HRPA Meeting Details

Melissa Bastarache

Melissa Bastarache is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office. She practices in all areas of labour and employment law, where she provides advice and representation to employers on issues such as termination and wrongful dismissals, occupational safety, worker’s compensation, accommodation and human rights. Melissa also assists employers with drafting and reviewing employment contracts, workplace policies, and confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements.

Sophia Duguay, Lawyer

Sophia Duguay is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Kingston office. Sophia provides the full range of labour relations and employment law advice to both public and private sector employers, regularly conducting negotiations and representing employers at interest arbitrations. Sophia brings a practical and solution-focused approach to her advice and representation. She regularly provides proactive and strategic advice to assist employers in managing their human resources and workplace issues. Sophia has assisted numerous municipalities and other employers in addressing restructuring issues and/or sale of business transactions involving the transfer of union and non-union employees. Sophia’s practice also focuses on human rights advice and advocacy, and includes rights arbitration and wrongful dismissal litigation. Sophia is fluently bilingual and can provide legal services in both English and French.

Jason Mercier

Jason Mercier is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office. Jason provides advice and representation to employers and management in both the private and public sectors on a wide range of labour, employment and human rights issues, including grievance arbitrations, collective bargaining, labour disputes, termination and wrongful dismissals, occupational health and safety, worker’s safety and insurance, human rights and accommodation and employment standards. Jason obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa. Prior to joining Hicks Morley, Jason was an associate at a leading international law firm, where he regularly appeared before various courts and administrative tribunals. Jason is fluent in both French and English and he maintains a fully bilingual practice.

Vincent Panetta

Vince Panetta is an experienced labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Kingston office. He advises a range of employers in the public and private sector on all matters of employment law, labour relations, privacy and human rights. Vince appears before a variety of adjudicators and tribunals including grievance arbitrators, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. In addition, Vince often advises and acts for clients engaged in collective bargaining. Vince is the lead partner in the Kingston office and member of several practice groups within the firm.

Colin Youngman, Lawyer

Colin Youngman is a labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Kingston office. He advises and represents both unionized and non-unionized employers throughout Eastern Ontario. He is regularly engaged in wrongful dismissal litigation, occupational health and safety matters, labour arbitration cases, Ontario Labour Relations Board proceedings and human rights proceedings. Colin also advises clients with respect to information and privacy matters including data breach response. Colin emphasizes proactive and creative solutions to workplace issues and disputes. Prior to entering law school, Colin worked as a Social Worker at the Frontenac Children’s Aid Society in Kingston. Colin is an active member of the Pittsburgh Community Benefit Fund Board of Directors and is also a member of the Pladec Day Care Centre Board.