Mediator Profile

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Paula S. Knopf

Paula Knopf Arbitrations Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario

(416) 432-1583
paulaknopf@bellnet.ca
www.paulaknopf.ca
Degrees/Designations - B.A., LL.B
Practice Areas - Employment and Labour
Practice Description - Ms. Knopf has an extensive practice involving Employment and Labour Relations Mediation and Arbitration. She has significant experience with cases involving allegations of harassment, discrimination and unjust dismissal. She focuses on helping the parties achieve practical resolutions that are efficient and leave both sides with a sense of dignity and closure.
She is also available on an expeditied basis to conduct mediations from 5-7 p.m. in order to deal quickly with cases involving time-sensitive and continuing liablity issues such as discharge, harassment, layoffs, discrimination and/or accommodation. These sessions can also be used to deal with interim issues such as production particulars, preliminary objections and/or jurisdictional concerns.
Background - As an arbitrator and mediator, Paula Knopf has been active in labour relations and dispute resolution in the private and public sectors since 1980. She is the Vice-President of the Ontario Labour-Management Arbitrators' Association and is an active member of the National Academy of Arbitators. In 1996 she was appointed by the Federal Minister of Labour to act as one of three members of the Task Force recommending changes to Part One of the Canada Labour Code. In 2007 she was asked by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to be the Director of its Arbitrator Development Program. She served as Chair of the Education and Colleges Relations Commissions from 1991-1997. She has been a Vice-Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, and a part-time Vice-Chair of the Grievance Settlement Board of Ontario. She is named as a roster arbitrator in several collective agreements. She is also an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, who has taught Labour Arbitration and supervised several Masters theses. In addition, she served as Chair of the Ontario Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan.
Fees - Please contact Ms. Knopf's assistant, Linda Kotopoulis, at lindakotopoulis@gmail.com or 416-232-2524 for details.