Employment Law · Ontario
Your employer has lawyers. Now you do too.
Wrongful dismissal, unfair severance or termination offers and denied benefits. We help Ontario employees understand what they’re owed, and stand up for it, before they sign anything away.
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Why act now
Don’t go through this alone.
Losing a job, or being pushed to the edge of one, is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a person. It’s also exactly when employers count on you not getting legal advice from a trusted professional. An Ontario licensed lawyer reviews every situation sent to us and replies within one business day, so you can make your next decision knowing where you actually stand.
Meet our Managing Partner
Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D.
Founding Partner
Josh is a Toronto-based lawyer and legal technology entrepreneur who has been practicing law for more than 9 years. He's helped thousands of individuals and companies navigate high-stakes legal matters, and built the technology our firm runs on to make expert legal help faster and more affordable. Josh always puts his clients first, and believes quick and thoughtful communication is most important to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Called to the Ontario Bar. Member of the Law Society of Ontario, and the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.
What we help with
Situations we commonly handle.
Wrongful dismissal
Terminated without cause, without proper notice, or for reasons that don't hold up. We assess what you're actually owed, which is often more than the offer on the table.
Severance package reviews
Before you sign a release, have a lawyer read it. We review the numbers, the deadlines, and the fine print, then tell you plainly whether to sign, negotiate, or push back.
Constructive dismissal
Demoted, cut back, relocated, or squeezed until you quit? A forced resignation can be a dismissal in the eyes of the law, with the compensation to match.
Know your position
Three things to know before you sign anything.
- 01
The minimum is rarely the maximum
Ontario's Employment Standards Act sets out minimum entitlements, but for many employees, what a court would award under the common law is significantly more. Employers know the difference. Their first offer is usually built on the minimum, not on what your years of service, age, position, and job market actually justify.
- 02
Deadlines work against you
Severance offers often come with short acceptance deadlines designed to pressure a quick signature. Legal claims carry real limitation periods too. The sooner a lawyer sees your situation, the more options you have, and the more leverage you keep.
- 03
A signature is hard to undo
Most severance packages include a full and final release. Once signed, it is very difficult to claim anything more, even if you later learn you were owed far beyond the offer. Getting advice before signing costs little. Signing away a valid claim can cost a great deal.
Why us
Why employees choose Schachnow Law.
We level the playing field
Your employer had lawyers involved before you ever saw that termination letter. We make sure the next conversation happens on equal footing.
Clear, upfront pricing
You'll know what our help costs before you decide anything. No hourly-billing anxiety, no surprises, just a clear quote and a clear plan.
Answers at modern speed
Our intake and document review run on technology we built ourselves, so you get a lawyer's read on your situation in days, not weeks.
Lawyer judgment on every file
Software makes us fast. An Ontario licensed lawyer makes the calls: reviewing your documents, weighing your options, and standing behind the advice.
FAQ
Common questions
Do not see your question? Ask us directly. An Ontario licensed lawyer replies within one business day.
Ask a question- I was just terminated. What should I do first?
- Don't sign anything, and don't negotiate on your own yet. Ask for the offer in writing, note any deadline, and gather your employment contract, recent pay stubs, and the termination letter. Then have a lawyer review the package. Deadlines in severance offers are usually negotiable once counsel is involved.
- Should I accept the severance package my employer offered?
- Not before it's reviewed. First offers are typically based on statutory minimums, and many employees are owed considerably more under the common law. A short review can tell you whether the offer is fair, and signing early usually means giving up the right to ask that question later.
- How much severance am I actually owed?
- It depends on factors like your age, position, length of service, how you were recruited, and how hard it will be to find comparable work, not just the minimum formula in the Employment Standards Act. Every situation is different, which is exactly why a review is worth doing before you respond to an offer.
- I wasn't fired, but my job was changed until I couldn't stay. Do I have a case?
- Possibly. When an employer fundamentally changes your role, pay, hours, or working conditions without your agreement, or allows a workplace to become intolerable, the law can treat your resignation as a constructive dismissal, with similar entitlements to being terminated. These cases are fact-specific, so get advice before you resign if you can.
- What does it cost to talk to you?
- You can send us your situation through the form at no cost and with no obligation. If we can help, we'll quote our fees clearly before you commit to anything. It's the same transparent, upfront pricing we use across the firm.
- Do I need to come into an office?
- No. We work with employees across Ontario, and everything (consultations, document review, and updates) happens remotely through video calls and our secure client portal.
Ready when you are
Find out where you stand before you sign.
Send us the basics of your situation. An Ontario licensed lawyer will review it and reply within one business day with clear next steps. No obligation, and nothing shared with your employer.