Background

Philippe Vachon is a partner at our Montréal office. Philippe was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1980 and is a graduate of the Université de Montréal Law School. He also received training in mediation at Harvard University Law School in 1997.

Areas of Practice

• Philippe is a member of our Labour and Employment Group and has extensive experience in this field, as well as in administrative law.
• With more than 27 years of experience, he has developed a vast expertise in labour and employment law, in particular all aspects involving certification, the collective bargaining negotiation process, remedies in the event of dismissal, and health and safety in the workplace, with private companies parapublic and public organizations.
• He is an active member of our Privacy and Access to Information Group, and our Commercial Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Group.

Rankings and Recognitions

• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Labour and Employment Law)

Professional Experience

• Advises the management of clients in a variety of labour relations and employment matters. He regularly represents clients before higher courts as well as administrative tribunals and arbitration boards.
• Also has significant expertise and experience in the negotiation of collective agreements. Represents clients at mediation sessions and at times acts as a mediator.

Teaching

• Philippe is a teacher at l’École du Barreau du Québec where he teaches labour and employment law, contract preparation and negotiation techniques.
• Philippe also teaches within the Continuous Education program at Québec Bart as well as at the Canadian Bar Association.
• Among other things and during the last year, Philippe offered training relating to severance pay to judges from the Cour du Québec, as well as agents for la Commission des relations du travail du Québec on union certification and the impact of disposition of business on employment.
• Philippe has given numerous lectures on various subjects in labour related matters and has written a number of articles on a variety of labour and employment matters. He is co-author of a book entitled 'The New Labour Standards Act'.

Professional and Community Activities

• Member of the Canadian Bar Association
• Former Executive member of the Council of the Labour an Employment Section of the Canadian Bar Association
• Member of the Conseil du patronat du Québec
• President of Épilepsie Montréal Métropolitain
• Member of our firm’s National Business Development Committee
• Partner responsible for marketing in our Montréal office
• Member of the Disciplinary Committee (Barreau du Québec)

Conferences

• Continuing legal education division of the Quebec Bar Association, 'Les dommages moraux' (September 27, 2007).
• Continuing legal education division of the Canadian Bar Association, 'Les conflits juridictionnels : choisir le forum approprié au litige' (May 16, 2007).
• Training for the CRT Commissioners on establishing quantums (May 4, 2007).
• (Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board), 'Droits de l’employeur concernant la surveillance électronique des employés', (May 3, 2007).
• Continuing legal education division of the Quebec Bar Association, 'Les effets de l’aliénation d’entreprise sur l’emploi', in a conference on recent developments in Labour Law (April 20, 2007).
• Continuing legal education division of the Canadian Bar Association, 'Off the Beaten Path : Damages in Employment Law : How to Stay on the Trail', (November 24-25, 2006).
• Training for the CRT Commissioners and agents, 'Les effets de l’aliénation d’entreprise sur l’emploi et la révocation d’accréditation', training given to the Commission des relations du travail (June 15, 2006).
• McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, Information Session on Employment Law Issues, (May 31, 2006).
• Continuing legal education division of the Quebec Bar Association, La fin d’emploi dans le cadre des aliénations d’entreprise', (May 5, 2006).
• Labour Law training given to the Québec Court judges (May 1st, 2006).
• Termination allowance, conference lunch (April 28, 2006).
• Continuing legal education division of the Quebec Bar Association, 'Cessation d’emploi et indemnités de départ, aspects légaux et fiscaux', (March 17, 2006).