Practical guidance for drafting employment contracts that comply with Canadian employment standards and remain enforceable in courts and tribunals.
Employment contracts play a critical role in defining the terms of the employment relationship and managing legal risk. Across Canada, courts frequently scrutinize employment agreements, particularly termination provisions and restrictive covenants, and many contracts are found unenforceable due to drafting errors or failure to comply with statutory minimum standards.
This session examines the legal principles governing employment contracts across Canadian jurisdictions. Participants will explore how courts interpret employment agreements, how employment standards legislation affects contractual provisions, and how common drafting mistakes can invalidate key clauses.
The program also provides practical guidance for structuring employment contracts that clearly address termination provisions, compensation terms, and post-employment obligations. Participants will gain a practical framework for drafting agreements that reduce the risk of disputes and withstand scrutiny in litigation or before administrative tribunals.
Intended Audience
Employment lawyers, labour lawyers, in-house counsel, HR professionals, business owners, and professionals responsible for drafting or reviewing employment agreements.
Partner | Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Andrea is a partner with Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP and leads the firm’s employment law group. She has over 20 years of experience representing employees, unions, associations and employers in all areas of employment law, professional discipline, human rights issues, and labour law. Andrea has been a featured speaker/contributor for organizations such as the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL), American Bar Association, Infonex and Lancaster House. She holds an LLB from the University of Ottawa and a BA from the University of Victoria.
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