Partner, Toronto
Direct: 416.864.7247
Main: 416.362.1011
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Year of Call: Ontario, 1988
Biography
John Saunders is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He has over three-and-a-half decades of experience advising employers on a wide range of labour and employment issues. John’s practice includes collective agreement negotiations, rights and interest arbitrations, human rights applications, occupational health and safety matters, and wrongful dismissal litigation.
John has particular expertise in municipal law with regard to fire and paramedic issues and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He provides ongoing negotiation advice to fire and paramedic departments on staffing, deployment, benefit issues, accommodation, mandatory retirement, presumptive disability legislation, negotiations and interest arbitrations.
John has represented numerous municipalities and major corporations in coroner’s inquests and judicial inquiries into fatalities. In addition, he works with employers in the healthcare, manufacturing, waste disposal, forestry, nuclear and property assessment sectors.
Outside of his law practice, John is the past chairman of the Board of Elders of his local church, and he sits on the boards of a number of charitable foundations. He is an avid downhill skier and enjoys fixing things at his cottage.
Practice Areas
Employment Law Human Rights Labour Relations Litigation Occupational Health
Industries
Energy & Utilities Government Ministries & Agencies (Federal and Provincial) Healthcare Manufacturing Municipalities & Municipal Agencies Technology Transportation & Warehousing
Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in Canada™ (2006–2025)
Labour and Employment Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2014–2025)
Employment Law (Repeatedly Recommended); Labour Relations (Consistently Recommended)
Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (2014)
President’s Award
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – Global Leader (2023–2024)
Labour & Employment (Recommended)
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – National Leader, Canada (2023)
Labour, Employment & Benefits
Memberships & Affiliations
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers – Member
Canadian Bar Association – Member
Ontario Bar Association – Member (Labour & Employment Law, Law Practice Management and Municipal Law)
Select Publications & Presentations
“Strong Mayor Powers: The Next Era of Municipal Governance” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association Fall Conference (September 11, 2024)
“Future Challenges to Leadership in the Fire Service” Alberta Fire Chiefs Association 76th Annual Conference and Trade Show (May 29, 2024)
“Critical Legal Issues in Hybrid Work” Ontario Bar Association: A Conference for Lawyers working in the Broader Public Sector (April 16, 2024)
“Preparing for Bargaining” and “Level of Service” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 23–25, 2024)
Keynote Address, “Bargaining Trends for Fire, Police and Paramedics in the Post-COVID World” Emergency Services Steering Committee Annual Meeting (November 29, 2023)
Moderator, “The HR Impact of Today’s Municipal Environment” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association 2023 Fall Conference (September 13, 2023)
“Bargaining and Municipal Amalgamation” Emergency Services Steering Committee (June 7, 2023)
“Case Law Update – A Quick Review of Recent Issues and Key Decisions” Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs Labour Relations Symposium (May 4, 2023)
“Labour Relations 101 Workshop,” “Urban Breakout Session,” and “Special Services: Who Are You Going to Call” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 24–26, 2023)
“Infectious Diseases Projections and Labour Relations Update” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association: 2022 Fall Conference and Annual General Meeting (September 15, 2022)
“How to Develop an Establishing and Regulating Bylaw” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Trade Show Conference (May 7, 2022)
“Labour Relations 101,” “COVID-19 in the Fire Sector,” and “Urban Breakout Session” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 18–20, 2022)
“Working from Home is One Change that is Likely to Stay” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association Virtual One-Day Symposium Series: Managing Change in Fluid Environments (May 14, 2021)
“Dealing with Picket Lines and Picket Injunctions” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association (March 3, 2021)
“Labour Relations 101” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 19–January 21, 2021)
“What is the Difference in Planning in a Right to Strike World versus an Interest Arbitration World?” and “How do you Prepare for a Labour Dispute?” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association Virtual One-Day Symposium Series: Negotiations Strategies: Creating and Claiming Value (February 26, 2021)
“Managing your Fire Department during COVID-19” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (April 29, 2020)
“Urban Breakout Session: Staffing Issues” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 29, 2020)
Education
Queen’s University, LL.B.
University of Toronto, B.Sc. (Hons.)
