Cheryl Edwards

Practice Areas

Employment law, Occupational health and safety, Human rights, Federal Sector, Litigation and advocacy, and Workers’ compensation

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Labour Law Association, Global Occupational Safety and Health Network, International Organization of Employers, Ontario Bar Association, and Women in Occupational Health and Safety Society

Career

Cheryl is a Senior Partner in Mathews Dinsdale’s national Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers’ Compensation practice. A former Ontario OHS Prosecutor, she brings nearly 40 years of experience advising employers on strategic and practical approaches to workplace safety. Her expertise spans OHS due diligence, contractor management, accident response strategies, and safety-related discipline, as well as advising on national and federal OHS policies and programs. Cheryl has defended and represented Canadian employers, constructors, senior management, and supervisors in some of the most complex and high-profile health and safety trials, complaints, inquests, and appeals. She is also widely recognized for delivering practical and results-driven training on due diligence, contractor management, and related safety issues.

Prior to joining Mathews Dinsdale, Cheryl led both a national and an international OHS practice group. She is a past Director of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers and former Chair of its OHS Subcommittee. She currently serves as a member of Mathews Dinsdale’s Executive Committee.

Cheryl is consistently recognized as a leading lawyer in workers’ compensation by Best Lawyers® in Canada and as a leading occupational health and safety practitioner by the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. Both Cheryl and the Firm have also been ranked as top OHS advisors in multiple Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.

In addition to her litigation and advisory work, Cheryl regularly provides representation in grievance arbitrations and labour board proceedings. She is a frequent and engaging speaker at in-house training sessions and professional conferences across Canada.

Education

Awards