Background

Eric Roher is a partner in our Toronto office. Eric was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1987. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from McGill University in 1985.

Prior to that, Eric obtained a Masters in Political Science from Brown University and received an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. Eric also attended Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne, in Paris, France.

Areas of Practice

• Eric practices in the areas of education law, employment law and labour relations.

Professional Experience

• Advises a range of public sector and private sector employers on employment law issues, including employee handbooks, mandatory retirement, policies and procedures, severance arrangements and employment agreements.
• Advises employers on a range of labour relations matters, including the grievance procedure, certification, negotiation and interpretation and administration of collective agreements.
• Advises school boards and independent schools on education law issues, including student discipline, human rights, freedom of information, teacher misconduct and special education.
• Advises clients regarding pension issues, relevant legislation and the administration of pension plans.
• Also represents clients before administrative tribunals and labour relations boards, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, the Board of Inquiry under the Human Rights Code , Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario , and the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Professional and Community Activities

• National Leader of the Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Education Focus Group.
• Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where Eric teaches a course in Youth & the Law.
• Received the Arbour Award for outstanding volunteer service to the University of Toronto, September 18, 2008.
• Editor of the Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Education Law Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with current and emerging education law issues.
• Publications include the following:
  • Author, An Educator’s Guide to Violence in Schools, Second Edition, 2010, Canada Law Book
  • Co-Author, Ontario Employment Standards Act: Quick Reference, 2011 Edition, Carswell (with Melanie A. Warner)
  • Co-Author, An Educator's Guide to the Role of the Principal, Second Edition, 2008 , Canada Law Book (with Simon Wormwell).
  • Co-Author, An Educator's Guide to Safe Schools, 2004, Canada Law Book (with Robert W. Weir)
  • Author, Violence in the Workplace, 2 nd Edition, 2004 , Carswell.
• Developed and appeared in six leading education law videos produced by Canada Law Book:
  • Violence in Schools;
  • Search and Seizure;
  • Racial and Sexual;
  • Harassment;
  • Negligence and Liability;
  • Suspension and Expulsion; and
  • Medication and Medical Treatment.
• Author of a number of magazine and journal articles related to his practice areas.
• Prepared papers for and participated in various employment law and education law programs and conferences for numerous organizations, including the Education & Law Journal, Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education, Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, Canadian Institute, Insight, Strategy Institute, Lancaster House and the Ontario Hospital Association.
• Co-Chair (with Anthony F. Brown) of LawWorks: Education Law Institute, organized by OISE/University of Toronto on September 23, 2011.
• Keynote address to the Task Force on Cyberbullying, established by the Province of Nova Scotia, Halifax, on September 12, 2011.  Spoke on the new Ontario Safe Schools Landscape.