Michael J. Kennedy

About Michael J. Kennedy

Michael J. Kennedy is a partner in Hicks Morley's Toronto office, practising labour and employment law. The client roster runs from universities, municipalities and other broader public sector bodies to large private-sector employers. Kennedy provides strategic bargaining advice and has acted as counsel in interest disputes.

Called to the Ontario bar in 1993, Kennedy appears as counsel in court and at arbitration, and before both the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Past mandates include leading a 25-lawyer team that sought injunctions and cease-and-desist orders for a municipality through a lengthy strike, and acting for a university on an appeal where the Court of Appeal dismissed an action a faculty association had brought.

Universities across the country look to Kennedy for advice. When a faculty collective agreement had to be renewed during a CCAA proceeding, Kennedy was the lead bargainer. Other university files have included advising the Council of Ontario Universities on mandatory vaccination and pandemic compliance, and helping university boards get government sign-off on an executive compensation program. Kennedy also works alongside boards and executive teams on planning strategy.

Kennedy's a familiar face at sector events, speaking at the Faculty Bargaining Services annual conference and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Labour Relations Seminar, and presenting on arbitration and mediation for The Osgoode Certificate in Labour Law.