Susan Garvie

At the heart of Goodmans' Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation, and Mergers and Acquisitions Groups, Susan Garvie shines as a beacon of expertise and dedication. Her work primarily revolves around guiding both public and private clients through the intricacies of employment law. This includes everything from executive agreements and compensation to the employment nuances of purchase and sale deals.

Susan's proficiency extends to meticulous employment-related due diligence, orchestrating new hires, and amending employment agreements. She is adept at offering sage advice on offers of continued employment, navigating the complexities of constructive dismissal, and managing workplace reductions. Her guidance on executive compensation, equity incentive plans, and restrictive covenants agreements has been invaluable to many. Furthermore, Susan skillfully addresses employment and successor employer issues in asset purchase and share purchase agreements, along with collective agreements and unionized employee challenges. Post-closing employment transition issues also fall under her wide-ranging expertise.

Beyond transactional work, Susan also stands out for her deep understanding of a plethora of human resources matters. She is the go-to advisor on wrongful dismissals, severance arrangements, employment standards, and workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Susan also keeps clients ahead of emerging issues like COVID-19 safety protocols, occupational health and safety, pay equity, and diversity and inclusivity initiatives, along with drug and alcohol and disability policies.

In her transactional practice, Susan has played a pivotal role in numerous mergers and acquisitions, demonstrating a keen eye for the needs of both public and private companies. Her cross-border experience, especially in facilitating American clients' acquisitions of Canadian firms, underscores her adeptness in navigating complex international legal landscapes. Susan's comprehensive approach, blending insights from mergers and acquisitions, corporate/commercial law, financing, and employment law, ensures her clients achieve their business objectives with efficiency and precision.

Recognition of Susan's prowess in corporate law has been consistent, with Best Lawyers in Canada spotlighting her contributions since 2020. Her insights have also led to valuable client updates on critical legal developments, such as amendments to Ontario's Employment Standards Act and the implications of the Supreme Court's decisions on employment compensation.

Susan's professional journey is underpinned by a solid academic foundation from the University of Toronto, where she completed both her LL.B. and B.A. Her admission to the Ontario bar has paved the way for a career marked by dedication, insight, and a commitment to excellence.

Clients have benefited from Susan's guidance on a wide array of legal challenges, from the prohibition of non-competition clauses in Ontario to the right-to-disconnect policies for employees. Her contributions to the dialogue on employment law, particularly in the context of COVID-19, have provided much-needed clarity and direction.

As Susan continues to navigate the complexities of employment and corporate law, her clients rest assured, knowing they are in capable hands. Her ability to meld legal expertise with a deep understanding of business needs sets her apart as a trusted advisor and a formidable advocate for those she serves.