Emond Harnden knows healthcare. We provide ongoing advice and representation in both official languages to a wide variety of healthcare clients across the province. Our firm has been the law firm of choice for hospitals of all sizes for over three decades, in addition to:
- Long term care homes, retirement homes and nursing homes
- Community health centres
- Family health teams
- Paramedic services
- Group practices of physicians; and
- Private clinics and health centres, among other healthcare clients.
We understand the environment
Our lawyers understand the unique labour and employment relations environment in healthcare. We routinely advise our healthcare clients on a wide range of issues, including:
- Central and local collective agreement interpretation
- Human rights and accommodation matters
- Privacy and freedom of information issues
- RHPA issues
- Occupational health and safety matters
- WSIB matters
- Wage restraint and executive compensation matters
- Sale of business and restructuring related matters, and more.
Our experience during COVID-19 pandemic
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our lawyers were trusted to advise hospital and broader healthcare clients throughout the region on rapidly evolving matters including the availability and sufficiency of personal protective equipment and other health and safety matters, redeployment of staff within and among institutions and other emergency powers issues, vaccination and accommodation matters, and broader staffing and human resources issues. Our clients leaned on us for our depth of experience and breadth of knowledge, and for our judgment in responding often on very short notice to changes in the legal landscape.
Unionized healthcare clients
In addition to representing our non-union healthcare clients in civil litigation, we are in grievance arbitration hearings with our unionized healthcare clients every week, in both English and French. Our lawyers have successfully represented our healthcare clients in a wide range of matters, from the routine to the complex. Even more important than our reported victories are the resolutions we have reached for our clients. We do not hesitate to litigate, when necessary, but our lawyers know that a litigated decision is not always the best outcome. We appreciate the importance of good labour relations in healthcare, and we are careful stewards of public funds in our representation of our healthcare clients. If there is a resolution which protects the interests of our client and saves scarce healthcare dollars, we will find it.
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
Our lawyers have substantial experience in representing healthcare clients before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, in both French and English. We understand the Tribunal’s processes and the unique challenges presented by Applicants who are often self-represented, and we work with our clients to achieve the best outcome possible in the circumstances.
Interest Arbitration
We have a particular expertise in interest arbitration. We have a keen understanding of the parameters of interest arbitration under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, and have represented our healthcare clients in hundreds of interest arbitration proceedings. Our research team, led by Director of Research Paula Campbell, is famous for the thoroughness and quality of their written briefs, and our lawyers are just as compelling before an interest arbitration board as at grievance arbitration, whether presenting in English or French.
Why trust us
Because of our breadth and depth of experience in the healthcare sector, we know the unions, their local and provincial leadership, and their counsel of choice across the province. Our knowledge of the players on the other side of the table and our relationship with their representatives frequently allows us to reach resolutions which might not otherwise be possible, and where resolution is not possible, to litigate more efficiently.
