Partner, Ottawa
Direct: 613.369.2111
Main: 613.234.0386
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Year of Call: Ontario, 2009
Biography
Siobhan O’Brien is an Ottawa labour, employment and human resources lawyer. She practises management-side labour and employment law and has extensive experience in wrongful dismissal litigation, employment litigation, human rights law, grievance arbitration, labour relations, collective bargaining and strike management.
Siobhan is a frequent guest speaker at employment and human resource law events and speaks on employment issues including wrongful dismissals, employment contracts, accommodation, attendance management, independent contractor matters, pregnancy and parental leave, restrictive covenants, employment benefits, workplace policies and procedures and human rights law.
Siobhan serves clients in the manufacturing, social services, developmental services, education, healthcare, financial services, technology and municipal sectors.
Practice Areas
Employment Law Human Rights Labour Relations Litigation Occupational Health Workplace Safety & Insurance
Industries
Arts & Sports Construction Education Energy & Utilities Financial Services Government Ministries & Agencies (Federal and Provincial) Healthcare Hospitality & Gaming Manufacturing Media & Communications Membership Associations Mining & Natural Resources Municipalities & Municipal Agencies Professional & Technical Services Retail & Wholesale Trade Social Services Transportation & Warehousing
Memberships & Affiliations
Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce of Ottawa – Vice President and Board Member
Thinking in Pictures Educational Services (TIPES) – Past Board Member
Carleton Alumni Mentor Program – Mentor
Women’s Business Network of Ottawa – Member
Ontario Bar Association – Member (Education Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Labour & Employment Law sections)
Canadian Bar Association – Member
County of Carleton Law Association – Member
Select Publications & Presentations
Moderator, “Employment Law Update: What Employers Need to Know in 2022” Canadian Lawyer (January 26, 2022)
“Court of Appeal Outlines Key Principles on Suspending Employees With and Without Pay” Labour Notes® (September 17, 2018)
“Public Disclosure of Private Facts (Privacy Tort)” County of Carleton Law Association 36th Annual Civil Litigation Conference (November 2016)
“Gender Identity and Gender Expression: Best Practices in the Workplace” Lancaster House Conference (November 2016)
“Cracking the Code: Deciphering doctors notes” Lancaster House Ottawa Human Rights & Labour Law Conference (October 2016)
“Gender Identity and Gender Expression in the Workplace Webinar” The Canadian Bar Association, SOGIC Forum and Labour & Employment Law Section (October 2016)
“Context is Key for Covenants: The Latest Word on Restrictive Covenants from the Supreme Court Of Canada” Canadian Bar Association Newsletter (2014)
“Youth Mental Health and the Risk of Violence: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Workplace Parties” Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education Conference Paper (2012)
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium Canada (EMC) – Ottawa, Perth: Employment Legal Updates
Ottawa Human Resources Professionals Association – Dine and Learn Speaking Engagement
Ottawa Human Resources Professionals Association – Cobourg Annual Conference Speaking Engagement
Education
Queen’s University, J.D.
Carleton University, B.A.
