Ogletree Deakins Bolsters Canadian Bench with Addition of Five Talented Lawyers

MONTRÉAL and TORONTO – September 9, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labour and employment law firms representing management, is strengthening the firm’s Canadian capabilities with the arrival of Kevin MacNeill and Alexa Sulzenko as partners in the firm’s Montréal and Toronto offices, respectively. In addition, Ryan T. Smith and Erin Schachter join the Montréal office as associates, and Kshemani Constantinescu returns to the Toronto office as an associate.

“We are thrilled to expand our Canadian presence with the addition of five exceptional lawyers to our team. Their diverse experience and commitment to providing excellent client service will significantly enhance our ability to serve our clients across Canada,” said Lucie Guimond, office managing partner in Montréal. “I am looking forward to working closely with Kevin, Ryan, and Erin in Montréal.”

MacNeill joins the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was a senior partner in the Labour and Employment group. He has more than two decades of experience assisting employers in all areas of employment and labour litigation, including occupational health and safety, grievance arbitration, union certifications, restrictive covenants, wrongful dismissals, wage and hour, discrimination, and workers’ compensation. In addition to appearing before numerous administrative tribunals, MacNeill has also represented employers in civil courts where he has acted in several trials, judicial review proceedings, and appeals. He is a member of the Ontario, Québec, and New York bars and regularly practices in both English and French. MacNeill earned his LL.B and B.C.L. from McGill University and his B.A. (Hons.) from York University.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Sulzenko served as Senior Employment Counsel with the TELUS group of companies and was a partner at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP. She advised on employment law issues, including executive compensation, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, wrongful termination, accessibility, accommodation, and employment standards, both in Canada and worldwide. Sulzenko has represented clients in civil courts at all levels, including trials, judicial review proceedings, and appeals, as well as acting for employers in arbitrations and before other administrative tribunals. She received her JD from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law and her undergraduate degree from Queen’s University.

“Our firm’s expansion in Canada is a testament to our ongoing growth and reinforces our position as a leading legal service provider in the labour and employment space. I am thrilled that Alexa, who I’ve known many years, and Kshemani, who is returning, are joining our accomplished team in Toronto,” said Kathryn Bird, office managing partner in Toronto.

Montréal associate Erin Schachter arrives at Ogletree Deakins from Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur LLP      She is a 2017 qualified lawyer with a bachelor of Arts from McGill University, a Bachelor of Law from Université du Québec à Montréal, and a JD and Masters of Law from Université de Sherbrooke. Schacter is a Course Instructor at Université du Québec à Montréal teaching courses on Data Governance. She practices in both French and English, and her practice is focused on the protection of personal information, cybersecurity, compliance with privacy legislation and intellectual property.

Last month, associate Ryan T. Smith also joined Ogletree Deakins from Norton Rose Fulbright after completing his articles. His practice focuses on employment and labour law, and he has dedicated his future career to the representation of employers and helping them navigate the complexities of their relations with their employee. Smith earned his B.A. from McGill University, his MIR from Queens University, and his LL.B. from the University of Montreal.

Toronto associate Kshemani Constantinescu returns to the firm after completing her summer and articles with the firm. Constantinescu holds a Juris Doctor from Western University’s Faculty of Law and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences and Equity Studies from the University of Toronto.

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labour and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. Best Law Firms^® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 13 consecutive years. In the 2024 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1000 attorneys located in 57 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S. www.ogletree.com