Ryan P. O’Connor

Ryan O'Connor is a Partner at Taylor Mergui with 18 years' experience in civil litigation and advocacy, and he serves as Chair of the firm's Employment and Class Action groups. His practice spans employment law, class actions, personal injury, insurance disputes, and defamation, and he is known for his strategic and academic approach to dispute resolution.

Ryan practices in all areas of employment law, including wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, workers' compensation, severance negotiations, and discrimination. Clients regularly retain Ryan before workplace challenges result in termination, so that their interests are protected at the end of the employment relationship.

Ryan's class proceedings practice focuses on holding public bodies accountable for their misconduct, advocating on behalf of those seeking accountability and redress.

An avid social media user himself, Ryan's libel and defamation practice focuses on cyberlibel -- defamation arising from social media posts, online reviews, and other digital communications. He represents both public and private Canadians seeking to vindicate their reputations, as well as those facing lawsuits that improperly suppress their freedom of speech.

In his personal injury and insurance disputes practice, Ryan represents seriously injured victims of others' negligence, those whose long-term disability benefits have been denied, and individuals who face improper coverage denials from their insurers.

Over his career, Ryan has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court, and before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Licence Appeal Tribunal, the Social Security Tribunal, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

Ryan is a respected voice in Canadian media, frequently called upon to discuss legal and public policy issues. His commentary has been featured in such outlets as CBC, Global News, Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, National Post, AM640, The Globe and Mail, and Radio-Canada, as well as independent media.

Ryan is committed to securing fair outcomes for everyone he represents, and he plays a key role in advancing Taylor Mergui's mission to protect and enhance the wellbeing of its clients.