Jennifer M. Fantini

Partner

Vancouver
[email protected]
604.640.4247

Jennifer practises in the areas of labour relations and employment law. Within her practice, she advises public and private sector employers with respect to:

  • employee discipline and termination
  • wrongful dismissal
  • employment policies and contracts
  • employment standards
  • human rights issues

She has a special interest and expertise in constructive dismissal law.

Jennifer also represents both employers and employees in wrongful dismissal and related civil litigation (at various levels of court), and appears on behalf of clients before different administrative tribunals, including human rights tribunals and labour relations boards.

Jennifer also conducts client training on a variety of labour and employment issues. She represents unionized employers in collective agreement negotiations and arbitrations.

Prior to joining the Vancouver office, Jennifer practised at BLG’s Toronto office for 15 years.

Experience

  • Advises a variety of private and public sector employers, notably in the financial services sector and the health care sector, providing advice related to all aspects of the employment relationship, in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces.
  • Represents public and private sector employers and employees in civil wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal actions.
  • Represented a national sports association as an Intervener in a hearing before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario challenging the Association’s dressing room policy as discriminatory. The policy was upheld as non-discriminatory by the Tribunal.
  • Represented various hospitals in human rights complaints before the Tribunal, involving former employees and patients (including sensitive matters involving the rights of transgendered patients and other vulnerable segments of the population).
  • Represented several clients in defending complaints alleging a violation of reinstatement provisions and reprisal under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.
  • Co-Chair, New Lawyer Program: Employment Law Practice Essentials, September 2012, 2014 and 2016 (webinar).
  • Speaker, Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals, 2012 - 2016.
  • Speaker, "Hiring and Firing," Vancouver Board of Trade, 2016.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2014) of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Labour and Employment Law).
  • Recognized in the 2024, 2017 and 2016 editions of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Employment & Labour: British Columbia) (Band 4).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 2021) editions of Benchmark Canada as a Litigation Star
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition (and since 2011) of Chambers Global – The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Employment & Labour).
  • Recognized as one of Lexpert®’s Rising Stars – Leading Lawyers Under 40 (2012).
  • Recognized in the 2017 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Employment Law).

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2001
  • British Columbia, 2016
  • MBA/LLB, York University/, Osgoode Hall Law School, 1999
  • BA in Labour-Management Relations, University of Toronto, 1995