Lawyer Profile
John W. Saunders
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
John Saunders is a senior labour and employment lawyer in Hicks Morley’s Toronto office. He has over three-and-a-half decades of experience advising employers on a wide range of labour and employment issues. John’s practice includes collective agreement negotiations, rights and interest arbitrations, human rights applications, occupational health and safety matters, and wrongful dismissal litigation.
John has particular expertise in municipal law with regard to fire and paramedic issues and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He provides ongoing negotiation advice to fire and paramedic departments on staffing, deployment, benefit issues, accommodation, mandatory retirement, presumptive disability legislation, negotiations and interest arbitrations.
John has represented numerous municipalities and major corporations in coroner’s inquests and judicial inquiries into fatalities. In addition, he works with employers in the healthcare, manufacturing, waste disposal, forestry, nuclear and property assessment sectors.
Outside of his law practice, John is the past chairman of the Board of Elders of his local church, and he sits on the boards of a number of charitable foundations. He is an avid downhill skier and enjoys fixing things at his cottage.
Energy & Utilities Government Ministries & Agencies (Federal and Provincial) Healthcare Manufacturing Municipalities & Municipal Agencies Technology Transportation & Warehousing
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2014–2025) Employment Law (Repeatedly Recommended); Labour Relations (Consistently Recommended)
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – Global Leader (2023–2024)Labour & Employment (Recommended)
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – National Leader (2023); Recommended (2025) Labour, Employment & Benefits
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1988 (ON)