Partner, Toronto
Direct: 416.864.7305
Main: 416.362.1011
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Year of Call: Ontario, 1993
Biography
Michael Kennedy is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He is counsel to a wide variety of broader public sector employers such as universities and municipalities as well as large private-sector employers.
Michael is the chair of the firm’s University Practice Group. He is a trusted advisor to universities across the country.
Michael appears as counsel in labour and employment disputes involving the courts, arbitration, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Michael is experienced in providing strategic bargaining advice. He works with executive teams and boards to implement sophisticated planning strategies. He has a proven track record of working with employers and unions to resolve complex disputes in an efficient and timely manner.
Practice Areas
Industries
Government Ministries & Agencies (Federal and Provincial) Hospitality & Gaming Mining & Natural Resources Municipalities & Municipal Agencies Technology Universities
Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in Canada™ (2017–2025)
Labour and Employment Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2015–2024)
Labour Relations (Repeatedly Recommended)
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2015–2023)
Employment Law (Repeatedly Recommended)
Legal 500 Canada (2018)
Labour and Employment Law
Memberships & Affiliations
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers – Member
Canadian Bar Association – Member
Ontario Bar Association – Member
American Bar Association – Member
Select Publications & Presentations
“Bargaining: Part II” and “Duty to Accommodate in the Fire Service” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 23–25, 2024)
“Legal Update: The Top 10 Legal Challenges of the Year” and “When Off-Duty Conduct Warrants Discipline: You Can’t Fire Me For That…Can You?” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 24–26, 2023)
“Litigating Harassment Claims” Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association’s Inclusive Society and the New Employer Webinar Series (December 8, 2022)
“Drafting Collective Agreements for Full-Time Faculty: Guiding Principles” and “Annual Lawyers’ Panel – Case Law Update” 2022 Faculty Bargaining Services Annual Conference (November 3–4, 2022)
“COVID-related Topics Webinar” Faculty Bargaining Services (September 23, 2021)
“Arbitration vs. Mediation: Protecting Rights and Resolving Conflicts” The Osgoode Certificate in Labour Law (April 23, 2021)
“Operating in a Pandemic World” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Virtual Labour Relations Seminar (January 20, 2021)
“Attendance Management” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 30, 2020)
“The Fire Chief’s Survival Guide” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar (January 29, 2020)
Education
University of Western Ontario, LL.B.
Queen’s University, B.A. (Hons.)
