Stephen Roberts joined the McTague Law Firm as a Partner in January of 2010. Mr. Roberts practices in the Employment and Labour Law Department and represents employers only in the area of Workplace Safety and Insurance, Human Rights, Disability Management, Occupational Health and Safety, other employment and labour law matters.
He represents employers regularly at WSIB and WSIAT Appeal Hearings, and before other administration tribunals. In addition, Mr. Roberts assists employers with WSIB audits, rate group classification issues and WSIB registrations along with transfer of costs and SIEF applications. He also advises employers regularly on their obligations under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, the Human Rights Code, and the Employment Standards Act, including advice on return to work, accommodation and severance of employment issues.
Stephen is one of only twelve professionals in Ontario certified as a Specialist in Workplace Safety and Insurance Law by the Law Society of Ontario.
Areas of Practice
- Workplace Safety & Insurance
- Human Rights
- Disability Management
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Employment Standards
Education
- University of Windsor, B.A. Economics, 1977 and LL.B., 1980; admitted to the Ontario Bar, 1982
Professional Memberships
- Law Society of Ontario
- Essex Law Association
- Employers’ Advocacy Council
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Section
Community Interests and Recognition
- Chair and Member of the Board of Directors, Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation (2016-Present)
- Member, WSIAT Advisory Group (2006-Present)
- Member, Policy Committee of the Employers’ Advocacy Council (2003-Present)
- Past Chair and Member of the Executive, Ontario Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Section (1998-2017)
- Past Chairperson and Member, Ozad Institute Committee which is affiliated with the Regional Children’s Centre, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (1996-2017)
- Member, “It’s in Your Jeans” Fundraising Committee (2013-2014)
- Member, Law Society of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Law Certified Specialist Committee (2006-2007)
- Member, Advisory Committee for Judicial Appointments – Ontario (South and West) 2002-2004
- Past Director, Windsor Regional Hospital (1997-1999)
- Past Director, Windsor Regional Children’s Centre (1992-1999)
- Past Chair, Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce (1991-1992)
- Past Director, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (1991-1992)
- Speaker at numerous seminars across Ontario on Workplace Safety and Insurance issues along with other employment and labour law topics
Awards and Recognition
- Stephen was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2022 in the field of Workers’ Compensation Law
- Recipient of the Ontario Bar Association, Ron Ellis Award in Workers’ Compensation Law (October 2017)
- Leading Practitioner 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- Recipient of the “Charles J. Clark Award” from the Essex Law Association (2005)
- Recipient of the “Business Professional of the Year Award” from the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce (2002)
Articles, Papers & Presentations
Published Works include
- Contributing Author – Practical Law (Thomson Reuters) Practice Note for Workers’ Compensation (ON)
- Lawyers Weekly – “Insurance Coverage for Workplace Injuries” and “The WSIB’S Labour Market Re-Entry Service for Injured Workers”
- Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Review
- Ontario Bar Association: Workers’ Compensation Newsletter
- Employers’ Advocacy Council Newsletter “The Voice”
- In Business Magazine
- Windsor Chamber of Commerce Newsletter “The Chamber Briefs”
Recent Seminar Presentations
- May 16, 2018, Ontario Bar Association’s Worker’s Compensation Law Program – A New Era in Workplace Safety and Insurance Law
- January 26, 2018, HRPA Chatham-Kent: WSIB Update—New Rate Framework & Chronic Mental Stress
- November 30, 2017 New Developments at the WSIB, Windsor, ON
- October 18 & 19, 2017 28th Annual Schedule 2 Employers’ Group Conference
- October 13, 2017 Lancaster House Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference: Assessing Pain: Is the response of the WSIB and WSIAT adequate?
- May 17, 2017 OBA Annual Conference: Appeals Process in Workplace Safety and Insurance Law, Co-Chair
- October 20, 2016 Lancaster House Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference – Taking the Pulse: The year’s key decisions and what they mean for you
- October 20, 2016 OBA – WSIAT Case Law and Judicial Review Update: Learn the Latest
- July 19, 2016 (Webinar) Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators – Occupational Exposure and Worker’s Compensation Following Supreme Court of Canada (SCOC) Decision on British Columbia (Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal) v. Fraser Health Authority
- May 18, 2016 OBA-Mental Stress: Psychiatry and Psychology in Workplace Safety and Insurance Law
- October 28, 2015 Lancaster House, Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference, Co-Chair
- October 6 and 7, 2015 25th annual Schedule 2 Employers’ Group Conference: Navigating Psychotraumatic and Mental Stress Claims
- May 26, 2015 OBA CLE Worker’s Compensation Conference: Up Close with the Experts