Stephen Gleave: Attorney and Specialist in Employment and Labour Law

Stephen Gleave is a Canadian attorney who has established himself as a leading authority in Canadian employment law over a career spanning more than three decades. After having spent many years with the legal firm Hicks Morely, he is currently a partner at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, a position he has held since 2019. He has overseen over 300 labour and commercial arbitrations, more than 50 trials, and countless labour and civil injunctions.

Due to the breadth of his expertise, Stephen Gleave is often asked to make remarks and give presentations at legal conferences, and because some of his cases have been high-profile in nature, he has made appearances in various media outlets to provide commentary.

A graduate of both Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Mr. Gleave’s legal achievements have earned him significant recognition, including listings in the Best Lawyers in Canada guide, the Best Lawyers Global Business list, and the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Labour and Employment​​. He is also an esteemed member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association.

Recently, Stephen Gleave relocated his practice from Toronto to the smaller city of Hamilton, Ontario. Outside of his legal work, he keeps busy by running his picturesque farm in Ancaster, Ontario, a pastoral suburb of Hamilton where he raises cattle and tends to his orchard. He also enjoys long-distance running and fly fishing​.

Q: Of the many areas of the legal profession available to practice, how did you settle on labour and employment law?

STEPHEN GLEAVE: I settled on practicing labour and employment law because I determined it was the way I could use my talents and efforts to positively affect the lives of the most people possible. Employment is such a fundamental aspect of most people’s lives, influencing their sense of purpose and financial stability. By advocating for worker’s rights and fair and just workplaces, I felt I could contribute to creating healthier work environments and, ultimately, better communities.

Q: Is there an aspect of your profession that you particularly enjoy?

STEPHEN GLEAVE: When I conclude a case successfully that results in justice for my client, their relief and ability to resume their lives in the way that they should reminds me of why I pursued law. Those are important moments to savour, and it’s those memories that keeps me going through the challenges of future cases.

Q: What was the motivation for changing the location of your practice from Toronto, Ontario to Hamilton, Ontario?

STEPHEN GLEAVE: Toronto is a wonderful and world-class city, but it’s big, it’s densely populated, and I would say it’s rightly characterized as a concrete jungle. I spent a great deal of my career practicing law there, but after a while, I wanted a change of scenery. Beyond that, ever since I was young, I’ve had a love of nature, and that’s only grown stronger. Because of these and many other reasons, I decided I’d be well-suited to living on a farm, and I started to work to make that a reality. I settled on Ancaster as a location due to its beautiful landscape and its ideal placement for the sort of farming I wanted to do. And because Hamilton is the nearest major city to Ancaster, relocating my practice there wasn’t a terribly difficult decision.

Q: In the face of so much challenging work, how do you maintain a work/life balance?

STEPHEN GLEAVE: That’s where the farm really comes in handy. Whenever I feel overworked or run-down, I spend some time out in our fields or our orchards and I feel almost immediate mental and emotional release. It rejuvenates me. Some of the other things I do that keep me grounded are long-distance running and fly-fishing. Even though I’m a lawyer by profession, I’m an outdoorsman at heart.

Q: Do you have any words of advice for anyone in our readership contemplating a legal career?STEPHEN GLEAVE: Study hard. There is an immense amount to learn, but all of it will help you as you progress through your career. Approach the law with respect and integrity. When you represent clients, do so with their best interests as the guiding light for every action you take. And above all else, embrace continuous learning. The law is always evolving, so it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest legislation, case precedents, and regulations.