Caroline DeBruin

Associate

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Bio

Caroline is an associate in the firm’s Employment and Labour group.

Caroline maintains a broad practice and provides practical advice to employers in all areas of labour and employment law. She regularly advises on terminations, drafts employment contracts for employees at all levels, and prepares incentive compensation plans, workplace policies, employee handbooks, and severance agreements. She also has experience conducting and advising on independent workplace investigations.

In addition to her advisory work, Caroline regularly represents employers in wrongful dismissal litigation, breach of contract claims, grievance arbitrations, and a variety of labour relations matters. She frequently appears before labour boards, arbitration panels, the Courts, human rights tribunals, and other employment-related administrative bodies. Caroline has a robust litigation practice before the Ontario Labour Relations Board in both the industrial and construction sectors, where she acts as counsel in certification, displacement, and decertification applications, as well as in unfair labour practice complaints and duty of fair representation proceedings. She also advises on collective bargaining, strike and lockout planning, and union avoidance campaigns.

Caroline holds a Juris Doctor from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. 

Caroline is also a seasoned competitive athlete, having played three years of NCAA Division I ice hockey at Cornell University, followed by two years of varsity ice hockey at Queen’s University. Her athletic experience has instilled in her a deep appreciation for teamwork, accountability, and efficiency. She brings these qualities to her legal practice, representing clients with the same dedication and drive while fostering strong, collaborative relationships.

Education

  • Queen's University, Faculty of Law, J.D. 
  • Cornell University, Bachelor of Arts, English