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Andrea York
Partner |
Toronto
Toronto: 416-863-5263
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Andrea is an experienced advocate with over 15 years of practice devoted exclusively to advising corporations and other employers on employment and privacy law matters.
Andrea provides timely and practical advice to employers across a variety of sectors, including banking and financial services, retail, manufacturing, health-care products, technology, and marketing and advertising. In addition to providing day-to-day compliance and strategic advice, she regularly acts for employers in various legal proceedings, including wrongful dismissal and human rights claims and in claims enforcing post-employment obligations. Andrea also advises on the employment and privacy law aspects of commercial transactions, including M&A transactions, reorganizations, insolvencies and outsourcing transactions.
Andrea is the Practice Group Leader of the national Employment & Labour group, Co-chair of the Privacy group and the Firm's National Privacy Officer. She is also a member and past Co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Blakes.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
Led the Blakes employment law team advising Wells Fargo on the Canadian employment law aspects of its US$31-billion acquisition of GE Capital's global commercial distribution finance and vendor finance businesses Provided key employment law advice to Canadian Tire Financial Services on its strategic partnership with the Bank of Nova Scotia, which included the sale of a 20% interest in its credit card business Successfully defended multi-national employer in credibility-focused Human Rights Tribunal hearing dealing with claim of pregnancy discrimination following termination Represented multi-national transportation company in Human Rights Tribunal hearing in high-profile case involving a conflict between religious accommodation requirements and worker health and safety Represented a large U.S.-based financial institution in wrongful dismissal and human rights claims Regularly negotiates and drafts executive employment contracts, termination agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and advises on incentive compensation arrangements and employee policies
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Andrea has been recognized for her expertise by the following publications:
Chambers Canada 2018 (Recognized Practitioner) Acritas Stars 2018: Independently Rated Lawyer (Nominated as a stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel) The Legal 500 Canada 2018 (Labour & Employment Law) The Best Lawyers in Canada 2018 (Labour & Employment Law) Who's Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits 2017 (Labour & Employment) The Legal 500 Canada 2017 (Recommended - Labour and Employment) Andrea was also named a Canadian Diversity Champion by Women of Influence magazine in 2012.
PUBLICATIONS
Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour, January 25, 2018.
Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour, November 16, 2017.
Co-author:
Practice note, Employee Privacy Notice (Canada)
Thomson Reuters (Professional) UK Limited, October 2017.
Co-author:
Practice note, Candidate Privacy Notice (Canada)
Thomson Reuters (Professional) UK Limited, October 2017.
Co-author:
Recent Developments in Employment and Labour Law, Dismissal Law Update
Blakes Labour & Employment Client Seminar on Recent Developments in Labour and Employment Law, Toronto, Ontario, June 15, 2017.
Co-author:
Top 10 Recent Developments in Canadian Dismissal Law
Recent Developments in Labour and Employment Law, Blakes Business Class Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, June 9, 2016.
Co-author:
Technology in the Workplace: Top Nine Issues for Employers
Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada, LexisNexis Canada Inc., Volume 16, No. 10, February 2016.
PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCES
Panel Member:
Hot Privacy Topics: Hiring, Health and Hacks
13th Annual Conference, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 22-24, 2016.
Presenter:
Recent Developments in Employment and Labour Law, Dismissal Law Update
Blakes Labour & Employment Client Seminar on Recent Developments in Labour and Employment Law, Toronto, Ontario, June 15, 2017.
Panel Member:
Employee Whistleblower Protections
Connections Conference, Dublin, Ireland, May 2017.
Moderator:
Balancing Interests: Employee Monitoring & Workplace Privacy
International Association of Privacy Professionals, KnowledgeNet, Toronto, Ontario, January 2017.
Presenter:
Emerging Ethical Trends in Workplace Law
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Toronto, Ontario, February 24, 2016.
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