Siobhan M. O’Brien

Partner, Ottawa

siobhan-obrien@hicksmorley.com
Direct: 613.369.2111
Main: 613.234.0386
vCard | LinkedIn
Year of Call: Ontario, 2009
  • Biography

Siobhan O’Brien is a partner in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office and is the firm’s Eastern Regional Lead Partner. Siobhan practises employment, labour and human rights law. She provides strategic, practical and cost-effective advice to employers from coast to coast on a variety of workplace issues. In addition to appearing before courts, human rights tribunals, arbitrators and labour boards, Siobhan routinely provides advice on wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights law, grievance arbitration, labour relations, collective bargaining and strike management.

Siobhan’s work has included advice and assistance to employers regarding notice terminations and dismissals for cause, policy development, restructuring, employment standards, accommodation, attendance management, collective agreement interpretation, discipline and dismissal, management rights, pregnancy/parental leave and restrictive covenants. Moreover, she authored a chapter in the legal reference text Mitigation in Ontario Employment Law which was published by LexisNexis Canada in 2023.

In addition to being exceptionally responsive and accessible, she is dedicated to understanding her clients’ particular business needs and is committed to recommending the best possible course of action.

As the firm’s Eastern Regional Lead Partner, Siobhan supports the ongoing growth, development, business planning and administration of our Ottawa and Kingston offices.

Outside of her practice, Siobhan enjoys spending time with family at Otter Lake and planning the next opportunity to eat a stack of pancakes at Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Toronto.

Awards & Recognition

The Best Lawyers in Canada™ (2023–2025)
Labour and Employment Law

Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2024)
Employment Law (Consistently Recommended); Labour Relations (Repeatedly Recommended)

Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2023)
Employment Law (Leading Lawyers to Watch)

Memberships & Affiliations

Canadian Bar Association – Member

County of Carleton Law Association – Civil Litigation Conference Planning Committee Member

Ontario Bar Association – Member (Education Law, Women Lawyers Forum, Labour & Employment Law)

Women’s Business Network of Ottawa – Member

Select Publications & Presentations

“Hot Topics in Labour and Employment” 2024 OASIS Conference: Bridging Possibilities, Navigating Change (April 25, 2024)

“Electronic Monitoring, Privacy, and Employment Law” County of Carleton Law Association: Ottawa Eight-Minute Employment Lawyer (September 27, 2023)

“Electronic Monitoring, Privacy, and Employment Law Implications” The Law Society of Ontario: The Eight-Minute Employment Lawyer 2023 (June 22, 2023)

Moderator, “Employment Law Update: What Employers Need to Know in 2022” Canadian Lawyer (January 26, 2022)

Education

Queen’s University, J.D.

Carleton University, B.A.