George Avraam

George Avraam was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1999 and has since practiced as a trial and appellate litigator. George's practice is focused on labour, employment, public and administrative law, class actions, education law, and fiduciary duties. He has acted as lead counsel in arbitrations, administrative proceedings, trials, appeals, judicial reviews, class actions, and injunctions.

George is designated by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, has been ranked in Chambers Global and Chambers Canada and Ontario (Band 2), has been recommended as a leading lawyer in Legal 500 for Labour and Employment, and has been recommended as a leading employment lawyer in Lexpert. George is also the Chair of the North America Employment and Compensation Law Practice Group and a member of the Global Employment and Compensation Law Practice Group’s Steering Committee.

Firm/Organization: Baker McKenzie

Blogs: Canadian Fraud Law, Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Latest Articles

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Tread Carefully When it Comes to Co-Working Spaces

By George Avraam

January 15, 2020

We’re pleased to share The Globe and Mail article, How co-working spaces expose companies to new legal risks. “Sharing office space with other companies and entrepreneurs can be an attractive option for growing businesses,” the author notes. But, as Jordan Kirkness points out, “when you’ve got your employees working in a work space that they share with other businesses, the potential for passing personal information, confidential information, on to the wrong person is just so much greater.” Jim …

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Space for Agility: Making Co-working Work

By George Avraam

November 25, 2019

Co-working or shared working spaces are increasingly being used to keep up with the volatile and ever-changing business landscape. From gig workers and freelancers to project teams, modern workforce needs are being met through the short-term nature, reduced costs, and diverse and agile environments that these innovative workplaces offer. We’re pleased to share our timely report, Making Co-working Work, co-authored by Emily Harbison, which explores the many risk factors employers need to address to make co-working work.…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Better to Know About It: Encouraging Reporting of Workplace Wrongdoing

By George Avraam

November 18, 2019

We’re pleased to share a recent Canadian HR Reporter article, “Whistleblowers fear job loss, disclosure, retaliation”, with insight from Andrew Shaw. The article discusses the reasons why employees may be reluctant to report instances of wrongdoing by coworkers or members of management and what employers can do to facilitate legitimate complaints being brought forward. The article is accessible here.…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Changes to Mexico’s Labor Law Lead Employers to Reconsider CBAs

By George Avraam

October 10, 2019

We’re pleased to share an informative article in which our colleague, Salvador Pasquel Villegas, provides his insight as to how employers in Mexico should approach the new labour relations environment brought on by the recent legislative reform. The article, published by the Society for Human Resource Management, is accessible here. …

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

The Future Of Work: Insights From Our 2019 Global Employer Forum

By George Avraam

August 20, 2019

We’re in a period of unprecedented transformation, driven by technological development, globalization and significant demographic changes. Our world is hyper-connected, and the pace of change is rapid, bringing social and political transformation and creating profound global shifts in expectations. Global employers must evolve at speed to meet these disruptive forces head-on and to thrive in this future of work. To help you chart your course, we’re delighted to share key messages and insights from our…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Generation Z – What Employers Can Expect With the Next Generation of Workers

By George Avraam

August 9, 2019

We’re pleased to share a recent Bloomberg article by our colleagues, Benjamin Ho and Caroline Pham. Benjamin and Caroline examine what the next generation of workers, Generation Z, want from and can offer employers. To get ahead of the curve in preparing for the change that this new generation will bring, read their informative article here.…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

New Protocol for Unions in Mexico to Legitimize Collective Agreements

By George Avraam

August 6, 2019

Companies doing business in Mexico can anticipate that unions will move quickly to legitimize existing collective agreements under a new government-issued protocol. Among other steps, the process entails a vote by covered employees to determine whether they support the agreement. Collective agreements must be legitimized by May 1, 2023 or they will be terminated. We’re pleased to share a client alert from our Mexican colleagues, New Protocol in Place for Unions to Legitimize Collective Bargaining Agreements…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Sharing our Recent Accolades

By George Avraam

July 29, 2019

We’re delighted to announce that Law360, a leading legal media platform, today named Baker McKenzie at the top of their 2019 Global 20 list, a ranking of the top 20 law firms with the greatest global reach and expertise. During the last year, we have outperformed our competition in the size, breadth and complexity of significant global and cross-border matters, and we’re proud to receive this recognition of our work.…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

A New Age for Mexico’s Labour Law: New Protections for Labour Unions and a New Labour Justice System

By George Avraam

May 1, 2019

We’re pleased to share a timely client alert from our colleagues in Mexico on a significant labour reform approved earlier this week by the Mexican Senate. The reform adds new legislative provisions to secure the rights of freedom of organization, freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as introducing a new labour justice system to expedite all procedures under the Federal Labor Law of Mexico. As such, the reform is likely to have a profound effect on…

Canadian Labour and Employment Law

Not Just South of the Border: Canadian Employers Should Expect More Gender-Based Disputes

By George Avraam, Susan MacMillan & Caroline B. Burnett

March 8, 2019

The #MeToo and Times Up movements have led to significant cultural shifts and a collective call to action to end sexual harassment and related forms of exploitation. Since many of the high profile allegations involved abuse of power and quid pro quo demands in the context of employment relationships, the impact on employers has been profound.…

George Avraam

Tread Carefully When it Comes to Co-Working Spaces

Space for Agility: Making Co-working Work

Better to Know About It: Encouraging Reporting of Workplace Wrongdoing

Changes to Mexico’s Labor Law Lead Employers to Reconsider CBAs

The Future Of Work: Insights From Our 2019 Global Employer Forum

Generation Z – What Employers Can Expect With the Next Generation of Workers

New Protocol for Unions in Mexico to Legitimize Collective Agreements

Sharing our Recent Accolades

A New Age for Mexico’s Labour Law: New Protections for Labour Unions and a New Labour Justice System

Not Just South of the Border: Canadian Employers Should Expect More Gender-Based Disputes

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