Law in the Time of COVID-19

Season 2 - Episode 11: WFH 101 – Many businesses forced into work-from-home models during the pandemic lockdowns have since adopted, or are considering adopting, permanent hybrid workplaces. Employers now face what for many businesses was once unthinkable – a primarily digital workforce. But regardless of where workers perform their jobs, an employer retains significant workplace obligations. So, what rights and duties apply when a worker slips and falls at home or when employees who left the city are asked to return to the office? In this episode, host Adam Goldenberg speaks with three of McCarthy Tétrault's labour and employment experts from across Canada about the moment's most vexing issues for employers. Justine Lindner is a partner in our Toronto office, Laura DeVries is an associate in our Vancouver office, and Émilie Thibault is an associate in our Montréal office.

This program qualifies for up to 0.75 hours of CPD credit under the mandatory education regimes in British Columbia and Ontario.

Barreau du Québec Continuing Education: This program contains 0.75 hours of content. Upon completion of this podcast, contact us to request your certificate of attendance.

Season 2 – Episode 10: Zap, You’re Frozen? The Omicron variant has moved the finish line again, upending personal plans and forcing governments around the world to postpone efforts at reopening in the race to return to normal. In Canada, responses differ from city to city and province to province. Host Adam Goldenberg brings back to the discussion Jean Charest and Paul Zed to discuss Canada’s patchwork response to the Omicron variant, what roles remain for the federal government to intervene, and what businesses and listeners can expect in the near future. Jean Charest is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and a former Premier of Québec. Paul served as a Member of Parliament and as a Parliamentary Secretary. Jean is now a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Montréal office, while Paul is a Senior Strategic Advisor to the firm and our clients, based in Toronto.

Season 2 - Episode 9: Job or Jab– Canadian businesses have been grappling with the fundamental question of whether to implement a vaccine mandate in their workplaces, however the legal landscape is still evolving and companies must factor in a range of key considerations when making their decision. On this episode host Adam Goldenberg speaks to Nicole Deniset and Adam Kanji, two lawyers who are working on the front lines of vaccine law, in litigation and labour and employment, about how vaccination requirements are shaping our public spaces and workplaces — and how the courts might eventually shape them, too.

This program qualifies for up to 0.5 hours of CPD credit under the mandatory education regimes in British Columbia and Ontario.

Season 2 - Episode 8: 10 Years in 10 Months – The pandemic has accelerated the pace of change and transformed the business world, and in a time marked by a need for rapid operational response the makers of COVID-19 vaccines have had a front row seat. In this week’s episode, McCarthy Tétrault CEO, Dave Leonard sits down with Patricia Gauthier, General Manager of Moderna’s Canadian operations to discuss how the company successfully managed tremendous change while also playing a critical role in responding to the ongoing global health emergency.

Season 2 - Episode 7: Patents, Pronouns, and Second Doses – From virtual IP trials and a new guidance on preferred pronouns in Ontario courts to how our day-to-day lives are changing now an increasing number of Canadians are vaccinated, host Adam Goldenberg interviews Tracey Doyle, a multi-talented guest capable of speaking to all three important issues. Tracey is a doctor of immunology, McCarthy Tétrault associate and the lawyer responsible for an important recent change to court practices in Ontario.

Season 2 - Episode 6: Start-ups in a Shutdown– Guest host, Aliya Ramji, Partner and Co-founder of MT>Ventures speaks with entrepreneurs, Richard Steiner, Head of Policy and Communications at Gatik and Derek Szeto, Co-Founder of Walnut, about what impact COVID-19 has had on their new businesses. They discuss how persevering through a pandemic has made them more resilient and how the experience of the past year has changed how they develop and implement long-term strategies. MT>Ventures is a division of McCarthy Tétrault that focuses on start-ups, scale-ups, and other fast-growth businesses.

Season 2 - Episode 5: How do you conduct a jury trial without compromising physical distancing? On September 30, 2020, Ontario’s first civil jury trial of the COVID-19 pandemic got underway. Host Adam Goldenberg speaks to McCarthy Tétrault litigators Moya Graham and Leah Ostler, who successfully represented the defendant, about how the trial was conducted, the refigured courtroom, and what they believe future trial litigation will look like. 

This program qualifies for up to 0.5 hours of CPD credit under the mandatory education regimes in British Columbia and Ontario.

Season 2 - Episode 4: The Crown Must Win – What happens if COVID-19 spreads to the very top of the Canadian Government and if the Prime Minister were to become too sick to carry out his responsibilities?  Host, Adam Goldenberg speaks with Richard Fadden, OC, former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and Wayne Wouters, PC OC, former Clerk of the Privy Council and McCarthy Tétrault Strategic Advisor about how Canadians would ensure the continuity of constitutional government during a deadly pandemic.

Season 2 - Episode 3: Reasonably Unforeseeable – What’s the role of legal counsel in confronting a crisis? Host, Adam Goldenberg speaks with one of Canada’s leading crisis management lawyers and McCarthy Tétrault partner, Awi Sinha about how COVID-19 has changed our understanding of risk and what lawyers can offer clients who are confronting the risk that’s inherent in global uncertainty.

This podcast qualifies for up to 0.5 hours of CPD credit under the mandatory education regimes in British Columbia and Ontario.

Season 2, Episode 2: South of the Border (Part 2): McCarthy Tétrault’s political and legal panel discuss what a Biden administration will mean for Canada’s oil and gas sector, exporters and tech companies, and for what might follow a chaotic presidential transition as the pandemic’s second wave sweeps across America. This episode is moderated by Alison Smith.

McCarthy Tétrault LLP is providing this podcast as a public service, and while it may contain legal information, it is neither legal advice nor a legal opinion, recommendation or statement of policy of McCarthy Tétrault LLP.