André Sasseville

André Sasseville has had a passion for labour and employment law his entire career. Various businesses seek his help in interpreting collective agreements and making various HR management changes, including collective layoffs, mergers and restructurings. He gives strategic advice and advocates for a wide variety of employers, particularly in collective bargaining and labour dispute cases, where he educates clients on how bargaining committees are structured and helps them set up contingency plans. He negotiates and drafts executive employment contracts, and develops incentive programs, bonus plans, stock option programs, and supplementary pension plans. This extensive experience also makes him a skilled crisis manager who can intervene effectively in urgent matters with potentially major consequences for a firm.

In cooperation with his network of Québec, Canadian and North American law practitioners, he often advises foreign businesses on transfers, acquisitions and sales of businesses with large numbers of employees. He is particularly skilled in negotiating facilitating conditions for executives (golden parachutes, retention bonuses, etc.) and in designing prevention strategies.

When dealing with disputes, André strives for effective and advantageous solutions. He is a certified mediator, and has developed and implemented effective conflict prevention and resolution methods, particularly with respect to interpersonal conflicts and psychological harassment in the workplace. He is a member of a select group of mediators who use the partnering method to resolve conflicts affecting groups of employees.

André has an impressive track record when it comes to representing employers before provincial and federal labour relations boards in various matters, including union organizing, union raids, and suits for alleged unlawful termination. He regularly pleads cases at trial and on appeal and has handled hundreds of disputes involving employment practices, pension plans, fiduciary duties, and directors’ liability.

Boasting many years of experience as a lecturer and training instructor, he offers clients made-to-measure business training programs on a range of HR management, conflict prevention, and labour relations topics.