Arleen Huggins

Arleen is a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP and the head of the firm’s Employment Law Group (an area in which our firm ranked among top-rated firms according to Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada).

In December 2020, Arleen was selected to receive a Law Society Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the Law Society of Ontario. In 2021, she was elected by the readers of Canadian Lawyer as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal Law category. Arleen has also been recognized in the area of Labour and Employment Law in The Best Lawyers in Canada for 2022.

Arleen Huggins’ expertise lies in employment law and human rights, workplace investigations (specializing in anti-racism and anti-Black racism), equity audits, and climate reviews.

In the employment law area, Arleen acts on behalf of both employers and employees. For over 30 years Arleen has provided opinions and litigated all types of employment-related disputes at various court levels, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal and administrative tribunals. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex employment contracts and related documents, including non-solicitation and non-competition agreements and shareholder agreements for employers and executives. She also represents both employer and employees in disability claims and in the area of human rights.

Arleen also specializes in workplace investigations and reviews and equity audits for private corporations and Boards, educational institutions and the public service, primarily in the areas of racial discrimination and harassment, anti-Black racism and sexual harassment.

Arleen’s general litigation practice includes both the resolution of disputes, as well as litigating at various court levels, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal and administrative tribunals.

Arleen is a regular speaker for the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall Professional Development and others, including presenting at a variety of seminars on employment law, human rights and civil matters. She has authored various topical articles and papers in her areas of expertise, including “Taxing Issues”, relating to CRA rules in the context of wrongful terminations; Fixed Term Employment Contracts; Severance and the Disabled Employee; and Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Arleen is an experienced practitioner who is well-respected by clients and lawyers for her legal expertise and practical resolution of complex legal issues. Her clients include private corporations in a variety of industries, pension and trust funds, disability plans, Not-For Profit organizations, and individual employees.