Kevin Coon acts as counsel, and as trusted and strategic adviser to government, corporate and not-for-profit organizations, on human resource, regulatory and compliance issues in the workplace, with emphasis on international labour standards; corporate social responsibility; ethics; codes of conduct; human rights; workplace investigations; occupational health and safety; collective bargaining; executive contracts; workplace harassment; positive employee relations; local and global labour relations; government relations; officers and directors due diligence and fiduciary obligations; and, workers compensation.

Practice Focus

Mr. Coon assists with the interpretation and application of local and international labour, ethics, human rights, and employment laws and practices. He develops and implements employment and workplace policies and codes of conduct for global and local organizations. He has assisted clients with understanding, complying and responding to complaints under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Employers, the Global Compact, ILO Freedom of Association Committee, the North American Agreement on Labour Co-operation, the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards and other international guidelines and standards. He counsels, advises and trains executives, managers and supervisors on, compliance, due diligence, dispute resolution, codes of conduct, positive employee relations matters and best practices. Mr. Coon conducts workplace investigations and audits related to respect in the workplace, harassment, human rights issues and other compliance issues. In addition, Mr. Coon provides representation and advocacy before various Courts, Coroners Inquest, Administrative Tribunals and Arbitrators. He has been retained as an expert on corporate social responsibility, international labour standards and global labour relations.

Professional Honors

United Nations - International Labour Organization (ILO)

• Employer Representative on the Canadian Delegation to the United Nations International Labour Organization International Labour Conference in 2002 - 2005, 2007 - 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland; Participated on:

1. the Committee “Application of International Labour Standards” in member countries,
2. the Committee and Drafting Committee considering “Decent Work and the Informal Economy” and
3. the Committee and Drafting Committee creating the international labour standard on “HIV/AIDS in the World of Work”, Resolution 200.

• Selected to the Canadian Delegation at the Fifteenth American Regional Tri-Partite Meeting of the ILO in Peru, December 2002 and addressed issues related to the Director General ’s Report on the “Social Dimensions of Globalization ” and “Crisis and Globalization: Possible Answers ”.
• Selected as a delegate on sector specific ILO session on Corporate Social Responsibility.

• Appointed to the Working Group on Corporate Social Responsibility 2004.

• Served as Professional Development and Recruitment Partner for the Toronto office from 1999 to 2002.
• North American Representative on Global Firm Talent Management Committee, 2002 - 2006.
• Practice Group Leader, Toronto.

• Special Assistant, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 1983-84.
• Parliamentary Assistant, Member of Parliament, House of Commons, 1982-83.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Special Constable, 1985.

• Senior Policy Advisor, Minister of Labour for Ontario, 1989-90; Advisor to the Minister on the development of labour and employment policy, programs and legislation.

• Colorado Center for Leadership, 2009, Baker and McKenzie LLP Intensive Partner Training

• Canada and United States of America

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Canadian Employers Council - Member
• Canadian International Council - Member
• Canadian Bar Association - Member
• United States Council for International Business - Member
• Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics - Member

Admission

Ontario~Canada (1989)

Education

Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University  (Executive Management Program) (2000)
University of Western Ontario  (LL.B.) (1987)
University of Windsor  (B.A. Economics and International Relations) (1982)