About Us

Who We Are

Ogletree Deakins opened the Toronto office in January 2016 with a group of prominent lawyers from a large Canadian firm. The team has quickly grown in size since its formation, increasing from three to seven lawyers. The managing partner of our Toronto office, Hugh Christie, has practiced labour and employment law for more than three decades and currently serves as the co-chair of the Advisory Board of the Centre for the study of Labour and Employment Law at the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, the only such Centre in Canada.

Ogletree Deakins has more than 1000 attorneys located in 57 offices. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. The firm’s expansion into Canada grows an international platform that includes offices in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico and addresses the increasing need for employment counseling and litigation both within Canada and in cross-border matters involving Canada.

What We Do

We are well-versed in Canadian employment law, and have experience in the following areas, among others:

• Advising on all stages of the employment process in Canada, from recruitment to employment, termination and post-employment
• Handling employment issues arising out of workplace restructuring due to corporate transactions and cross-border employment issues, including lay-offs
• Advising on non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and analyzing risk of hiring employees bound by restrictive covenants
• Advising on collective bargaining agreements, unionization, and grievance arbitrations within numerous Canadian industries
• Preparing employment agreements, offer letters, incentive compensation plans, handbooks, termination notices, and severance agreements for use in multiple provinces within Canada
• Advising on various types of leave, including pregnancy and maternity leave, in different provinces
• Assisting with the employment-related aspects of establishing a corporate entity within Canada
• Advising on tax implications of employment strategies for clients in numerous different industries
• Advising on data privacy and electronic communications policies
• Advising on background checks and drug and alcohol testing in Canada
• Providing advice and assistance on inbound and outbound Canadian immigration, as well as other global labour mobility issues
• Advising on equity agreements in Canada

Premier client service is a firm tradition and remains
our top priority. Our attorneys pledge to:

• Understand your business and objectives.
• Focus on and anticipate your needs.
• Collaborate to develop creative business solutions.
• Communicate in a timely and effective manner.
• Harness technology and innovation to better serve your interests.
• Provide quality representation with exceptional value.