What started as an early interest in people’s legal rights and responsibilities grew into a life-long career in employment law. Well known by employers, employees, the legal, HR and business communities, locally, nationally and abroad, as a leader of a dynamic team of professionals, Ron Minken heads Minken Employment Lawyers – Est. 1990 – a Global Award Winning Employment Law Boutique located in Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Ron’s experience of over 30 years in all aspects of employment and labour law along with his commitment to keeping abreast of the latest cases and ever-changing laws are fundamental to his ability to develop streamlined and cost-effective solutions for each case. His senior level of employment law expertise also earned him a reputation of a strategic negotiator and litigator recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employment Lawyers by Canadian HR Reporter in its Canada’s Employment Lawyers Directory since 2008.
Ron represents employers and employees on issues pertaining to hiring and termination procedures and practices, discipline and performance management, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, drafting and negotiating employment contracts, injunctions, human rights issues, violence and harassment issues, to name a few. Not-for-profit, for-profit, IT, automotive, municipal, insurance, financial and professional services, manufacturing, national and international organizations are some of the core clientele of the management side of the firm’s practice.
Committed to Sharing Knowledge
Ron regularly contributes to legal, business and human resources publications such as Canadian HR Reporter, Canadian Employment Law Today, Law Times and Magazine for Business and has been quoted in The Toronto Star and The Financial Post. He frequently shares his expertise in employment law through speaking and training sessions at various business conferences, and professional development seminars held by The Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association, Osgoode Hall Professional Development Centre, York Region Law Association, Human Resources Professionals Association, Chambers of Commerce as well as legal publishers such as Thomson Reuters/Carswell. Ron had the privilege of being in the ranks of the few Canadians who have been invited to speak at the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London, England, on the topic “Doing Business in Canada—Employment Law Essentials”.
Background
After graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1988, Ron started his career at Weir Foulds, downtown Toronto. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1990. Ron completed his certification in Mediation from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1998. Ron represents clients in almost every province in Canada. Over the course of his career, Ron has appeared before many levels of Ontario Courts, including the Court of Appeal. He has also made submissions to the Supreme Court of Canada. He had the honour of working with such eminent counsel as the late Glen W. How, Q.C., who was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1960, and on a number of cases involving fundamental freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Ron is an active member of various professional associations and community organizations including The Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, The Advocates Society, York Region Law Association, Human Resources Professionals Association, the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, Markham and Richmond Hill Boards of Trade, and the Chambers of Commerce of Newmarket and Vaughan. Ron also serves as a member of the Flato Markham Theatre Advisory Board.
Skiing, bicycling, jazz and wine tasting are Ron’s passions.
Testimonials
Law Society of Upper Canada
“We invited Ron Minken to present at a Law Society of Upper Canada program…geared towards lawyers in the employment law field, and so, when selecting faculty, we tend to favour lawyers who are well-thought of in the bar and who are known to be effective speakers. Ron is no exception.” – Christine M. Thomlinson, Rubin Thomlinson LLP
UK Chamber of Commerce Presentation
“I very much enjoyed Ronald’s professional presentation at the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London (in June 2011). It was incredibly helpful to hear the views of a respected Canadian employment law expert presenting in a friendly and engaging manner.” – Bargate Murray Solicitors (London, UK)
Canadian HR Reporter, CELT, Thomson Reuters (Legal Publisher)
“Ron has always impressed us with his knowledge of current and critical legal issues for employers.” – Todd Humber, Managing Editor, Canadian HR Reporter, CELT, Thomson Reuters (Legal Publisher)
Charles B Ticker Law Office
“I recently referred a client who needed representation in a wrongful dismissal matter. The client was so pleased with Ron’s services that he sent me a personal note of gratitude for introducing him to Ron. Not only did Ron do a great job in getting the case settled, but he made me look good for making the referral!” – Charles Ticker, Estate Litigator and Mediator.