David Cowling

David is a partner with more than three decades of experience representing management in labour and employment disputes and acting in administrative proceedings.

David appears as counsel in labour arbitrations, proceedings before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, court applications for judicial review, labour injunctions and other employment-related litigation. He has extensive experience with collective-agreement administration, grievances, discipline and termination, union organizing and certification proceedings, and related-employer and sale-of-business issues.

He regularly serves as management spokesperson in collective bargaining 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.

His sector experience includes construction, manufacturing, utilities, hospitals, cultural institutions, municipal organizations 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.