Sven Poysa

Sven's deep dive into employment and labor law spans advising both national and international organizations on complex legal and strategic human resources issues. His expertise covers executive employment agreements, corporate transactions, terminations, facility shutdowns, workforce reshaping, insolvencies, and restructurings. Beyond this, Sven tackles broad and private sector labor and employment compliance, outsourcing, and integration of programs and services. His adept handling of collective bargaining includes navigating union successorship and crafting effective strategies. His courtroom and administrative tribunal representations focus on human rights, arbitrations, mediations, workers’ compensation, employment standards, occupational health & safety, collective bargaining, and wrongful dismissal cases. Sven's teaching role at McMaster University and his prior clerkship with Justice Joseph Nuss at the Quebec Court of Appeal underscore his legal acumen. Recognitions from Chambers Global highlight his ability to manage complex, nationwide tasks adeptly.

Sven’s transactional work includes guiding Diversey, Hootsuite, IBM, Alvarez & Marsal Canada, MindBeacon Software, Imagia Cybernetics, Blockstream Corporation, and TPG Capital through significant acquisitions and financing rounds. His case work has seen him lead and advise in critical labor relations board proceedings, offering strategic HR legal advice across Canada, and addressing a spectrum of employment and labor matters for clients like Canada Bread Company, Stanley Black and Decker, and Foot Locker.

His involvement in high-profile CCAA proceedings for companies like Comark, Pier 1 Imports, Algoma Steel, Sears Canada, Essar Steel Algoma, and Target Canada showcases his proficiency in navigating through creditor protection and restructuring efforts. Sven’s broader work encompasses resolving labor and employment disputes during major corporate restructurings, providing strategic advice on labor relations and union negotiations, and crafting executive compensation and retention plans for acquisitions and restructurings.

Sven’s contributions to the legal community extend through speaking engagements on labor and employment law insights, the implications of French language laws in Quebec, workplace compliance in the age of COVID-19, and navigating modern workplace developments. His pro bono work and sessional lectureship at McMaster University further exemplify his commitment to the legal field. With articles published on various employment law topics and involvement in significant legal events, Sven’s expertise is widely recognized and respected within the legal community, underscored by accolades from Chambers Canada, Chambers Global, and Legal 500. His affiliations with the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, and Law Society of Ontario reflect his active participation in and contribution to the legal profession.