Harry Freedman

Recognized by Best Lawyers®, Harry is Counsel to Sherrard Kuzz LLP, providing to our team and clients more than 40 years of knowledge and experience acquired “in the trenches” as both a leading labour litigator and Vice-Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”). As a highly respected and esteemed lawyer and adjudicator, Harry’s insight assists our team to continue to provide imaginative, practical, timely and innovative solutions to the issues our clients face.

Harry joined Sherrard Kuzz LLP in 2017 following 28 years of service at the OLRB, first as Senior Solicitor and Editor of the OLRB Monthly Report and later as a Vice-Chair, and 12 years of private practice as a labour lawyer.

While Vice-Chair, Harry dealt with issues in both the private and public sectors, with particular emphasis on the construction industry, and is responsible for some of the leading decisions issued by the OLRB throughout the past 30 years. At the joint invitation of employers and unions he also acted from time to time as arbitrator and mediator in relation to disputes arising under their collective agreements.

While the OLRB’s Senior Solicitor, Harry represented the OLRB as counsel before the Supreme Court of Ontario, Divisional Court and Court of Appeal and was co-counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada.

As a labour lawyer in private practice, Harry represented employers not only before the OLRB and labour arbitrators, but acted as employer counsel in labour, employment and pension litigation before the courts and a variety of tribunals, including the Pension Commission of Ontario, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal, and Ontario Human Rights Commission Boards of Inquiry. In 1995, he was certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in labour law.

An engaging and thoughtful teacher, Harry taught labour arbitration at Osgoode Hall Law School, labour law and collective bargaining at Ryerson Polytechnic University, authored a number of papers relating to labour law and practice before the OLRB, and for several years was an instructor in the Public Law course in the Law Society of Ontario’s Bar Admission program.

Publications & Media

No Publications

Speaking Engagements

Equal Pay for Equal Work for Part-time, Casual or Temporary Seasonal

November 21, 2017

Infonex Professional Development
Bill 148 - Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 - Legislative Update

September 19, 2017

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association(CMEA)
Bill 148 – Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 – A Briefing for Employers

June 20, 2017

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association(CMEA), Webinar and Round Table Discussion