Matthew Dewar* (Matt) practices employment law with one philosophy in mind: a good lawyer is a problem solver. 

As a founding partner at Duntrune LLP, Matt puts this philosophy into practice while advocating for both employers and employees. Along with his 15+ years of experience in employment law, this approach guides his work with every client, whether he is representing an individual who feels they have been wronged or a large company focusing on its overall goals.

Matt advises on a wide range of employment matters, including: hiring, discipline, and termination; severance packages; enforcement and drafting of employment agreements; policy development (including conducting workplace training on various topics); privacy and AODA compliance; employment standards compliance; wrongful/constructive dismissal; and human rights issues and complaints (including sexual harassment and discrimination). Matt also advises on and conducts workplace investigations into allegations of discrimination, harassment and other forms of employee misconduct.

Matt regularly participates in mediations and arbitrations and has appeared before various courts and administrative tribunals, including the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (including the Employment Standards Branch), the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the Federal Court of Appeal. Matt is well-respected in the Toronto Employment bar for his active mentorship of many young legal professionals. He frequently presents on topics such as Workplace Harassment; Cannabis in the Workplace; Avoiding Constructive Dismissals; Human Rights; and Employment Law 101 and is often called upon by various media outlets for his perspective on employment-related news. He has appeared on Global News, CTV, CBC, CP24, Newstalk 1010, and the Sirius XM.

When he’s not busy successfully advocating on behalf of his clients, he enjoys reliving his former career as a professional musician and can be found performing (including with his 80s cover band) throughout the local music scene.

*denotes Professional Corporation

Insights

• Matt has appeared on Global News, CP24, CBC, CTV, Newstalk 1010, Newstalk 770, the John Oakley Show, and Sirius XM to provide commentary on current employment law events.
• In addition, he has been interviewed in Canadian Lawyer, Precedent Magazine, and Maisonneuve Magazine. 
• Matt has spoken at the Law Society of Ontario’s Employment Summit, Employment Terminations Summit and countless in-house presentations.

Representative Work

• Labourers' International Union of North America, Local 1059 v. Martin Building Maintenance, 2008 CanLII 37435 (ON LRB)
• Borraro v. Greater Sudbury Police Force, 2011 HRTO 239 (CanLII)
• Safety First Consulting Professional Corporation v Scipione, 2015 CanLII 34246 (ON SCSM)
• Da Costa v. Kanetix Ltd., 2017 HRTO 72 (CanLII)
• Scipione v. Safety First Consulting Professional Corporation, 2017 HRTO 1566 (CanLII)
• E.L.P. v N.S., 2018 CanLII 1024 (ON HPARB)

Education/Bar Admissions

• LL.B., Queens Law School, 2004 (recipient of entrance scholarship on merit)
• Bachelor of Music, Berkelee College of Music, Boston, MA

Associations

• Law Society of Ontario (LSO)
• Toronto Gaelic Society

A pragmatic and highly focused problem solver. With more than 20 years’ experience as a Toronto employment lawyer, his background includes serving as the Managing Partner of one of the country’s most well-known employment law firms, and more than 10 years of practicing employment law & labour law at one of Canada’s premier full-service firms.

Skilled, Strategic, Savvy. 

With ample grey hair as incontrovertible evidence, Israel has over 30 years of experience as an employment and human rights counsel. Commanding the universal respect of the bench, tribunals, mediators and the bar, Israel's profile in the legal community is that of a seasoned and proficient practitioner. It is no surprise that he is regularly retained to act for both employers and employees.