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Daniel Lublin

Law School

University of Western Ontario

Admitted to Bar

2005

Years of Experience

20+

Proficiency In

Termination, Dismissal, Severance & Class Action Lawsuits

 

Media Commentator & Author – See Daniel Lublin’s Report on Business Column in the Globe and Mail

One of Canada’s Most Trusted Employment Lawyers

Fighting for What’s Fair

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For over twenty years, I’ve been at the forefront of employment law in Canada, helping executives, employees, and contractors navigate challenging and deeply personal disputes – including wrongful and constructive dismissals, severance negotiations, workplace investigations, and allegations of misconduct. Clients trust me to be their first call when a difficult professional moment or crisis arises. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.

My mission is simple: to ensure my clients are treated fairly and properly, and advance cases that drive meaningful change in workplace law. For instance, as lead appeal counsel to the Plaintiff in Wood v. Fred Deeley Imports Ltd., 2017 ONCA 158, a landmark decision cited in over 130 other rulings, I helped set the standard for interpreting employment contracts in Ontario.    

I’ve been listed as a top Canadian employment lawyer by Chambers, Best Lawyers and Lexpert for 10 consecutive years. In 2009, I co-founded Whitten & Lublin, Employment & Labour Lawyers, which is consistently recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms and one of the only workplace law firms to receive this distinction. In my mission to fight for what’s fair, I’ve also helped shape the national conversation on workplace rights. As the workplace law columnist for The Globe and Mail for over 13 years and previously a legal columnist for Metro News for 10 years, I’ve authored nearly a thousand articles on employment law, and I am a frequent voice on national and local media.

Clients are often referred to me from other senior lawyers, executives, and HR professionals because they have seen firsthand how I operate, they know that I deliver results, and that I always go the extra mile.  As a result, I’m often called upon to advocate in high-stakes cases. I’m described by both clients and opponents as a “strategist – leaving nothing to chance,” a “shrewd negotiator,” and a “commanding litigator” with a “relentless drive to win.” But I’m also known for being present, responsive, compassionate and practical – someone who makes a complicated process feel less overwhelming, providing clarity and a sense of control when things can feel uncertain.  

Whether you’re a senior executive managing a sensitive exit, a professional facing wrongful dismissal, or someone in an early career role who was mistreated or misjudged at work, I’ll help you understand your rights, build leverage, and achieve the best possible outcome — legally, financially, and reputationally. For over two decades, I’ve helped thousands of Canadians navigate complex workplace challenges and career-defining moments with confidence and peace of mind that the job will be done right. 

As a courtroom lawyer, Daniel handles various workplace-related legal disputes and human rights matters. Daniel’s full commitment to getting the successful results his clients deserve is evidenced by the more than 40 reported judgments that Daniel has achieved for them in court, such as:

  • How v. PRGX Canada Corp., 2023 ONSC 6374 – victorious in a case in which a senior executive and long-term employee was wrongfully dismissed after nearly 30 years and awarded nearly $1.7 million in damages. Successfully obtained an increase of over $1.2 million dollars for the client from the company’s original offer.
  • Kraft v. Firepower Financial Corp, 2021 ONSC 4962 – prevailed in a case against a financial firm that tried to deny payment of the largest ever commission earned by an ex-banker and also obtained a 10-month severance package for an employee with 5 years’ service, including additional payments due to the impact of Covid-19.
  • Yee v. Hudson’s Bay Company 2021 ONSC 387 – successfully argued the first known Canadian case to address the impact of COVID-19 on severance awards and secured a 16-month severance package and bonus to a terminated executive of HBC, following a trial.
  • Lau v. CGI , 2018 HRTO 643 – successful application to join together a group human rights proceeding alleging systemic and group discrimination, at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
  • Wood v. Fred Deeley Imports, 2017 ONCA 158 – prevailed in Ontario’s leading and most referenced case on employment contracts, decided by the Court of Appeal.
  • Downtown Kids Academy Inc. v. Zakrzewski 2017 ONSC 5045 – successful defence of an injunction application alleging a violation of a non-solicitation clause, brought against a new business owner by her former employer.
  • Ozorio v. Canadian Hearing Society , (2016) ONSC 5440 – successfully doubled the severance package offered to a 30 year senior manager, to 24 months, with the court’s recognition that older and long-term employees should receive significant severance awards to compensate for their age and long service.
  • Tetra Consulting versus Continental Bank of Canada, (2015) ONSC 4610 -successfully obtained a large wrongful dismissal judgment on behalf of a senior bank executive; and see Tetra Consulting v Continental Bank et al., 2015 ONSC 6546: where the defendant was ordered to pay extraordinary legal costs to Mr. Lublin’s client due to its defence strategy.
  • Buaron v Acuity Ads Inc., 2015 ONSC 5774 – successfully convinced a court to strike down an employment contract that attempted to limit Mr. Lublin’s client to only minimum severance and obtained damages for wrongful dismissal due to the termination.
  • Markoulakis v SNC-Lavalin Inc., 2015 ONSC 1081 – secured one of the highest ever wrongful dismissal judgments in Canadian history, against SNC Lavalin, obtaining a 27-month severance award following the termination of a senior civil engineer after 41 years’ service.
  • K.P. v Oracle Canada ULC – successful wrongful dismissal lawsuit on behalf of senior sales executive, against Oracle Canada.
  • Ledford v. Friendly Times , 2014 HRTO 70 – successful defence of human rights lawsuit alleging age discrimination.
  • Morgan v. Herman Miller Canada Inc., 2013 HRTO 650 – prevailed in a two-week human rights trial concerning discrimination on the basis of race and reprisal, resulting in a significant award of damages for a terminated employee.
  • Napolitano v. Friendly Times Child Care Centre , 2012 HRTO 603 – one of the few cases dismissing a human rights application from an ex-employee on a summary hearing.
  • Corporate Investigative Services v. Steele et al. 2012 ONSC 3286 (ON S.C.) – successful defence of a summary judgement motion in a large corporate action involving two competing security companies.
  • Hussain v. Suzuki Canada Ltd. , 2011 Carswell Ont 12251 (ON S.C.) – one of the highest ever severance awards in Canada (a 26-month severance package) given to Suzuki Canada’s longest-serving employee.
  • Nasager v. Northern Reflections Ltd. , 2011 ONSC 5872 – which is an appeal court case, where Mr. Lublin successfully upheld a judge’s decision that his client should be awarded a 6-month severance package where the employer gave him only 5 weeks.
  • Harvey v. Shoeless Joe’s, 2011 ONSC 3242 (ON S.C.) – successful defence of a wrongful dismissal claim from a former executive.
  • Camaganacan v. St. Joseph’s Printing Ltd. , 2010 ONSC 5184 (ON S.C) – prevailed in wrongful dismissal case, securing a 16-month severance package for a client who was offered only 6 months by his employer.
  • Cardenas v. Kohler Canada Co. , 2009 CanLII 17976 (ON S.C.) – one of the largest group wrongful dismissal judgements in Canadian history, where Mr. Lublin successfully obtained nearly $1 million in damages for five terminated employees.
  • Adjemian v. Brook Crompton North America , 2008 CanLII 27469 (ON S.C.) a game changing case at the Ontario Court of Appeal confirming that wrongful dismissal cases can and should be heard in an expedited fashion.
  • Hayes v. Peer 1 Network Inc., 2007 CanLII 65614 (ON S.C.D.C.) – wherein Mr. Lublin successfully overturned a lower court’s decision to move his client’s case to British Columbia, instead of Ontario where the client resided.

Daniel Lublin’s highly valued skills and results are continuously recognized by peers, industry and media alike.

  • Once again, Daniel Lublin has been named in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers CanadaTM for Labour and Employment law. Daniel has been the recipient of this honour since 2022. Recognition is based on consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues.
  • Whitten & Lublin has been named in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms TM Canada as a Tier 1 Canadian firm and a Tier 1 Toronto firm in Labour and Employment law.
  • Founding partner of Whitten & Lublin Employment and Labour Lawyers; nationally recognized as one of Canada’s Best Law Firms in 2026 by Globe and Mail (and one of the only workplace law firms to receive this distinction). Whitten & Lublin is honoured to receive this award yearly since 2021.
  • Repeatedly recognized by the Canadian Lexpert Legal Directory as a “Leading Practitioner” of Employment Law.  Lexpert is the most trusted and authoritative listing of leading lawyers in Canada and selection is determined by a vote conducted among peers.
  • Recognized by Chambers’ guide for Canada’s Leading Lawyers in Employment Law.
  • Ranked as one of “Canada’s Top Employment Lawyers” by Carswell in every year from 2007 to 2014.
  • The Globe & Mail’s workplace law columnist both in print and online, since 2012.
  • Awarded the 2011 “Precedent Setter Award” recognizing him as one of the best of the new generation of lawyers in Ontario.
  • Frequent appearances on national television and radio, as a commentator for workplace legal issues.
  • Published over 700 national newspaper articles since 2005.
  • National Columnist for Metro newspapers from 2006 to 2013.
  • Author of Canada’s first legal text on Independent Contractors, published by Carswell in 2013.
  • Named the “Lawyer of the Week” by The Lawyers Weekly in December, 2008.
  • Past Chair of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Employment law program for paralegals.

Daniel regularly appears on media and television as an expert for employment law matters and he has published over 700 national newspaper columns since 2005, including:

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Our impact

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Daniel Lublin is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with and is a master at effective, succinct, forthright communication and knowledgeable, intelligent solutions. He is results driven and tenacious. Daniel Lublin is on his A-game on every issue, in every discussion or meeting, and precisely explains and documents all issues and solutions with 100% clarity, leaving no room for error or misinterpretation. He is extraordinarily wise (well beyond his years) and his positive, straightforward energy is inspiring. Thank you, Daniel Lublin and Nida Arifullah, for your outstanding and exemplary service. Whitten Lublin is the “go-to” law firm for any employment matters.

Christine Bauer

Daniel Lublin and his entire team are legal ROCKSTARS! From the initial meeting to the final negotiations, Daniel and his team were knowledgeable, professional, and timely. They provided solid legal advice and ground-breaking legal precedent resulting in a dramatic increase (149%) in my termination package. I spoke with several lawyers before hiring Daniel Lublin, but two things stood out after my initial meeting with Daniel. He was extremely transparent (I knew what I was being charged from the initial meeting onward) and he identified a recent legal ruling that was game-changing for my case. Daniel is worth every penny. I would highly recommend Daniel and his entire team. The results speak for themselves. Thank you Daniel and the entire team at Whitten Lublin.

Julie Hamilton

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to Daniel Lublin, he is extremely smart, confident and delivered strong results. I contacted him regarding an employment matter and I felt very fortunate to have him represent me. He resolved my case very quickly and met all my expectations and beyond. Daniel Lublin and his team are first class and I would strongly recommend them to anyone I know.

David T

I was introduced to Daniel Lublin in the summer, after unexpectedly being removed from my senior executive position and suddenly being in need of legal guidance. I have had the privilege of working with Daniel and his team for the past few months, and I cannot speak highly enough. From the beginning, he was exceptionally responsive and made the process simple and smooth. I live in Vancouver, and though Daniel is in Toronto, we were easily able to make the time zones work. His experience and expertise were apparent immediately, he explained what being compensated fairly should look like, and he outlined a strategy that focused on the highest priority outcomes. He did his homework, knew all of the details of my case, shared how he would approach, and asked for feedback along the way. What I appreciated most was that he was both sympathetic and practical at the same time, and collaborative in approach. He has the ability to make you feel comfortable almost immediately. He is transparent with fees and his fee structure ensures that both parties win. I will definitely be recommending Daniel Lublin to anyone requiring employment legal advice. We have settled for a substantially better outcome than we started with, and I owe that to him. Daniel — thank you.

Jennifer Muench

My case was handled by Daniel Lublin. From the start he was patient, clear and concise about what my rights were and what course of action was going to be taken. Everything unfolded virtually exactly the way he told me it would. I didn't have to worry about a thing throughout the whole process, which was a load off my mind. From the intake to the final correspondence the firm was extremely professional and runs like a well-oiled machine. I highly recommend. Special thanks to the lovely Nida Arifullah, Mr. Lublin's Law Clerk, who was very helpful in requesting and sending pertinent information and documents.

Anthony Monaco

I found Whitten & Lublin at the right time when the unexpected happened in my life. I am very grateful for Mr. Lublin’s compassion, encouragement, sharp instinct, and straight talk about my case. I needed and appreciated his efficiency and excellence. Thank you so much for everything!

Patricia K

If you want to know about the real Daniel Lublin then read this post. There is more to Daniel than his legal work that potential clients should know about. For the past year, Daniel has acted as a sponsor to my daughter Maria who is pursuing a competitive career in sports. He has assisted her financially and professionally. Daniel’s confidence, unwavering determination and mentoring has given her hope to achieve the next stages in her career. During this time, my family and I have observed Daniel’s humanity through his kindness and generosity. He has and continues to impact us in a positive way. This shows that Daniel has an incredible ability to understand and help others in all aspects of their life and that most importantly HE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND IS INVESTED IN WHAT TRULY MATTERS TO THEM. While I have not directly worked with Daniel Lublin as a client in his legal practice, my family and I can confidently share that Daniel has a huge heart, and is a true champion for people so clients would be privileged to have him in their corner.

By Oksana ROM

In advance of International Women's Day, I'd like to honour Daniel Lublin, partner at Whitten & Lublin Employment Lawyers - a true warrior for women's rights. The ever increasing pink-washing of IWD has sickened me. Sadly and most recently in my 20+ year career I've witnessed organizations promote performative activism and exclusionary practices over meaningful change like pay transparency and pay equity. IWD is riddled with tokenism, empty branding and absent policy change despite the presence of Canadian pay equity laws (provincial and federal) and Canadian pay equity as a basic human right. So I address this post to all women on #IWD who are in an inequitable pay scenario, to reach out to Daniel Lublin at Whitten and Lublin Employment Lawyers.

Liz Neziol

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