David
Cowling

David has spent more than three decades representing major employers, public bodies, regulators and other institutional clients. His practice is centred on labour and employment disputes and extends to administrative proceedings and court challenges involving decisions by tribunals and public bodies.

David appears as counsel in labour arbitrations, proceedings before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, labour injunctions and other employment-related litigation. He also acts in court challenges to decisions made by tribunals and public bodies. He has extensive experience with collective agreement administration, grievances, discipline and termination, union organizing and certification, and disputes concerning related employers and sales of businesses.

He acts as spokesperson for management in collective agreement negotiations and advises employers on labour strategy, employment standards, human rights, accommodation, discipline and termination. His advice is informed by decades spent seeing how labour and employment disputes develop in arbitration, before tribunals and in court.

David’s practice extends beyond labour and employment matters. He has acted as prosecutor in statutory discipline proceedings, served as counsel to administrative tribunals and institutional decision-makers, and appeared in administrative appeals and judicial reviews. He also has long-standing experience in property assessment and exemption matters for an institutional client.

David’s clients operate in sectors where labour relations, statutory duties and public accountability can have significant operational consequences. His experience includes construction, manufacturing, utilities, hospitals, cultural institutions, municipal bodies and the broader public sector.

David is often asked to advise on problems that affect an ongoing bargaining relationship or an organization’s operations, not simply the result of one grievance or application. He draws on his experience with unions, arbitrators, tribunals and courts to assess how a dispute is likely to develop and where it may be resolved.

David received his Bachelor of Arts from McGill University in 1987 and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto in 1990. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1992.

Outside the office, David has represented Canada in Australian football and was named Best and Fairest at the Canadian Championship. He also enjoys pinball and poker.