We are pleased to announce that Brandin O’Connor has joined the partnership.

Brandin will continue to act as trusted advisor and advocate for management in all aspects of labour and employment law.

Brandin supports a broad range of clients, from small businesses and not-for-profits to public sector agencies and publicly-traded companies – including multinational corporations conducting business in Canada.

Employment Litigation

Brandin has a broad litigation practice and represents employers in disputes arising out of the individual (non-union) employment relationship, including: employment standards enforcement, human rights complaints, Canada Labour Code adjudication, breach of restrictive covenants and other employee obligations, wrongful dismissal suits, workers’ compensation claims and occupational health and safety prosecutions. Brandin has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Labour Relations

Brandin also provides labour relations advice and advocacy to clients with employees represented by public and private sector unions, including those working in the construction industry. Brandin represents clients at private grievance arbitration, Ontario’s Grievance Settlement Board, and the Labour Relations Board. He also has experience bargaining collective agreements as both an advisor to, and leader of, management bargaining teams.

Advisory Services

Brandin also provides strategic and day-to-day business and human resources advice on issues such as drafting employment contracts and workplace policies, conducting workplace investigations, legislative compliance, collective agreement administration, restructuring and mass terminations, privacy and the labour and employment law implications of corporate transactions, including the purchase and sale of a business.

Background

Brandin joined the firm in 2013 following his articles at the Court of Appeal for Ontario where he clerked for Chief Justice Warren Winkler and Justice David Doherty. Brandin received his J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, where he graduated with the Bronze Medal in 2012. Prior to his articles, Brandin completed two student terms at a leading national law firm and served as research assistant to constitutional scholar Peter Hogg. Prior to law school, Brandin was a special assistant to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Peter Milliken, M.P. and attended Queen’s University.

Contact

Brandin can be reached by email at boconnor@somlaw.ca, by phone at 416-304-6424, or through his legal assistant, Sarah Creedon, at screedon@somlaw.ca or 416-304-6422.

Congratulations Brandin!