HRPA Meeting Details

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.

Gabrielle Fortier-Cofsky is an associate lawyer at the Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office. She practices in all areas of labour and employment law, where she provides advice and representation to employers in the public and private sectors on a wide range of issues such as labour disputes, grievance arbitration, human rights and accommodation. She is also a member of the firm’s Pension, Benefits and Executive Compensation group, where she provides advice regarding provincial and federal sectors, private and public pension plans. Gabrielle received her licence in civil law from the University of Ottawa, where she participated in the 2011 Laskin Moot. She completed her Juris Doctor degree at Queen’s University, where she participated in the review of an article on pension plans for the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal. She also received the highest standing in the Fiduciary and the Law class. Prior to joining the firm, Gabrielle articled in a medium-size law firm in Montréal with a focus on insurance litigation, municipal law, and labour law. She also clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal for the year 2014-2015.

Charles Hofley is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office who maintains a fully bilingual practice. He has over 25 years of experience advising private and public sector employers on a broad range of employment and labour matters, including restructuring, closures, terminations, collective agreement negotiation/administration, strike and injunction preparation, human rights and social service matters. Charles is an experienced negotiator and regularly appears before boards of arbitration, administrative tribunals and all levels of court. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars on current issues in labour and employment law.

Andrew McCreary, a lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Ottawa office, devotes his practice to employment law. Andrew works particularly with employers in the financial services, technology and defence sectors as well as those in government outsourcing. This work has included the defence of numerous wrongful dismissal claims and human rights applications. Andrew also frequently addresses departing employee issues including the successful pursuit of injunctions, Anton Piller relief, recovery of corporate data and damages awards at trial. He has repeatedly appeared at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, in cases enforcing executive employment agreements, overturning wrongful dismissal damage awards, upholding findings of cause for dismissal and maintaining the award of damages against departing employees. Andrew also provides regular and ongoing advice to clients to mitigate litigation risk.

We all have more potential, more extraordinary possibilities than we ever imagined. By asking tough questions and sharing powerful truths, Sarah McVanel helps individuals and organizations discover their greatness and then use that greatness to improve themselves, their workplace and their bottom line. Sarah knows a little something about asking tough questions. After earning degrees in Psychology, Family Relations and Organizational Development...and then climbing the corporate ladder in a multi-million dollar organization...at age 38 she quit her job, sold her house, moved her family and reinvented herself. Now, her boutique consulting firm ‘Greatness Magnified’ helps clients across North America discover their potential, their purpose and their passion and to implement clear and effective growth strategies.

Siobhan O’Brien is an Ottawa labour lawyer, employment lawyer and human resource lawyer. She practises management-side labour and employment law and has extensive experience in wrongful dismissal litigation, employment litigation, human rights law, grievance arbitration, labour relations, collective bargaining and strike management. Siobhan is a frequent guest speaker at employment and human resource law events and speaks on employment issues including wrongful dismissals, employment contracts, accommodation, attendance management, independent contractor matters, pregnancy and parental leave, restrictive covenants, employment benefits, workplace policies and procedures and human rights law. Siobhan serves public and private sector clients in the Manufacturing, Social Services, Developmental Services, Education, Healthcare, Financial Services, Technology and Municipal sectors.

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 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.