Simon E. C. Mortimer

As a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office, Simon Mortimer focuses on the strategic management of conflict and change.  He consults with employers to proactively manage workplace issues without litigation or work disruption. He appears before labour boards and provides ongoing counsel on employment, human rights and grievance arbitrations, ensuring due process and democracy in certification applications, responding to allegations of unfair labour practices and intervening, where appropriate, in duty of fair representation complaints and decertification applications.

Simon often represents employers in  collective bargaining. Called “a very strong strategist who helps to employ law in a practical way” in the Chambers Canada 2024 Guide, he acts as a spokesperson for his clients and provides integrated negotiations strategy and communications support. His respectful, professional and forthright approach along with his commitment to teamwork allow for a speedy narrowing and focusing of issues. As a legal counsel who has negotiated hundreds of collective agreements and appeared in countless arbitrations, tribunal hearings and mediations, Simon understands the importance of integrity and respect in achieving client goals.

Simon has worked with many clients in managing employee and labour relations through periods of change and restructuring. He provides advice on the management of workplace performance and conduct and he supports clients in advice, management and, in some circumstances, litigation arising out of discipline and performance management. He has regularly advised clients on the maintenance of pay equity and he frequently addresses the interplay between negotiated increases and the obligations and compliance issues under pay equity.

Along with law, Simon loves family, politics, history, the Canadian wilderness and vegetable gardening—although he is unlikely to win Jeopardy! on any of those topics.