers the practice group and specializes in contentious employment matters and investigations. Also noted are executive compensation practice lead Jennifer Lennon and counsels Rebecca Wise and Darryl Hiscocks, the latter of whom is lauded as ‘responsive and thorough in his support’. All named lawyers are based in Toronto.