Employment & Labour | Canada

Borden Ladner Gervais has a market-leading labour and employment practice in Montréal that is noted for its impressive dispute resolution capabilities. The team assists clients with the full suite of employment and labour issues, with noted capabilities in workplace human rights claims, wrongful dismissal disputes, collective bargaining and occupational health and safety matters. It acts on behalf of both public and private entities from a range of industries, including retail, construction, healthcare and education. The group is also recommended for its expertise in immigration, pensions and benefits. It remains highly distinguished for acting as employment counsel for indigenous communities across Québec, and is further highlighted for its deep understanding of federally regulated industries.

Fasken is a distinguished national law firm with a significant profile for employment and labour law in Québec. The team offers depth and breadth of expertise across a broad array of labour, employment and human rights matters, including collective bargaining, union grievances, termination disputes and labour standards issues. Its lawyers act for a range of national and international companies operating in both provincially and federally regulated settings, and are also seen to advise on international labour law matters. The team also represents significant Québec-based employers, including the provincial government, and offers notable expertise in construction labour relations. The law firm offers services out of both Montréal and Québec City.

Langlois Lawyers is a respected law firm with a well-established employment and labour practice across Montréal and Québec City. The practice is experienced in working on a range of both contentious and non-contentious matters such as collective agreement negotiations, dismissals, harassment and discrimination claims as well as labour disputes. The team is further equipped to advise on pensions and benefits, and has an especially notable presence in the education sector, where it capably advises on strikes and individual dismissals. Clients include high-profile corporates, individual executives, municipalities and professional associations.

Lavery, de Billy operates a well-respected employment and labour practice with a strong regional footprint, with team members based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières. The firm offers advice on a range of matters, such as union certification, collective bargaining and employment litigation as well as providing guidance on workplace human rights and health and safety matters. Its client roster features public bodies as well as local, national and international companies operating across various sectors, including healthcare, infrastructure, entertainment and transport. The team is a popular choice for referral work and has the capacity to represent both provincially and federally regulated employers. Its lawyers frequently act on constitutional issues, most significantly relating to federal versus provincial employment regulation.

McCarthy Tétrault operates an esteemed labour and employment practice that leverages its significant national network to assist with a diverse array of matters in Québec, such as collective agreements, dismissals and grievance cases. The team also advises on occupational health and safety and on employment issues arising from reorganisations, acquisitions and outsourcing transactions. It often represents federal clients in provincial matters, most significantly in high-profile collective bargaining negotiations. The firm is noted for its experience in employment arbitration and its stalwart litigation practice. It offers services out of Montréal and Québec City.

Norton Rose Fulbright possesses an excellent labour and employment practice that combines the firm's strength in Montréal and Québec City with a robust global offering. It combines broad expertise in both contentious and non-contentious employment and labour law, routinely assisting clients with employment litigation and labour arbitration, as well as collective bargaining, non-unionised mandates and workplace health and safety issues. The team represents provincial, national and international employers in both the public and private sectors in a wide variety of high-profile matters, including advising on the employment and labour law aspects of multi-jurisdictional corporate reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions. It has an especially noteworthy practice in the aviation sector. The department's broad industry expertise also spans manufacturing, financial services, defence and natural resources.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon is noted for its ability to provide advice on the employment aspects of M&A transactions. The team additionally handles employee transfers, pension plan and work-related accident matters. Its lawyers are well versed in employment disputes, including those pertaining to wrongful dismissal claims.

Stikeman Elliott offers a full-service employment and labour team based in Montréal. The firm is experienced in representing clients in collective bargaining and at all levels of the federal and provincial courts. It advises on a range of matters, including occupational health and safety, employee privacy, non-compete issues, human rights and the dismissal of senior executives. The team is strong in acting as general counsel to major national clients for human resource operations. Its lawyers have considerable experience acting for international corporations and are frequently called upon to provide guidance on the employment aspects of major corporate transactions. The firm's expertise cuts across several sectors, including financial services, retail and real estate.

DS Avocats advises on contentious and non-contentious labour mandates, including terminations and collective agreement negotiations. The team also assists with the employment aspects of corporate transactions. The lawyers are active across a range of sectors, including agribusiness, construction and transportation.