Hyde HR Law is a boutique labour and employment law firm in downtown Toronto. The firm mainly represents employers and serves clients across Canada. One part of its practice covers the labour and employment law questions that arise when an employer sells a business.Under section 69 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, a buyer of a unionized business is usually bound by the union's bargaining rights and the existing collective agreement. Section 9 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 treats an employee's service with the seller and the buyer as continuous when the buyer keeps that employee. A labour lawyer in Toronto at the firm reviews the collective agreement and the employment contracts before the sale closes. The firm also handles labour arbitrations, collective bargaining, certification applications and unfair labour practice complaints.
"A sale is a good time for an employer to look closely at its workplace obligations," said a spokesperson for Hyde HR Law. "We meet with the buyer or the seller early and read the collective agreement and the employment contracts with them. The employer then knows its obligations on the day the sale closes."
John Hyde founded the firm. He previously served as managing partner at another Canadian employment law firm, and the Law Society of Ontario has certified him as a Specialist in Labour Law. Before he became a lawyer, he worked in operations and human resources management in the transportation industry. He advises employers on labour and employment matters arising from the sale of a business. His clients include international transportation interests, construction companies, manufacturers, health care providers, universities and major breweries. HR Law Canada named him Lawyer of the Year for 2025.
Employers can contact the firm at the start of a sale or after it closes. After closing, the firm continues to advise the buyer on the employees and the collective agreement it now holds.
About Hyde HR Law
Hyde HR Law is a boutique labour and employment law firm that advises employers and employees in Ontario and across Canada. Its employment law work covers employment contracts, workplace policies, terminations, layoffs, severance negotiations and wrongful dismissal claims. Employers who need an HR lawyer in Toronto can take any of these matters to the firm. Its labour law work covers arbitrations, collective bargaining, union avoidance and defence to union grievances, with separate practices in construction labour and transportation labour. The firm also handles workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, reprisal, and safety violations. For more information, visit https://hydehrlaw.com/ .