Harold R. Watson
Practice:
Hal Watson restricts his practice to the areas of municipal and employment law.
He regularly appears before a variety of Tribunals and in the Courts, including appeal and judicial review work.
Practice Areas: Municipal, Land Use Planning, Employment and Human Rights.
Practice Experience:
Hal is a Certified Specialist (Municipal Law: Local Government/Land Use Planning and Development).
His municipal law practice has generally been on behalf of municipalities and other public agencies, but he also regularly represents private sector clients. Hal's practice includes an impressive record of appearances before a wide range of Boards and Tribunals including the Ontario Municipal Board, various Planning Boards and Committees, the Consolidated Hearings Board and NEPDA Hearing Officers, as well as in the courts. His municipal practice encompasses the full range of municipal law issues:
- Municipal Agreements
- Land Use Planning and Development
- By-law Enforcement including Prosecutions
- Building and Fire Code
- Municipal Liability
- Zoning
- Environmental Standards and Approvals
- Expropriation
- Drafting of By-laws
Hal also has a very well-developed employment law practice, acting largely on behalf of employers. He has considerable experience in this practice area before the Courts and various Boards and Tribunals dealing with workplace issues.
The focus of this part of his practice has been in the following areas:
- Wrongful Dismissal
- Human Rights - Harassment and Discrimination
- Employment Standards
- Employment Contracts and Policies
- Arbitrations
Professional Activities:
Municipal Law Section (formerly on Executive) – Ontario Bar Association
Employment and Labour Section - Ontario Bar Association
Halton Law Association
Ontario Building Association - Associate Member
Prosecutors' Association of Ontario
International Municipal Lawyers' Association
Community Involvement:
Hal has served on the Boards of various charitable organizations in the past and been involved as a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way of Milton since 1991, including a year as Chairman of the Fundraising Campaign. He is the longest serving member of the Campaign Cabinet and a past winner of the United Way of Milton's volunteer of the year award.
Hal previously served two terms on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Milton. He remains the volunteer Chairman of the Mayor's Tournament for the United Way of Milton, which position he has held since the Tournament's inception in 2001. Since the Tournament began, it has raised over $1,150,000.00 for the United Way of Milton.
