Meet our new partners Natasha Monkman and Lisa Kwasek. Both continue to develop their thriving practices, Natasha in pension and benefits law out of the firm’s Toronto office, and Lisa in employment and labour law from the London office. Natasha’s partnership announcement was also highlighted in the February edition of the Benefits and Pensions Monitor magazine.
Announcements
We keep you informed about our firm, our lawyers, our industry and other items of interest to human resources professionals.
Hicks Morley is pleased to announce it has once again ranked as the leading law firm in the Labour Relations and Pensions category according to the 2017/2018 Lexpert® CCCA/ACCJE Corporate Counsel Directory and Yearbook. Practice groups included in this category are employment law, labour relations, labour relations (construction sector), occupational health & safety, pensions & employee benefits and workers’ compensation.
Hicks Morley has been recognized as a leader in the fields of Labour and Employment and Pensions law by the Legal 500 Canada 2018 guide. Highlighted by clients as “at the top of its field,” Hicks Morley “has the depth and experience to respond quickly with a complete view of the alternatives and risks.”
An FTR Now written by Hicks Morley’s Natasha Monkman was mentioned in the November 21, 2017 Benefits and Pensions Monitor Daily News Alert. The alert summarizes the FTR Now titled “Ontario’s Next Wave of Pension Reform”, which discusses the new legislation that will, if passed, change the retirement framework in Ontario – and the rules around pension plan administration, governance and funding.
Hicks Morley’s Kathryn Meehan authored an article in Canadian Employment Safety and Health Guide titled “Appellate Court Issues Favourable Decision for Suncor on its Random Drug and Alcohol Policy.” The article explores the legal saga on the issue of random drug and alcohol testing of employees. Specifically whether Suncor’s random drug and alcohol testing policy violated the privacy rights of its unionized workers.
Hicks Morley was named a leading legal services provider in the 2017 issue of the Canadian Occupational Safety Readers’ Choice Awards in the Workers’ Compensation category. Readers of the magazine voted Hicks Morley as one of their favourite suppliers in the annual survey program.
Lauri Reesor and Brenda Bowlby recently published a chapter on Special Education Law in the text, Education Law in Canada: A Guide for Teachers and Administrators. “Education has long been recognized as a “service” that is protected by human rights legislation, and special education has been recognized as the means by which accommodations are determined and implemented for students with…
Hicks Morley’s Shivani Chopra presented at the CPBI Ontario Regional Conference ‘Medical Marijuana in the Workplace’ and was featured in the Benefits and Pensions Monitor.
Hicks Morley’s Thomas Agnew authored an article in Benefits Canada titled “Employers Given Mixed Messages on Termination in Employment Contracts.” Employment contracts often contain clauses limiting an employee’s entitlement upon termination to the minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act or any other amount the employer and employee have agreed to. However, if the clauses violate the act in any way, courts may not enforce them.
Chambers Canada 2018 has recognized three Hicks Morley lawyers as leading practitioners. Stephen Shamie and Henry Dinsdale were ranked in Labour and Employment. Congratulations!