HRPA Meeting Details

As a Practice Group Leader and partner at Siskinds in its London, Ontario office, Mary Lou has been practicing exclusively in the area of management-side employment law for almost 20 years. Mary Lou recognizes that people are the most valuable resource in any organization. She works co- operatively with employers and human resource professionals to manage this critical resource through practical advice and real-world solutions. As such, Mary Lou represents employers in the full spectrum of the employment relationship, with particular emphasis on hiring and retention of employees, employment agreements, employee discipline, employee terminations and wrongful dismissal actions, human rights, employment standards, policy development and day-to-day legal compliance. Mary Lou has also developed a unique subset to her practice. She regularly provides strategic advice to corporate lawyers and business owners on employment-related issues arising in downsizings, closures, and sales, purchases or amalgamations of business. As a trusted advisor, Mary Lou prides herself on developing strong, long-lasting client relationships while delivering excellent results that are born of talent, training and true commitment to her clients. Mary Lou joined Siskinds in January 2005 as part of the firm's initiative to expand its Labour & Employment Group. Before doing so, she spent six years practicing management-side labour and employment law for a large national law firm in both its Toronto and London offices.

Jennifer Herpers is an associate lawyer in Siskinds’ labour and employment group. Her practice focuses on providing practical and innovative advice to assist employers in managing their employment relationships. In addition to providing pragmatic day-to-day advice, Jennifer represents clients before courts, administrative boards and tribunals. Prior to joining the labour and employment group, Jennifer summered and articled at Siskinds. While at Queen’s Law, Jennifer participated in the Walsh Family Law Moot, where she and her partner received the Best Respondent Factum award. She also acted as an Associate Editor of the Queen’s Law Journal. Prior to law school, Jennifer obtained her Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy from the University of Guelph, where she was a teaching assistant, research assistant, and guest lecturer.

Christopher A. Sinal is a lawyer with Siskinds’ management-side Labour and Employment Group. Chris exclusively represents employers in a variety of contexts, including union certification applications,grievance arbitration, collective bargaining, and managing day-to-day workplace issues. Chris also works with both unionized and non-unionized clients to address human rights concerns, occupational health and safety and WSIB matters, and employee discipline and termination issues. Chris regularly represents clients before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, and the Superior Court of Justice.

Beth Traynor is a partner in Siskinds' Labour and Employment Group and has practiced exclusively management-side labour and employment law for her entire career. Beth provides day-to-day advice to both unionized and non-unionized employers on discharge and discipline, accommodation of disabilities, occupational health and safety, bullying, harassment and violence in the workplace, and all other issues arising between employers and their employees. Her clients are located across Southern Ontario and the Near North. For more than ten years, Beth has been providing investigation services to a number of clients. She also regularly conducts training sessions on a variety of subjects, including the conduct of investigations, respectful communication in the workplace, and the identification and avoidance of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Beth is frequently asked to speak on labour and employment topics and has presented continuing education programs for the Law Society of Upper Canada, community colleges, and numerous client events. She is also an active contributor to the L&E Group’s blog.