Gibson & Barnes LLP
2 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 478 handling Employment & Labour Law.
About Gibson & Barnes LLP
Gibson & Barnes LLP is a small union-side labour law firm in downtown Toronto that represents trade unions, with a particular focus on construction trade unions. Founded in 2005 by Rob Gibson and Ben Barnes, the firm appears before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, other administrative tribunals, private arbitrators, and the courts on certification applications, grievance referrals, jurisdictional disputes, and unfair labour practice matters. It also takes on employment litigation for its union clients, including wrongful dismissal cases, plus appellate work and enforcement of tribunal decisions.
Both founding partners built their careers in union-side labour work before starting the firm together. Rob Gibson was called to the Ontario bar in 1997 and had worked as an associate and partner at another Toronto-area labour law firm, then as in-house counsel to a major Ontario construction trade union. Ben Barnes earned a BA (Hons.) from Queen's University in 1995 and an LLB from the University of Toronto in 1999, was called to the Ontario bar in 2000, and worked in a Toronto union-side practice before serving as in-house counsel to a major construction trade union, prior to the two co-founding Gibson & Barnes.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Gibson & Barnes LLP was founded in 2005 by Rob Gibson and Ben Barnes.
- Rob Gibson was called to the Ontario bar in 1997.
- Ben Barnes earned a BA (Hons.) from Queen's University in 1995 and an LLB from the University of Toronto in 1999, and was called to the Ontario bar in 2000.
- Rob Gibson worked as in-house counsel to a major Ontario construction trade union before co-founding the firm.
- Ben Barnes worked as in-house counsel to a major construction trade union before co-founding the firm.
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized both founding partners as leading practitioners of construction labour law for many years.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
By appointmentWho handles what
The neighbourhood
Gibson & Barnes' office is in the Balfour Building at 119 Spadina Avenue, an Art Deco tower built in 1930 at the northeast corner of Spadina Avenue and Adelaide Street West. Architect Benjamin Brown designed the building, along with the Tower Building across the street, as a gateway to Toronto's garment district, and it once housed clothing businesses including the Schiffer-Hillman Clothing Co. The City of Toronto has recognized it as a heritage property, and Heritage Toronto placed a plaque on the site in 2017.
That stretch of Spadina Avenue, once the centre of the city's clothing manufacturing trade, is now home to a mix of offices in converted garment-district buildings, including the Balfour Building where Gibson & Barnes has its office today.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Gibson & Barnes represent employers or unions?
- Gibson & Barnes is a union-side firm. It represents trade unions, with a particular focus on construction trade unions, rather than employers.
- What kind of union matters does the firm handle?
- The firm handles certification applications, grievance referrals, jurisdictional disputes, and unfair labour practice matters before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, other administrative tribunals, private arbitrators, and the courts.
- Does Gibson & Barnes handle wrongful dismissal claims?
- Yes. Its civil practice covers employment matters, including wrongful dismissal cases, along with appellate work and enforcement of tribunal decisions.
- Where is Gibson & Barnes located, and how do I reach the firm?
- The firm's office is at the Balfour Building, 119 Spadina Ave., Suite 801, Toronto, ON M5V 2L1. You can reach the firm at (416) 597-1500.
- When was Gibson & Barnes founded and how big is the firm?
- Gibson & Barnes was founded in 2005 by Rob Gibson and Ben Barnes. It's grown into a small firm with several associates alongside the two founding partners.
- Does the firm offer training or seminars for unions?
- Yes. Alongside its casework, the firm offers educational seminars and training sessions for unions and administrative tribunals.
Where to find them
The Balfour Building, 119 Spadina Ave. Suite 801, Toronto, ON M5V 2L1 · 416-597-1500
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Employment & Labour LawListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗