Ontario directory

Employment & Labour Law Firms in Waterloo Region, Ontario

40 law firms.

What does an employment lawyer in Waterloo Region do?

An employment lawyer in Waterloo Region advises workers and employers on the rules that govern a job, from pay and contracts to discipline and dismissal. Common files include reviewing a severance package after a termination, wrongful dismissal claims, and harassment or discrimination complaints. Most of it settles through negotiation.

When a dispute does go to court, larger civil claims such as wrongful dismissal are heard at the Superior Court of Justice, which sits at the Waterloo Region Courthouse on Frederick Street in Kitchener (85 Frederick Street). Firms across Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge act for the region's tech employers, manufacturers, and workers. Ask whether a firm usually represents employees or employers, because many focus on one side.

What minimum standards does Ontario set for the workplace?

Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000 sets the floor for most jobs: minimum wage, hours of work, overtime, vacation, and the pay owed on termination. The Act is administered by the province's Ministry of Labour, which publishes a plain-language Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act. An employee who believes a standard was breached can file a claim with the ministry rather than sue.

Not every workplace follows the provincial rules. Federally regulated sectors, including banks, telecommunications, and interprovincial transport, are governed by the Canada Labour Code instead. That distinction changes which rules apply and where a complaint goes, so a lawyer will confirm early which system covers your job.

When does the law owe more than the minimum?

Common-law notice for wrongful dismissal can far exceed the Employment Standards Act minimum. The Act sets a floor, but an employee dismissed without proper notice can often claim additional common-law notice based on age, length of service, the nature of the role, and how hard comparable work is to find. These larger claims go to the Superior Court of Justice.

Discrimination is handled on a separate track. If you were treated unfairly because of a protected ground such as disability, age, sex, or family status, that falls under the Ontario Human Rights Code and is decided by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, not the regular courts. Such a claim can run alongside a dismissal file.

How do you choose an employment law firm in Waterloo Region?

Start with a firm that regularly runs your kind of file, and confirm which side it usually acts for, since employee-side and employer-side practices differ. Ask who will handle your matter day to day, how the firm charges, and roughly how long a claim like yours tends to take. Firms in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge serve the whole region, so there's usually one within reach.

Bring your employment contract, any termination letter, and recent pay records to the first meeting, since they shape the advice. You can confirm any lawyer's standing on the Law Society of Ontario directory. Browse the employment & labour law firms in Waterloo Region below.

Abarca Law

1 lawyer

Abarca Law is a law firm in Kitchener, Ontario serving Waterloo Region, Cambridge, Brant County, and surrounding South Western Ontario townships. The firm handles civil litigation, immigration, employment, family law,…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionImmigration LawImmigration LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawFamily LawFamily Law

Ardent Law Professional Corporation is a full-service law firm with offices in Mississauga and Cambridge, Ontario. Its team of lawyers handles real estate, immigration, criminal, family, civil litigation, personal inj…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawImmigration LawImmigration LawCriminal DefenceCriminal DefenceFamily LawFamily Law

Aroso Law

1 lawyer

Aroso Law is a solo practice led by Busuyi Aroso, a lawyer called to the Ontario Bar. The firm handles real estate, family, employment, and wills and estates matters. It serves Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Babury Law

1 lawyer

Babury Law is a boutique firm serving Southern Ontario, with offices in Mississauga and Kitchener. It focuses on real estate law (residential and commercial), business law, and employment law. The firm was founded by …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

BARAPP Personal Injury Law Firm, the flagship office of BARAPP Law Alliance, is a Toronto personal injury practice led by Eric Barapp, whose father and grandfather also practiced law. The firm represents clients acros…

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryInsurance LawInsurance LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Bennett Grant LLP

21 lawyers

Bennett Grant LLP is a full-service law firm in the Waterloo Region that has served clients across Ontario for approximately 60 years. It handles insurance defence, municipal liability, civil litigation, family, emplo…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Cariati Law

7 lawyers

Cariati Law is an Ontario personal injury firm that serves clients across the province from offices in Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Barrie and Sudbury. It handles motor vehicle accidents, slip an…

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryInsurance LawInsurance LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Cohen Highley LLP

34 lawyers · Est. 1974

Cohen Highley LLP is a full-service law firm founded in London, Ontario in 1974. It practises across family law, personal injury, business law, real estate, wills and estates, employment, multi-residential housing and…

Family LawFamily LawPersonal InjuryPersonal InjuryBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate Law

DNH Law

1 lawyer

DNH Law is a general practice in downtown Kitchener led by Darrell N. Hawreliak. Its areas include corporate and business law, real estate, civil litigation, wills, powers of attorney and estates, employment law, and …

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Duncan, Linton LLP

15 lawyers · Est. 1860

Duncan, Linton LLP is a Kitchener-Waterloo firm established in 1860, and it's one of the oldest independent law firms in the region. Its roughly 15 lawyers handle business and general legal work for clients in Kitchen…

Bankruptcy & InsolvencyBankruptcy & InsolvencyReal Estate LawReal Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

Duntrune LLP

4 lawyers

Duntrune LLP is a Toronto employment law firm with additional offices in London, Kitchener/Waterloo, and Ottawa. It represents both employers and employees in employment and labour law and human rights matters, aiming…

Employment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

51 lawyers · Est. 1982

Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP is a management-side labour and employment law firm with offices in Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Its roots trace to 1953, and the current firm formed in 1982 wh…

Employment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Flannery Law

1 lawyer

Flannery Law is a Kitchener practice led by Timothy C. Flannery, who's practised law for over 30 years. Its main focus is civil litigation and family law, with additional work in employment disputes, wrongful dismissa…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

GC Boyle Law Firm

2 lawyers

GC Boyle Law Firm is a community-focused practice with offices in St. Marys, New Hamburg, and St. Thomas, Ontario. The firm provides personalized legal services across real estate, family law, wills and estates, busin…

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawFamily LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law

GGFI Law LLP

21 lawyers · Est. 1981

GGFI Law LLP is a general practice firm in Kitchener, Ontario, founded in 1981 and formerly known as Giesbrecht, Griffin, Funk & Irvine. It represents individuals and businesses across corporate and commercial law, re…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily Law

Giffen Lawyers LLP

12 lawyers · Est. 1981

Giffen LLP is a full-service Waterloo firm that's practised since 1981. Its work spans corporate and commercial law, real estate, wills, trusts and estates, family, employment, insurance, construction and litigation. …

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsFamily LawFamily Law

Goad and Goad LLP

4 lawyers · Est. 1969

Goad and Goad LLP is a general practice firm in Cambridge, Ontario, with roots in the community since 1969. Barristers, solicitors and notaries public, they act for individuals, businesses, government entities, and no…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsReal Estate LawReal Estate Law

Gowling WLG

515 lawyers

Gowling WLG is an international law firm with more than 1,500 legal professionals across seven countries. Its Canadian practice, including a Toronto office at First Canadian Place, advises on business law, litigation,…

Business & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionClass ActionsClass Actions

Hicks Morley is a management-side labour and employment law firm that represents employers across Canada. It was founded in 1972 and has five Ontario offices, in Toronto, Waterloo, London, Kingston, and Ottawa. Its wo…

Employment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Hilborn and Konduros

2 lawyers · Est. 1979

Hilborn and Konduros is a two-lawyer firm in Cambridge's Hespeler area, focused on plaintiff-side litigation. Its main areas are personal injury, motor-vehicle and disability-benefit claims, wrongful dismissal and ins…

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour LawReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & Trusts

Holland Law

1 lawyer

Holland Law is a sole practitioner firm in Waterloo led by Dale A. Holland, a barrister, solicitor and notary public. It serves individuals and families, small businesses, non-profits and charities, and co-operatives,…

Wills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Kelly & Co.

2 lawyers

Kelly & Co., Barristers and Solicitors is a full-service law firm based in Waterloo Region, Southern Ontario. Its practice spans civil litigation, family law, business and commercial law, employment, personal injury, …

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFamily LawFamily LawBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawEmployment & Labour LawEmployment & Labour Law

Lerners LLP

6 lawyers · Est. 1929

Lerners LLP is a full-service Ontario law firm founded in 1929 by Mayer Lerner. It has more than 140 lawyers across four offices in London, Toronto, the Waterloo Region, and Strathroy, handling everything from day-to-…

Personal InjuryPersonal InjuryFamily LawFamily LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionInsurance LawInsurance Law

Lowes, Salmon, Gadbois & Clarke was a Waterloo and New Hamburg firm handling litigation, real estate, wills and estates, and corporate-commercial law. After about 25 years, the association is dissolving, and its lawye…

Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionReal Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate Law