Patrizia Piccolo practises exclusively in the area of management labour relations and Human Resources workplace law and supports both unionized and non-unionized clients. Although her client base is predominantly privately held companies, she does advise a number of public companies and Canadian subsidiaries of Fortune 1000 corporations.

Where clients lack the internal HR capability, she is involved in day-to-day operational issues that arise concerning their employees, working as part of the organizations’ management and decision-making process in planning and project execution. From time to time Patrizia is called upon to conduct workplace investigations when an impartial third party investigator is required.

As clients restructure in response to market conditions, Patrizia helps them think through a risk assessment of alternatives to arrive at acceptable conclusions and how to extricate themselves from employment situations cleanly, minimizing financial and emotional expense.

Her workplace law practice includes executive compensation arrangements, human rights and accommodation in the workplace, employment contracts and workplace policies, workplace restructuring and corporate transactions, wrongful dismissals, employment standards, occupational health and safety and privacy.

Patrizia has had hands on experience in union certification drives, collective agreement negotiations, managing grievances, arbitrations, and strikes. Her labour relations practice involves advising management on how to maintain a union free environment, union organizing drives and the certification process, negotiating collective agreements, the administration and enforcement of these agreements through grievances and arbitration and guidance through a strike. Patrizia appears on behalf of management before administrative tribunals, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Ontario Labour Relations Board and arbitration boards. She successfully utilizes her alternative dispute resolution skills regularly.

Educating and training programs for middle and senior management is becoming a more frequently requested service of the firm’s practice. As Patrizia is very focused on improving productivity and employee performance, she is actively involved in these programs. This includes guidance and involvement in all aspects of attracting, retaining and motivating employee and management talent.

Patrizia is a good listener and is able to distill very complex legal issues down to understandable terms. She is business savvy and enjoys the pressure and idiosyncrasies of entrepreneurial workplace environment.

Admissions and Affiliations

• Called to the Bar in Ontario 1998
• Canadian Italian Business Professionals Association
• Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario

Education

• B.A. - University of Toronto 1993
• LL.B. – Osgoode Law School 1996

Contact Information