About

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.

  • Advisory
  • Disputes & Investigations
  • Transactions
  • Labour Relations

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment & Labour - Ontario

5
Band 5

What the Team is Known For

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.

Work Highlights

  • 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.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

George Avraam
1
George Avraam
Head of Employment & Labour
1
Band 1

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 Shaw
6
Andrew Shaw
6
Band 6
Andrew Shaw is an increasingly recognised employment lawyer based at Baker McKenzie in Toronto. He regularly counsels employers on wrongful dismissals, workplace investigations and collective bargaining matters.

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
U
Jennifer Bernardo
U
Up and Coming

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.

Ranked Lawyers at
Baker McKenzie

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Ontario

Employment & Labour

George Avraam
1
George Avraam
Head of Employment & Labour
1
Band 1
Andrew Shaw
6
Andrew Shaw
6
Band 6
Jennifer Bernardo
U
Jennifer Bernardo
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Baker McKenzie

George Avraam

George Avraam

Head of Department

Jeremy Hann