Kelly O’Ferrall

Kelly helps local and international clients identify and implement strategies to mitigate workplace related legal risks. She provides tailored advice to clients on best practices for developing and maintaining workplace policies and for complying with employment standards, human rights, workplace safety, and employee privacy laws. Kelly regularly negotiates contractual agreements on behalf of employers, including executive employment and consulting agreements, restrictive covenant terms, as well as termination arrangements for departing employees. She also represents clients in response to constructive dismissal, human rights, as well as other employees claims and complaints. Kelly has substantial experience providing timely and practical advice on the labour and employment law aspects of corporate transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, insolvencies, restructuring and outsourcing transactions. She also assists public and private companies with implementing employee and executive compensation arrangements, such as bonus plans, stock option plans, and other equity and non-equity based compensation arrangements, in all cases tailored to meet her clients needs. Kelly has recently advised numerous clients on workplace-related matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. She works with her clients to create practical COVID-19 health and safety policies, re-opening and return to office (RTO) plans, as well as the necessary practices and protocols to promote workplace safety in the current environment. She also frequently advises on temporary layoffs and mass terminations, special leaves and other statutory exceptions related to COVID-19 and managing changes to employees’ terms and conditions of employment (including compensation arrangements in response to the pandemic).

Kelly helps local and international clients identify and implement strategies to mitigate workplace related legal risks. She provides tailored advice to clients on best practices for developing and maintaining workplace policies and for complying with employment standards, human rights, workplace safety, and employee privacy laws. Kelly regularly negotiates contractual agreements on behalf of employers, including executive employment and consulting agreements, restrictive covenant terms, as well as termination arrangements for departing employees. She also represents clients in response to constructive dismissal, human rights, as well as other employees claims and complaints. Kelly has substantial experience providing timely and practical advice on the labour and employment law aspects of corporate transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, insolvencies, restructuring and outsourcing transactions. She also assists public and private companies with implementing employee and executive compensation arrangements, such as bonus plans, stock option plans, and other equity and non-equity based compensation arrangements, in all cases tailored to meet her clients needs. Kelly has recently advised numerous clients on workplace-related matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. She works with her clients to create practical COVID-19 health and safety policies, re-opening and return to office (RTO) plans, as well as the necessary practices and protocols to promote workplace safety in the current environment. She also frequently advises on temporary layoffs and mass terminations, special leaves and other statutory exceptions related to COVID-19 and managing changes to employees’ terms and conditions of employment (including compensation arrangements in response to the pandemic).

Representative Work

 

Select Reported Deals:

    • Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its agreement with Duo Bank of Canada to purchase Fairstone Financial Holdings Inc.
    • Transdev Canada Inc. in its acquisition of Voyago

    • BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited in connection with its strategic alliance with RBC Global Asset Management Inc. to create a combined $60 billion ETF solution suite under the RBC iShares brand.

Latest Insights

  • Blog Mar 27, 2024

    Bill 149 receives royal assent

    Ontario’s Bill 149, which imposes new requirements regarding pay transparency, Canadian work experience and the use of AI in job postings, has r...

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    Bill 149 receives royal assent
  • Osler Update Dec 11, 2023

    Looking forward on clawbacks

    New listing standards from the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market came into effect this year, requiring companies to adopt policies provi...

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    Looking forward on clawbacks
  • Osler Update Dec 11, 2023

    Navigating the future of remote work

    Remote work continues to evolve, as digital nomads and a variety of hybrid work arrangements become permanent features of many workplaces.

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    Navigating the future of remote work
  • Blog Nov 28, 2023

    Ontario’s Bill 149 proposes new requirements for pay transparency, use of AI in job postings and other changes

    Ontario has proposed more changes to the Employment Standards Act with Bill 149, its fourth “Working for Workers Act.” Kelly O’Ferra...

    Read more
    Ontario’s Bill 149 proposes new requirements for pay transparency, use of AI in job postings and other changes
View all Insights

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Employment & Labour (Ontario)

Media Mentions

  • Osler News Feb 14, 2022

    Osler welcomes 17 new partners and 2 new counsel in 2022

    Osler is proud to announce the addition of 17 new partners and two new counsel across our offices in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver,...

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  • Osler News Jan 7, 2022

    ESG increasingly linked to executive comp – Canadian HR Reporter

    Osler’s Kelly O’Ferrall spoke to Canadian HR Reporter about some of the challenges involved in the growing trend of tying executive compensation to co...

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Speaking and Writing

Speaking Engagements

speaker 28/9/2023
Employment and Labour Law Insights: Commuting issues; B.C. pay transparency and COVID-related employment standards decisions
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speaker 19/4/2023
Employment and Labour Law Insights: Post-employment restrictive covenants and family status accommodation
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speaker 30/11/2022
Employment and Labour Law Insights: DEI accommodations; ESG data, protected grounds and human rights; Employment Standards Act and Bill 88
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speaker 31/3/2022
Employment and Labour Law Insights: right to disconnect; Working for Workers Act; electronic monitoring in Ontario and gig economy workers
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speaker 16/12/2020
CPD Cinema: Preventing and Responding to Incidents in the Workplace
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Published Work

Publications

Selected Events – As Speaker

  • Buying and Selling a Business: A Comprehensive Guide, Employment Law Considerations after COVID-19, Ontario Bar Association, September 30, 2020.

Credentials

Education

  • Osgoode Hall Law School, J.D.
  • Queens University’s, Honours B.A.
  • Queen’s University, B.Sc.

Languages

  • English

Professional Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Law Society of Ontario