Whitten & Lublin, a Toronto-based employment law firm, has established itself among Canada’s premier workplace legal specialists while advancing new legal frameworks that could reshape how employment contracts are challenged.
With a team of 17 lawyers focused exclusively on employment law, it has built a reputation that draws referrals from other law firms across the country. The boutique firm represents both employers and employees across a wide spectrum of workplace matters.
In 2024, the firm settled over 1,000 cases through out-of-court negotiations while also securing significant victories in two notable court cases that could influence the future direction of Canadian employment law.
The firm’s groundbreaking work in Timmins v. Artisan Cells introduced a novel framework for challenging termination clauses that differs from traditional approaches. Rather than focusing solely on specific clause wording, the case centered on the method of contract enforcement itself.
This innovative legal strategy argued that contracts requiring civil court proceedings instead of Ministry of Labour complaints contradicted the Employment Standards Act by creating a more costly and protracted process for employees seeking redress.
Although the judge ultimately decided the case on other grounds, the inclusion of this argument in the court record opens potential new avenues for challenging or crafting termination clauses in future employment cases.
In another significant decision, Borden v. 2554318 Ontario Inc., the firm secured eight months’ salary plus punitive damages for wrongful dismissal for a three-month employee who had been enticed away from stable employment and then terminated under false pretenses.
The firm’s standing in the Canadian legal community is reflected in multiple recognitions, including Best Law Firm in 2024, Canada’s Best Law Firm by The Globe and Mail, and Top Labour & Employment Boutique Law Firm by Canadian Lawyer.
Client satisfaction appears equally strong, with the firm maintaining a 4.9-star rating across more than 900 Google reviews. Their reputation has extended to social media platforms like Reddit, which now generates a steady stream of client referrals each month.
What distinguishes the firm’s approach is its combination of legal expertise with a client-centered philosophy that emphasizes both strategic thinking and emotional intelligence when addressing workplace disputes that often carry significant personal impact.
