Canada Guide 2026 : Ontario
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie has built a reputation as one of the leading Canadian employment practices within a full service firm by providing real value to our clients. Our global knowledge and insights gained from working on complex multijurisdictional projects and transactions combined with our local expertise allow us to bring our clients practical, workable solutions.
We have expert knowledge of employment law across multiple jurisdictions, and a strong commercial acumen to identify your needs and provide bespoke solutions to achieve your overall business objectives.
We are counsel of choice for managing disputes, particularly involving high stakes claims made by executives and other people who allege discrimination, harassment, and gender pay inequality; specialized counselling on pressing issues such as pay equity, pensions, and modern workforce needs; strategic labour relations representation; and holistic advice on the employment and compensation aspects of transactions, including post-transaction integration. We outline our strengths in our practice below.
Provided by Chambers
The Toronto-based employment team at international firm Baker McKenzie is regularly seen assisting with a variety of disputes, including wrongful dismissals, human rights, discrimination claims and grievance. The lawyers also advise on union organising matters. The team represents a number of academic institutions, state employers and commercial clients, including multinationals.
Provided by Chambers
Baker McKenzie represented Facebook Canada and Meta Platforms in responding to allegations of wrongful dismissal by the former Director of Research Science at Facebook Canada. The applicant was also seeking damages equal to 12 months of total compensation and benefits.
Provided by Chambers
We trust Baker McKenzie with our most complex files and we know they will provide excellent legal guidance and consider all relevant factors.
The team at Baker McKenzie takes the time to really get to know their client so that the advice they provide is very practical and fits with the cultural and business needs.
The Baker McKenzie team has a practical and client-centered approach and attends to not only the legal issues but also the business reality of our organisation.
In the shifting landscape of employment and labour law, Baker McKenzie is able to handle our most complex cases.
The team provide swift and helpful guidance that is sound and in keeping with our values, vision and mission. The team is exceptionally strong.
Provided by Chambers
George Avraam is the managing partner of Baker McKenzie. He is based in Toronto and is distinguished for his representation of provincial and national clients in employment litigation. He regularly appears before provincial and appellate courts and is also experienced in arbitration.
George is very commercially-minded and works with us to understand our business, risk tolerance and solutions.
George is an extremely trusted adviser and always provides sound advice in keeping with our strategy, vision and values.
He is an outstanding lawyer who provides top-level of service, while enabling an excellent team.
George is excellent and always provides us with very good advice in a timely manner.
Andrew provides practical advice that we can easily action on. He always makes himself available and has made a great effort to get to know our culture.
Andrew is a pleasure to work with, extremely knowledgeable and has delivered nothing but positive results for our companies.
He is smart, practical and thorough in his advice.
Jennifer Bernardo of Baker McKenzie's Toronto office assists with a variety of contentious matters, including representation in court as well as administrative proceedings.
Jennifer is client-focused and very knowledgeable in multiple legal areas. She is detail-oriented and can separate points of complex matters.
Jen is an exceptional legal counsel and thinks of solutions for challenging problems.
She is always insightful and mindful of our overall strategy and culture.
Head of Employment & Labour
Employment & Labour
Employment & Labour
Provided by Baker McKenzie
Jeremy Hann
Andrew Shaw
View profile of Andrew ShawJennifer Bernardo
View profile of Jennifer Bernardo
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