TORONTO, April 29, 2025 – HR Law Canada, the leading publication for labour and employment law professionals across Canada, today announced the winners of its inaugural HR Law Canada Awards program, celebrating exceptional achievements and innovation in workplace law.
The 2025 awards recognize professionals and firms who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to advancing employment law practice, workplace investigations, and human rights in Canadian workplaces.
“When we first launched the idea of the HR Law Canada Awards, we weren’t quite sure what to expect,” said Todd Humber, Publisher & Editor in Chief of HR Law Canada. “The answer to all our questions was a resounding ‘Yes’ – and then some. The response wasn’t just encouraging – it was overwhelming. It confirmed what we’ve long known: Canada’s HR legal community is filled with brilliant minds, dedicated professionals, and genuine innovators who rarely stop to acknowledge their own significant contributions.”
John Hyde of Hyde HR Law was named Lawyer of the Year for his exceptional expertise in labour and employment law. One of only 17 lawyers certified as a Specialist in Labour Law by the Law Society of Ontario, Hyde brings 30 years of experience to his practice, with insights informed by his pre-law background in operations and human resources management.
“That’s why these awards matter,” Humber said. “The people doing this crucial work – protecting workers, advising employers, ensuring fairness and compliance with ever-changing laws – are typically too busy making a difference to pat themselves on the back. So we decided to do it for them.”
Winners are featured in a special digital edition that tells their stories. And they will be celebrated with feature articles on HR Law Canada’s website (www.HRLawCanada.com) in the coming days.
Award Winners
The 2025 HR Law Canada Awards recipients include:
- Lawyer of the Year: John Hyde (Hyde HR Law)
- Silver Winners: Chris Drinovz (KSW Lawyers); and Nicole Singh (Fasken)
- Workplace Investigator of the Year: Sarah Crossley (Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP)
- Silver Winner: Bob Stenhouse (Veritas Solutions)
- Top 5 Lawyers Under 40:
- Laura Freitag
- Dasha Peregoudova
- Alex Kagan
- Nathaniel Marshall
- Steven Lewis
- Employment Law Case of the Year: Timmins v. Artisan Cells (Whitten & Lublin)
- Hall of Fame Inductees:
- David Doorey
- Lorenzo Lisi
- Top Labour & Employment Law Firms:
- Hyde HR Law
- Roper Greyell
- VanBuskirk Law
- Franklin Law
- Whitten & Lublin
- Hum Law Firm
The winners were selected following a rigorous nomination and evaluation process that assessed their contributions to workplace law practice, client service excellence, innovative approaches, and impact on the profession.
“Inside these pages, you’ll find remarkable stories of legal excellence,” said Humber. “From John Hyde, our Lawyer of the Year, whose 30 years of experience and rare specialist certification have established him as one of Canada’s most effective labour and employment lawyers, to our Top 5 Under 40 – rising stars like Laura Freitag, Dasha Peregoud, Alex Kagan, Nathaniel Marshall, and Steven Lewis whose early accomplishments signal bright futures ahead.”
The awards also recognized Sarah Crossley as Workplace Investigator of the Year for her strategic approach to resolving high-stakes workplace conflicts. Crossley has been entrusted with some of Canada’s most high-profile workplace investigations in recent years, including her appointment by the Government of Canada to lead an independent review into the appointment of Birju Dattani as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The inaugural HR Law Canada Awards demonstrate the publication’s commitment to recognizing excellence among their peers and establishing a benchmark for achievement in workplace law.
For more information about the 2025 HR Law Canada Awards and profiles of the winners, please visit www.hrlawcanada.com.
About HR Law Canada
HR Law Canada is a premier publication dedicated to labour and employment law issues affecting Canadian workplaces. Together with sister publications HR News Canada and HR News America, HR Law Canada leads the conversation on HR and employment law, delivering expert analysis and insights to legal and HR professionals across the country.
Media Contact:
Todd Humber
Publisher & Editor in Chief
HR Law Canada
[email protected]
289-264-4883
