Claudia Desjardins Bélisle

Partner

Montréal

Office

514.871.5496

[email protected]

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Industries & Expertise

Biography

BAR ADMISSION

Quebec, 2012

Education

J.D., University of Ottawa, 2010
LL.L., University of Ottawa, 2009

Languages Spoken

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Claudia Desjardins Bélisle is an experienced labour and employment lawyer and the national leader of Miller Thomson’s Labour and Employment group. Since February 2025, she also serves as Managing Partner of the Montréal office.

She represents employers in litigation, particularly in matters involving restrictive covenants and the protection of confidential information. She advises clients on day-to-day workforce management issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, and termination. Her practice also includes shareholder disputes and the preservation of electronic evidence.

She acts as a spokesperson or advisor in unionization campaigns and collective bargaining matters, frequently appearing before the courts. In 2025, she argued before the Supreme Court of Canada. Known for her clear and rigorous approach, she helps her clients prevent risk, resolve disputes, and manage sensitive matters.

Claudia regularly publishes and speaks on current legal issues and is actively involved in mentoring and professional development initiatives. She was listed on Benchmark Litigation Canada’s 40 & Under List in 2025, as well as in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Industry involvement

Recognition

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Employment Law – Employer, 2026
Benchmark Litigation Canada, 40 & Under, 2025
The Best Lawyers in Canada – Labour and Employment Law, 2022–2026
Benchmark Litigation Canada – Future Star, 2024–2025

Thought leadership

Presenter, “Pride in Exile: Navigating the Attempted Shift in Post-Bostock Protections for the LGBTQ+ Community”, American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, March 18, 2026
Media mention: “Claudia Desjardins Bélisle et Laura Bambara : Un virage au féminin”, Premières en affaires, Winter 2026
Media mention: “A day in a life of a lawyer: Real stories for future lawyers”, Canadian Lawyer, 2026
Co-presenter, “Remote Work and Surveillance Technology: Building a Culture of Trust and High Performance”, Miller Thomson Annual Business Law seminar, October 2025
Presenter, “From Idea to Implementation: Tackling Technology Commercialization Challenges”, Miller Thomson Annual Business Law seminar, October 2025
Media mention: “Les humains sur les chantiers, une priorité”, Les Affaires, June 2024
Author and presenter, “Développements récents sur la non-concurrence“, Annual conference of the Barreau du Québec, 2024
Co-presenter, “Battles Over Privilege and the Impact of Increased Transparency (a Canadian perspective)”, The Equal Employment Opportunity Law American Bar Association Conference, 2024
Media mention: “L’expertise juridique pour surmonter les défis entrepreneuriaux de l’heure”, La Presse, 2023
Presenter, “Protections and Restrictions for Standing Up and Speaking Out in the Workplace”, The American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, 2023
Presenter, “U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County from a Canadian law perspective”, The American Bar Association National Conference on Equal Employment Opportunity Law, 2022
Co-presenter, “Reflections on Bostock: LGBTQ Rights in the Workplace and Other Implications of the Bostock Decision”, The Equal Employment Opportunity Law American Bar Association Conference, 2021
Presenter, “Cannabis sur les chantiers : Employeurs préoccupés”, Miller Thomson Annual Construction Law seminar, March 2018
Co-author, “Cannabis sur les chantiers : Employeurs préoccupés”, Miller Thomson Construction Law Group Annual seminar, March 2018
Co-author, “Legalization of cannabis: Managing this New Workplace Reality”, Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, February 2012
Presenter, “Demystifying the employment contract: The penal clause in term employment contracts; the current scope of such stipulations in Quebec law”, Miller Thomson seminar, 2016
Presenter, “Governance: The latest issues affecting NPOs (constructive dismissal)”, conference in partnership with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, 2015
Co-author, “Bill 3: Proposed Reform or an Infringement of Constitutional Rights?”, Labour and Employment Communiqué, October 2014
Author, “Victory of ex-Walmart employees – What’s next?”, Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, July 2014
Author, “Employer Responsibilities during Holiday Parties”, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 2013
Author, “Focusing on the Next Generation: Age Discrimination?”, Labour and Employment Law Blog, October 2012

Notable matters

Acting for SGS Canada, on December 2, 2025, Claudia Desjardins Bélisle, Philippe Larochelle, and Sophie Ouahbi Garcia appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in the continuation of a labour relations dispute. Miller Thomson had previously argued that SGS’ grain inspectors fell under direct federal jurisdiction due to their role in federally regulated grain elevators and that the inspectors were therefore subject to the Canada Labour Code. In 2024, Miller Thomson had pleaded the case before the Court of Appeal on the merit of the Attorney General of Quebec’s appeal. The Supreme Court of Canada decision will be a significant precedent in constitutional law in the field of labour relations.
The Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (“CACE”) retained Miller Thomson to intervene as a friend of the court in a Court of Appeal of Quebec case (Marchetta v. Petros 724 Inc.) to make representations on behalf of management-side employment counsel. In 2023, the court granted CACE’s application, filed by Miller Thomson, for authorization to intervene as a friend of the Court. This employment case involves the territorial application of the Quebec Labour Standards Act to businesses employing employees located in Quebec, without having any physical presence or operations in Quebec. In January 2024, Miller Thomson filed CACE’s Memorandum at the Court of Appeal, arguing that in such situations, the Quebec Labour Standards Act cannot apply to employers who do not have any physical presence or operations in Quebec. On May 6, 2025, Miller Thomson made oral representations before the Court of Appeal.
Successfully represented SGS Canada Inc. before the Quebec Court of Appeal in an important reported case dealing the division of constitutional power in labour relations matters in Procureur général du Québec v. SGS Canada inc. This was a landmark decision dealing with the law applicable to issues regarding the division of constitutional powers in labour relations, particularly in the context of employees working on undertakings declared to be to the advantage of Canada. The Attorney General of Quebec has since filed an application for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada
Successfully represented an international organization in the contestation of an application for judicial review before the Superior Court of Quebec and successfully obtained the dismissal of the opposing party’s application as well as a condemnation for abuse of proceedings
Successfully represented an employer against a former employee in a complex litigation dealing with the violation of non-competition obligations, the duty of loyalty and the preservation of evidence, a first of its kind in Quebec
Successfully represented Traffic Tech Inc. in the defense of an injunction proceeding alleging a violation of restrictive covenants and misappropriation of confidential information

Community roles

Volunteers at Maison Le Paravent, an organization offering a safe and inclusive place to stay to women experiencing homelessness.
Member of the Paul-VI elementary school Governing Board.
Volunteers at the Paul-VI elementary school.
Founding member of the Réseau des femmes of Miller Thomson’s Montréal Office, promoting access to leadership roles for women, supporting women-led business development initiatives, and mentoring associates.

Memberships & affiliations

American Bar Association
American Bar Association, member of the Labor and Employment Law Section
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE)
The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM)
Canadian Bar Association

Claudia Desjardins Bélisle

Industries & Expertise

INDUSTRIES

EXPERTISE

Biography

BAR ADMISSION

Education

Languages Spoken

Biography description

Deals & cases

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Miller Thomson Labour & Employment virtual conference

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