Executive Summary
James practices in all areas of labour and employment law, with a particular focus on labour relations, occupational health and safety, and workers’ compensation matters. He represents unionized and non-unionized clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and hospitality.
James has acted as counsel in employment-related litigation, such as numerous wrongful dismissal claims and grievance arbitrations, and regularly represents clients in workers’ compensation proceedings before the WSIB and WSIAT. He also has experience in collective bargaining, including representing employers at the bargaining table as lead spokesperson.
In addition to providing strategic advice and representation to employer clients, James has experience as an independent third-party investigator with respect to workplace harassment complaints.
Beyond his legal practice, James frequently speaks and writes on a variety of labour and employment issues, such as workplace harassment and work-related accommodation. He also sits on the Executive board of the Labour and Employment Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association.
Selected Publications, Presentations and Media Mentions
Co-Author, Employer’s Guide to Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance, Carswell
Presenter, “Human Rights, Mental Health, and Harassment in the Workplace”, Ontario Snow Resorts Association (May 2022)
Co-Chair, “Annual Update on Human Rights”, Ontario Bar Association (May 2022)
Presenter, “Recruitment and Hiring 101”, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce (April 2022)
Co-Chair, “Occupational Health and Safety Law for Labour and Employment Lawyers”, Ontario Bar Association (March 2022)
Presenter, “Employment Law During the Fourth Wave”, Ontario Snow Resorts Association (September 2022)
Panelist, “Workers’ Compensation Law Update: Morningstar v WSIAT”, Ontario Bar Association (December 2021)
Presenter, “Introduction to Employment Law and Employment Contracts”, Ontario Snow Resorts Association (June 2021)
Moderator, “Annual Update on Human Rights”, Ontario Bar Association (May 2021)
Author, “Virtual Mediations – Tips and Trends from the Virtual Trenches”, Ontario Bar Association (January 2021)
Author, “Truncated Notice Period Awarded to Older, Short-Service Employee”, Employment and Labour Law Reporter (November 2020)
Author, “Virtual Hearings – Arbitrators’ Top Tips and Trends”, Ontario Bar Association (September 2020)
Moderator, “Critical Workplace Safety and Insurance Developments that all lawyers need to know”, Ontario Bar Association (September 2020)
Presenter, “COVID-19: Effective Workplace Management in a Global Pandemic”, FWTA Webinar (April 2020)
Contributor, Halsbury’s Laws of Canada – Labour (2020 Edition), Lexis Nexis (December 2019)
Author, “Out with the Old, in with the (New) Rate Framework”, Ontario Bar Association (October 2019)
Speaker, “Clearing the Haze: Managing Cannabis in the Workplace”, Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences (June 2019)
Author, “B.C. Arbitrator: Worker Drug and Alcohol Testing Must be Assessed Separately”, The Lawyer’s Daily (October 2018)
Co-Author, “Legal Recreational Cannabis: Is Your Workplace Prepared?”, The Bay Observer (October 2018)
