Shari Munk-Manel

Shari Munk-Manel practises employment and labour relations law, providing counsel to employers, and representing them in litigation and the resolution of disputes. She works frequently with startups and emerging companies in the communications, entertainment and media industry, as well as the retail sector.

Assisting management with respect to all areas of employment and labour law, Shari advises on hiring, performance management, employment standards, employment policies, human rights issues, compensation plans, employee termination and severance packages. She also counsels vendors and purchasers on the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

Having appeared at all levels of court in Québec, Shari also advances the interests of employers in labour arbitrations, and before administrative boards and tribunals.

Shari’s broad commercial litigation practice encompasses shareholder, director and corporate control disputes, succession matters and construction law matters.

Expertise

Industries

Practices

Representative Matters

Acted for Fortress in the sale of Central Maine & Quebec Railway to Canadian Pacific
Acted for Novacap in the acquisition of a majority stake in Foliot Furniture Inc.
Acted for Compass Datacenters LLC in the acquisition of ROOT Datacenters
Acted for Joseph Ribcoff Inc in the sale of a majority stake to Novacap
Acted for Novacap in its acquisition of Intelerad Medical Systems

Speaking Engagements

"Changes in the workplace: Are the paths really becoming more flexible?", Women in Litigation Symposium by @The Advocates' Society

November 18, 2023

Navigating through COVID-19, Richter Jewish Chamber of Commerce

April 2020

Share Purchase and Asset Purchase Transactions, Employment and Labour Considerations, CACE Future Leaders Conference, Montreal, QC

May 1, 2017

Should it Stay or Should it Go? Litigation Holds, Corporate Counsel Series Webinar

October 2016

Employee Privacy & Data Protection upon Employee Departure, Speaker, Association of Corporate Counsel

April 2016

News

Media Mentions

“Quebec contractors concerned over new OH&S rep requirement,” by Don Wall, Daily Commercial News (December 21, 2022)
“Quebec Modernizes It’s Occupational Health and Safety Legislation,” by Catherine Skrzypinski, SHRM (February 1, 2022)
“La nouvelle boss de McMillan,” by Gabriel Poirier, Droit-inc. (April 29, 2021)
“Quebec Workers Have a Right to Refuse Unsafe Work,” by Catherine Skrzypinski, SHRM (August 9, 2019)

Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in the area of Employment Law

Community Involvement

Member of the Solomon Schechter Academy Board of Trustees
Chair of the Solomon Schechter Academy HR committee
Chair of the Solomon Schechter Academy Committee on Trustees

Education & Admissions

2006

Called to the Quebec bar

2005

Bachelor of Common Law, LLBUniversity of Ottawa

2004

Bachelor of Civil Law, LLL University of Ottawa

Publications

“Planning an Employee Recall? Well, Good Luck with That“, Ivey Business Journal, November 2021
“Hasta La Vista, Unvaccinated Employees?“, Ivey Business Journal, September 2021
“L’étendue de l’obligation de télétravail au Québec,” La Référence – Human Resources Bulletin, Édition Yvon Blais, a Thomson Reuters company (April 6, 2021)
“Après la France, le Québec sera-t-il la deuxième région au monde à légiférer sur le droit à la déconnexion ?,” (August 2018)
“Protection of Corporate Data from Disgruntled Ex-Employees,” Canadian Corporate Counsel (November 2015)

Insights (29 Posts)View More

Stay Ahead Podcast: Demystifying Québec’s Business Landscape

Interested in expanding your business into Quebec? On this episode of our Stay Ahead podcast, Montreal Partners Shari Munk-Manel, Enda Wong, Yonatan Petel and Steven Sitcoff share what you need to know about doing business in the province.

Aug 14, 2023

Holiday Parties are Coming Up – How to Minimize Risks while Maximizing Fun

Dec 7, 2022

Legislative Amendments Affecting Québec’s Employers

The webinar discusses the rigorous language obligations imposed by Bill 96 on businesses and its significant impact on employers, as well as the recent significant changes to both Québec’s occupational health and safety legislation and Québec’s privacy legislation which employers should be aware of.

Details

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Does the New Omicron Variant Have You Rethinking Your Return To Office Policies?

Many companies have put forth plans for a gradual re-entry into the office, however current circumstances are proving to be a challenge in this evolving landscape.

Join McMillan’s Employment and Labour experts on Tuesday, January 11th, for a panel discussion as they address your questions and concerns about policies, protocols, obligations and other considerations as you evaluate your RTO strategy.

Details

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Quebec: An Employer’s Right to Request its Employees’ Vaccination Status

This article discusses an employer's right to request its employees' vaccination status.

Dec 13, 2021

BILL 59 –The Act to Modernize the Occupational Health and Safety Regime in Quebec

This bulletin will highlight the significant changes for employers related to the amendments to the occupational health and safety regime in Quebec

Nov 24, 2021

A “vaccine break” for COVID-19 vaccination

Quebec follows the lead of the common law provinces taking legislative action to encourage vaccination.

May 12, 2021

Scope of the Telework Obligation in Quebec

Mar 30, 2021

A New Lockdown and Curfew in Quebec: What Employers Must Know

Jan 8, 2021

Mandatory Vaccination Policies for Employees: Enforceable or a Shot in the Dark?

There are vaccines, and there will be (at some point) enough for everyone in Canada to receive it. But what happens if your employees refuse to be vaccinated?

Dec 23, 2020

McMillan’s Employment and Labour Webinar

This annual workshop addresses significant legal developments and provides practical advice on responding to employee issues.

Details

November 10, 2020 - 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

RETURN TO WORK: Complying With Provincial Health Guidelines

The Québec government has authorized businesses to invite their employees progressively to return to their physical workplaces with the support of CNESST

Jul 27, 2020

Litigating During COVID-19: Still Possible

A summary of the key ways to advance or continue litigation during the pandemic.

May 20, 2020

Establishing the New Normal: Return to Work Considerations in the COVID-19 Era

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen in some jurisdictions, employers must consider the return to work process and what that entails.

Apr 29, 2020

Will You Be My Valentine?

As Valentine's Day approaches, it is important to review your policies against psychological harassment and conflicts of interest.

Feb 10, 2020

Stop the Spread: What Employers Need to Know About Coronavirus in the Workplace

As Canada confirms its first cases of the Coronavirus, we remind employers and employees of their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

Jan 29, 2020

Employment and Labour Seminar Series: Montréal

This seminar provides valuable practical advice to all employers seeking guidance on best practices in their workplace.

Dec 10, 2019

Employment and Labour Seminar Series: Toronto

Join us as we discuss significant legal developments and provide practical advice on critical issues facing employers in Canada.

Oct 30, 2019

Sweeping Changes to Federal Employment Standards Set to Take Effect

Many of the federal government's changes to the Canada Labour Code, proposed through Bills C-44, C-63 and C-86, are now set to take effect on September 1, 2019.

Aug 7, 2019

Employment and Labour Seminar Series: Montréal

Employment and Labour Seminar Series: Montréal.

Details

November 8, 2018 - 8:30 am to 10:30 am ET

Puff, Puff, Pass-ed: What Employers Need to Know About Cannabis Legalization

Join us for an interactive webinar as we take a closer look at the potential impact of cannabis legalization, as well as the rights and responsibilities of employers in the Bill C-45 era.

Sep 12, 2018

Amendments to the Act Respecting Labour Standards

June 2018, Bill 176: An Act was enacted to amend the Act respecting labour standards and other legislative provisions mainly to facilitate family-work balance

Jul 18, 2018

Are Better Working Conditions for your Quebec Employees on the Horizon?

March 20, 2018 Bill 176 respecting labour standards and legislative provisions to facilitate family-work balance presented by the Minister responsible for Labour to the Quebec National Assembly.

Apr 10, 2018

Has a third category of workers emerged under Quebec employment law: “dependent contractors”?

Justice Hamilton of the Quebec Superior Court decided that an independent worker governed by a service contract and not an employment contract was entitled to reasonable notice of termination

Mar 29, 2018

McMillan’s Employment & Labour Relations Group Seminar

Please join us for a practical and in-depth discussion aimed at HR professionals, in-house counsel and operations managers, who want to prepare and better understand how Bill1 48 will impact their business.

Details

September 28, 2017

Can a Manager be a Member of a Certified Association?

Mar 13, 2017

2016 Annual Employment and Labour Seminar

McMillan's Labour and Employment Group invites you to join us at our annual employment and labour seminar.

Details

8:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Dangers of Allowing the Tacit Renewal of Fixed-Term Employment Contracts

May 12, 2016

Major restructuring of the Quebec labour and employment institutions

Jan 11, 2016

Deals & Cases (10 Posts)

PURE Reciprocal Insurance Exchange obtains Order from OSFI to Insure in Canada Risks

On February 9, 2023, Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange obtained an approval from the Superintendent of Financial Institutions under the Insurance Companies Act to insure in Canada personal lines property and casualty risks, including those falling under the classes of property, liability, marine and automobile insurance

Feb 9, 2023

McMillan Represents Fortress in Sale of Central Maine & Quebec Railway to Canadian Pacific

McMillan represented Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC in connection with its sale of the Central Maine & Quebec Railway to Canadian Pacific Railway

Dec 30, 2019

Live Nation Entertainment forms strategic partnership with evenko

Dec 19, 2019

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC

McMillan advised Fortress on the auction of the Central Maine and Québec Railway to bidders, and negotiations with Canadian Pacific Railway.

Dec 1, 2019

Novacap acquires majority stake in Foliot Furniture

McMillan LLP was involved in all facets of the transaction and provided multi-disciplinary advice to Novacap with a team led by Charles Chevrette and Enda Wong (Corporate & M&A).

Nov 30, 2019

Compass Datacenters, LLC Acquires ROOT Data Center Inc.

On July 23, 2019, Compass announced that it completed its acquisition of ROOT Data Center, a Canadian wholesale data center provider, by way of share purchase. McMillan LLP acted as Canadian counsel to Compass

Jul 23, 2019

Novacap acquires a majority stake in Joseph Ribkoff Inc.

McMillan LLP acted as counsel to the Sellers with a team led by Max Mendelsohn and comprised of Alexandre Koch (Corporate and M&A), Béatrice Méthé (Corporate and M&A), Enda Wong (Corporate and M&A), Penny Genovezos (Corporate), Casey Halladay (Competition), Michel Ranger (Tax), Pierre-Christian Hoffman (Real Estate), Shari Munk-Manel (Employment) and A. Max Jarvie (Financing).

Feb 2, 2018