Partner, Toronto
Direct: 416.864.7353
Main: 416.362.1011
vCard
Year of Call: Ontario, 2008
Biography
Kathryn Bird is a labour, employment and human rights lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. She regularly advises employers, social service providers, school boards and municipalities regarding issues arising from the employment relationship in the workplace or the provision of services to the public. Kathryn also regularly advises school boards, colleges and universities about the provision of educational services to students with exceptional needs.
Kathryn appears as counsel before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, labour arbitrators and at all levels of court. She has successfully defended public and private employers against a wide range of claims, including human rights allegations, long-term disability benefit claims, and wrongful dismissal actions. Kathryn also provides advice to clients on a day-to-day basis to assist employers and service providers in avoiding litigation through proactive strategic actions.
Practice Areas
Industries
Arts & Sports Colleges Construction Energy & Utilities Financial Services Healthcare Manufacturing Mining & Natural Resources Municipalities & Municipal Agencies Retail & Wholesale Trade School Boards Social Services Universities
Memberships & Affiliations
Art Gallery of Ontario – AGO Next and Massive Party Committee Member
Advocates’ Society – Young Advocates’ Society Standing Committee Member
Ontario Bar Association – Member (Education Law, Labour & Employment Law, and Women Lawyers Forum Sections), Executive Member (Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Law Section) and Continuing Legal Education Liaison
Select Publications & Presentations
“HRTO Confirms Single Comments Rarely Constitute Harassment” OBA Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Section Newsletter (October 2015)
“Top Five Tips for Investigations in a Unionized Workplace” Tackling the Challenges of Investigations in a Unionized Workplace, OBA Institute, Toronto (February 2015)
“Pitfalls and Practicalities of Employing an Aging Workforce” Managing an Aging Workforce, CACE Annual Conference, Montreal (September 2014)
“Supreme Court Strikes Down Random Alcohol Testing” Canadian Safety Reporter (August 2013)
“Random Alcohol Testing Policy Struck Down by Supreme Court” ABA International Labor & Employment Law Newsletter (July 2013)
“How to Get There… From Here: Responding to Human Rights Applications” Litigating Human Rights, OBA Institute, Toronto (February 2013)
“Employees Must Work to be Compensated” Benefits and Pensions Monitor (May 2012)
Education
University of Toronto, J.D.
University of Alberta, B.A. First Class (Hons.) Anthropology
