EDUCATION:

Mr. Reid attended Lakeport and Laura Secord Secondary Schools in St. Catharines.  He received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Trinity College, University of Toronto in 1973, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1976, and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) from Osgoode Hall in 1999.  Mr. Reid was called to the Bar in 1978.  He also holds a Certificate in Mediation form the Centre for Dispute Resolution, Boulder, Colorado (1987).

EXPERIENCE:

Mr. Reid practices in the areas of labour and employment.

Acting on behalf of management, Rob appears regularly at the Ontario Labour Relations Board in matters of certification, de-certification, displacement applications, unfair labour practice complaints, and Occupational Health and Safety matters.  Rob has represented employers in many grievance arbitrations and in the negotiation of collective agreements.  He is well-versed in the defence of Human Rights claims.  In the federal sector, Rob has prosecuted and defended claims of unjust dismissal and argued jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial legislation.

In employment law, Rob has considerable expertise in advising both employers and employees on matters of wrongful dismissal, including litigating those issues in the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Appeal.  Employment Standards issues are often dealt with informally, or through the review process at the Labour Relations Board.  Rob regularly advises clients on how to avoid problems as well as how to solve them once they occur.

Mr. Reid maintains a civil litigation practice as an adjunct to his labour and employment work, and appears in all level of courts in Ontario.  He has acquired special expertise in employment-related class proceedings.

Mr. Reid is experienced in mediating and arbitrating commercial legal disputes, and was responsible for establishing a panel of mediators and arbitrators in the Niagara Region (1993).

He also performed a quasi-judicial function acting as Chair of Boards of Inquiry regarding complaints by members of the public against police officers.

ASSOCIATIONS:

• Member - Canadian Bar Association (Labour Relations and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections)
• President - Lincoln County Law Association (1989)
• Member - County and District Law President's Association (1986-1989)
• Past Member - Area Committee for Legal Aid
• Past Member - Synod Council (and formerly Executive Committee) Diocese of Niagara (Anglican)
• Vice-President - St. Catharines & District United Way (1984)
• Vice-President - Ontario Choral Federation (1987)