Biography

Behzad is a Partner at Israel Foulon Wong LLP and obtained his common law and civil law degrees from McGill University’s Faculty of Law. He has practiced employment law since his call to the Ontario Bar.

Behzad provides both employees and employers with exceptional and cost-effective service regarding a wide range of human resources-related issues, including wrongful dismissals, terminations and severance packages, employment standards, human rights and accommodation, employment agreements, workplace policies and procedures, and occupational health and safety. Behzad also has experience conducting impartial and timely third-party workplace investigations.

Behzad has appeared at the Ontario Court of Appeal, Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Justice, and Small Claims Court. He has also represented clients in proceedings before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (Employment Standards Branch), and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

Behzad was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ for his work in Labour and Employment Law.

Prior to joining Israel Foulon Wong LLP, Behzad clerked for the judges of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. Behzad also previously worked as a summer student at Canada’s largest full-service law firm, as well as at a legal publishing company specializing in labour, employment, and human rights law.

During law school, Behzad was actively involved in the Faculty of Law and the greater community. He was a member of the 2015 Wilson Moot team that placed second overall nationally, served on the McGill Law Students’ Association, and volunteered with the McGill Legal Information and Barbra Schlifer Commemorative clinics.

Behzad speaks English, Farsi, and French. He is an avid traveler and enjoys cycling, playing volleyball, and being outdoors.

SELECTED REPORTED DECISIONS

Milwid v. IBM Canada Ltd., 2023 ONCA 702

WSIAT Decision: 1699/21RS, 2023 ONWSIAT 1442

Irwin v. Protiviti, 2022 ONCA 533

Render v. ThyssenKrupp Elevator (Canada) Limited, 2022 ONCA 310

Mastrandrea v. Giampaolo Group of Companies, 2021 ONSC 3716

Barry Gula v. Freed Developments Ltd., 2020 ONSC 6463

Steven v. DDR Americas Inc., 2019 ONCA 271

Devlin v. High Liner Foods Incorporated, 2019 ONSC 6897

Ontario (Ministry of Labour) v Alpa Lumber Mills Inc, 2019 ONCJ 223

Gholami v The Hospital of Sick Children, 2018 ONCA 783

SELECTED PAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS

2023

Speaker, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”, The Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals, Zoom (2023)

Co-Author, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”, The Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals (2023)

2022

Speaker, “Recent Case Law on Termination Clauses: Using Contracts to Limit Liability”, Feldman Daxon Employment Law Breakfast Seminar, In-Person (2022).

Speaker, “Just Cause Terminations in the Context of Sexual Harassment”, The Eight Minute
Employer Lawyer, Zoom (2022)

Author, “Just Cause Terminations in the Context of Sexual Harassment”, The Eight Minute
Employer Lawyer (2022)

Speaker, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”, The
Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals, Zoom (2022)

Co-Author, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”,
The Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals (2021)

Speaker, “The Just Cause Clause – Waksdale’s Continued Impact on the Enforceability of
Termination Clauses”, Israel Foulon LLP’s Annual Employment Law Update, Zoom (2022)

2021

Co-Author, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”,
The Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals (2021)

Program Chair, Introduction to Workplace Safety and Harassment Law and Investigation,
Ontario Bar Association, Zoom (2021)

Author, “The Significant Impact of Waksdale on the Enforceability of Termination Provisions”,
Ontario Bar Association (2021)

Speaker, “The Just Cause Clause – the Impact of Waksdale – and the invalidity of Termination
Clauses”, Israel Foulon LLP’s Annual Employment Law Update, Zoom (2021)

2020

Speaker, “Update on the Enforceability of Termination Clauses”, Employment Contract
Essentials, Human Resources Professional Association (2020)

Author, “Update on the Enforceability of Termination Clauses”, Human Resources Professional
Association (2020)

Co-Author, “Is There Any Certainty in Bonus Compensation Yet?”, 18 th Annual Current Issues
in Employment Law: Supreme Court Update Edition, Ontario Bar Association, (2020)

Speaker, “Employment Law and COVID-19 Considerations Relating To Domestic Violence in
the Workplace”, Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario, Zoom (2020)

Author, “Employment Law and COVID-19 Considerations Relating To Domestic Violence in
the Workplace”, Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (2020)

Co-Author, “Terminating the Employment Relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure”,
The Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals (2020)

Author, “FAQ – Employment and COVID-19: Canada”, Legalmondo (2020)

Speaker, “Government Support Programs For Employers and Employees”, Israel Foulon LLP’s
Annual Employment Law Update, Zoom (2020)

Author, “Israel Foulon LLP’s Annual Employment Law Update Breakfast Seminar Materials”,
Zoom (2020)

Author, Various “Coronavirus Update” newsletters, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2020)

Speaker, Changes to Simplified Procedures and What They Mean for Your Employment Law
Practice, Ontario Bar Association (2020)

Author, “Changes to Simplified Procedure and Small Claims Jurisdiction – A Brief Summary”,
Ontario Bar Association (2020)

2019

Author, “A full and final release signed upon termination of employment does not bar an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code”, Ontario Bar Association, (2019)

Author, “Termination of Employment: Eight Common Myths”, Ontario Bar Association (2019)

Author, “The 2019 Federal Election - Employees’ Right to Vote”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin
(2019)

Author, “Issue Estoppel and Employer Participation in the Employment Insurance (“EI”)
Process”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Author, “WSIB Policy on Medical Cannabis”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Co-author, “Constructive Dismissal: Recent Case Law”, Law Society of Ontario’s Six Minute Employment Lawyer Seminar (2019)

Author, “Enforceability of Arbitration Clauses in Employment Contracts”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Author, “Ontario Court of Appeal Confirms the 24-Month Cap for Common Law Reasonable Notice Periods Absent Exceptional Circumstances”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Author, “Canada Labour Code Changes Now Imminent”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Author, “ESA Poster and Overtime Changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2019)

Author, “Israel Foulon LLP’s Annual Employment Law Update Breakfast Seminar Materials”, Rosedale Golf Club (2019)

2018

Co-editor, “Termination of Employment” text, Emond Publishing’s Employment Law Series (2018)

Author, “Making Ontario Open for Business Act and Pay Transparency Act”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2018)

Author, “Police Record Checks Reform Act”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2018)

Author, “Changes to Ontario Workplace Legislation”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2018)

Author, “Employer Obligations on Election Day”, Israel Foulon LLP E-Bulletin (2018)

Author, “Israel Foulon LLP’s Annual Employment Law Update Breakfast Seminar Materials”, Rosedale Golf Club (2018)