Headquarters:
181 Bay St., Suite 1800, Toronto, ON M5J 2T9
Year founded:
1919
Number of employees:
650+
Phone:
416 863 1500
Email:
airdberlis@airdberlis.com
Website:
https://www.airdberlis.com
LinkedIn:
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/aird-&-berlis-llp
Leadership
Lorenzo Lisi is the leader of Aird & Berlis LLP’s Workplace Law Group. He has practised exclusively in labour and employment law for more than 35 years, representing employers on all areas touching labour and employment law, both provincially and federally. He has built a long list of loyal clients who depend on him for direct solutions, risk analysis and strategic advice.
Cognizant of the time pressures and deadlines most employers experience in today’s workplace, Lisi combines focused, calm and proactive advice with exceptional client service, while remaining approachable to all levels of the organization.
Partner and Leader, Workplace Law Group
Lorenzo Lisi
Michael F. Horvat has been a trusted advisor in labour and employment law matters for more than 25 years, helping employers find practical solutions that align human resources with long-term business goals. He advises clients across all industries – including manufacturing, transportation, retail and construction – on all of their employment and labour law needs.
Horvat has been their effective legal advocate before labour boards, human rights tribunals, and at all levels of the Ontario courts. He is a frequent speaker and writer on workplace law, offering strategic guidance in both federal and provincial jurisdictions.
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Michael F. Horvat
Dasha Peregoudova is co-leader of the firm’s Sports & Entertainment Group, and a member of the Workplace Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Groups. She has a practice focused on labour and employment matters, including employment disputes, grievances, collective bargaining and human rights matters. She assists the firm’s M&A team on employment and labour issues arising in transactions, including executive compensation.
Peregoudova conducts policy, ethical, and statute-driven investigations for a wide range of clients. She has appeared as counsel before a variety of courts and tribunals, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Dasha Peregoudova
As a litigator and member of the firm’s Workplace Law Group, Alex Kagan assists employers in defending a variety of employment and labour claims. In addition to diligent advocacy, he works closely with clients to identify strategic vulnerabilities with the goal of resolving issues before litigation arises.
Kagan leverages his experience in drafting and implementing employment agreements alongside various workplace policies. He also applies his expertise in employment and labour to various corporate transactions. Acting as a specialist, he assists clients by identifying employment liabilities and managing them in the course of a transaction.
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Alex Kagan
Meghan A. Cowan is an experienced workplace law advisor and litigator with a strong focus on labour, employment, and privacy matters. As a member of the firm’s Workplace Law Group and co-leader of the firm’s Privacy & Data Security Group, she regularly advises on all forms of employment matters, human rights issues, privacy considerations, and labour relations.
Known for her critical thinking and practical approach, Cowan helps clients navigate complex workplace disputes. She also contributes thought leadership through frequent writing and speaking engagements, and she co-chairs the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee.
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Meghan A. Cowan
David S. Reiter is a strategic litigator specializing in civil and quasi-criminal matters, particularly those involving workplace incidents. With a strong background in criminal law, he brings a unique perspective to litigation and advisory work. He helps clients manage operational liabilities, develop risk mitigation strategies, and navigate investigations and prosecutions.
As a member of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, Reiter has led numerous trials and applications across Ontario and has experience with statutes such as the Occupational Health & Safety Act and the Criminal Code.
Partner, Workplace Law Group
David S. Reiter
Bardia Jalayer specializes in employment, labour, and sports law and brings a client-focused approach to every matter. He is a passionate problem solver who helps clients feel more confident in their decisions by offering practical advice tailored to their business goals and needs. He advises on employment and labour-related matters, including comprehensive policies and training, collective agreements, and issues within the workplace.
Jalayer also has experience in dispute resolution matters heard before the Superior Court, the Divisional Court, and the Court of Appeal. He advises unionized and non-unionized clients alike, as well as professional and amateur sporting organizations and player associations.
Associate, Workplace Law Group
Bardia Jalayer
Zachary Sippel is a strong communicator who is passionate about advocating for his clients. He is dedicated to understanding his clients’ businesses and the diverse industries in which they operate and leverages real-world experience to provide practical advice.
Sippel’s practice includes a wide range of employment and labour-related matters, including advising on occupational health and safety requirements, labour arbitrations, and collective bargaining. He has appeared before various courts and Tribunals across Ontario and Canada, including the Human Rights Tribunal, Labour Relations Board, Small Claims Court, and Superior Court of Justice.
Associate, Workplace Law Group
Zachary Sippel
Michelle Cook is a strategic and thoughtful advocate and advisor with a focus on labour, employment, accessibility, pay equity, and human rights law as well as advising on the legal requirements of workplace investigations. She leverages her strong business and litigation background to provide pragmatic guidance on complex disputes.
Cook has appeared before numerous courts and tribunals across Ontario and Canada, including the Federal Court, Ontario Divisional Court, Ontario Superior Court, Ontario Labour Relations Board, and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Associate, Workplace Law Group
Michelle Cook
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AIRD & BERLIS LLP
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Bio
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
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Ivan Verescuk
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Shaun O’Brien
Head of Underwriting
Emily Walker
Head of Strata and Development
Rex Oakman
Head of Operations and Risk
Sandy Newton
Head of Underwriting
Andrew Mitchell
Manager – NSW
Michael Prokopis
Manager – Southern Region
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Jeffrey Valdivia
Manager – Commercial Strata
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
For Aird & Berlis, a Canadian HR Reporter Readers’ Choice Award in the Employment and Labour Law category is not a new achievement – it is a pattern. Backed by the bench strength of a full-service firm with more than 270 lawyers and patent agents practicing across all major areas of business law, the firm’s Workplace Law Group has become a trusted name in Canadian employment, labour, and occupational health and safety (OHS) law. That reputation is not self-declared but built on years of consistent recognition from the very clients and HR professionals the firm serves.
Led by practice group leader Lorenzo Lisi, who has practised exclusively in labour and employment law for more than 35 years, the Workplace Law Group serves a broad and diverse client base, which includes corporations of all sizes; municipal governments, First Nation entities and sports organizations, to name a few.
Workplace Law Group members are seasoned advocates who regularly appear before the courts and administrative tribunals, which include labour relations boards as well as human rights tribunals and are equipped to handle the full range of workplace issues that challenge HR professionals, including:
Employment
wrongful and constructive dismissal claims
workplace harassment and violence compliance training
human rights and accommodation compliance
employment contracts, restructuring, and terminations
legislative compliance and policy development
Labour
union certification applications and campaigns
collective bargaining and grievance arbitration
strikes, lockouts, and injunction proceedings
unfair labour practice defence
Occupational health and safety
workplace audits and policy development
incident response following critical injuries and fatalities
OHSA compliance and WSIB matters
The firm’s thought leadership reaches well beyond its existing client base through a suite of resources designed to keep the broader HR community informed.
Workplace Law Bulletin: covering recent cases and legislative developments in employment, labour, and OHS law distributed to more than 12,000 subscribers
HRPA-accredited complimentary webinar series: current and topical labour and employment issues, available on demand through the firm’s website and YouTube channel
Annual Workplace Law Summit: Join the Aird & Berlis Workplace Law Group on Thursday, November 12, 2026, for a half-day program exploring the latest trends, challenges and strategies in workplace law.
This investment in the wider HR community reflects a firm that sees its role extending well beyond legal representation.
For HR leaders, the value of a legal partner is ultimately measured by outcomes: compliance, risk management, and navigating a workplace that has become complex and fast moving. The key is a practical approach that supports an employer through not only advising on the law, but understanding an employers’ operations, goals, and objectives. Aird & Berlis has spent decades delivering on all three, and its sustained presence in CHHR’s Readers’ Choice speaks volumes of this commitment.
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Michelle Cook
Associate, Workplace Law Group
Zachary Sippel
Associate, Workplace Law Group
Bardia Jalayer
Associate, Workplace Law Group
David S. Reiter
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Meghan A. Cowan
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Alex Kagan
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Dasha Peregoudova
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Michael F. Horvat
Partner, Workplace Law Group
Lorenzo Lisi
Partner and Leader, Workplace Law Group