The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2024 recognizes 26 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-cost, as leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Tara Erskine, KC, CPHR
Partner Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, T: 902.334.0436 C: 902.449.6948 terskine@mathewsdinsdale.com
vCard
Sara Wagar Assistant 902.334.0434 swagar@mathewsdinsdale.com
Biography
Professional License
Certified Professional Human Resources (CPHR)
Education
Dalhousie University, LL.B.
Osgoode Hall Law School, LL.M.
University of King’s College, B.A.
Membership and affiliations
CPHR Nova Scotia
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE)
Canadian Bar Association
International Bar Association
Profile
Tara provides strategic advice to employers and works as a partner with human resource professionals and in-house counsel of Canada’s leading employers. Working from the Halifax office, she represents employers across Canada. Tara is a member of the Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta Bars.
Tara counsels her clients on all conceivable day-to-day employment matters, ranging from plant closures to advising them on conducting sexual harassment investigations to developing plans of action for employees seeking accommodation of disability, religion, and family status. She defends employers in court facing wrongful dismissal claims and argues grievance arbitration cases before labour arbitrators. Tara assists in the defence of human rights complaints and acts for employers in matters before labour relations boards including applications for certification and in bargaining collective agreements.
Tara is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) (formerly CHRP). In 2003, Tara spearheaded the founding of the Canadian Association of Counsel of Employers (CACE) and was its first director.
Print bio
- Share this bio
Industry recognition
Atlantic Business MagazineRecognized in 2023 as one of Atlantic Canada’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Business
Best Lawyers® in CanadaLabour and Employment Law
Canadian Legal Lexpert®Employment Law – Employer
Canadian Legal Lexpert®Labour Law – Management
Canadian Legal Lexpert®Occupational Health & Safety
Canadian Legal Lexpert®Workers’ Compensation Law – Employer
Chambers and Partners CanadaEmployment and Labour Law – Atlantic Canada
Who's Who LegalGlobal Leader, Labour and Employment Law
National Leader, Canada – Labour, Employment and Benefits
Labour and Employment Law – Key Lawyer
Canadian Association of Counsel to EmployersHeenan Ross Award
Appointed Queen’s CounselPresentations
November 2022
The Legal Principles Impacting Remote and Hybrid Work
Tara Erskine, KC, was a speaker at the Faculty Bargaining Services Annual Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, presenting at a workshop on The Impact of Remote Work Policies on the Academic Mission and participating on a panel of labour lawyers from across Canada on the Annual Lawyers’ Panel: Case Law Update.
June 2022
Watch Out! Minefields in Workplace Investigations
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the Revival 2022 CPHR Nova Scotia Annual Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
May 2022
What’s New in ’22? Key Cases and Legislative Updates
Tara Erskine, QC presented as part of a panel at the Lancaster House Atlantic Canada Labour Law Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia
November 2021
Developments in Academic Labour Arbitrations: Atlantic Canada
Tara Erskine, QC presented as part of a cross-country panel at the Faculty Bargaining Services National Academy and Annual Conference (virtual).
November 2020
Can You Do More With Less? Options for Restructuring in the Americas
Tara Erskine, QC presented to the global Legal HR Summit hosted by Ius Laboris, joining a panel of labour lawyers from the United States, Argentina and Columbia (virtual).
September 2020
The Psychological Effects of Covid-19
Tara Erskine, QC presented Lancaster National Human Rights and Accommodation Conference (virtual) and moderated the keynote address by Dr. Roger McIntyre.
March 2020
Infectious Diseases at Work
Tara Erskine, QC presented as part of an panel with Dr. W. B. Culligan and Kyle MacIsaac, Mathews Dinsdale on a Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Nova Scotia webinar
December 2019
A Deep Dive Into Issues Related to Workplace Investigations
Tara Erskine, QC spoke at a Women General Counsel Canada event in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
May 2019
Global Employment Law Developments
Tara Erskine QC spoke on a panel on at the Ius Laboris Congress in Toronto.
November 2019
Update on Faculty Arbitration Decisions
Tara Erskine, QC spoke on a Lawyers’ Panel at the Faculty Bargaining Services National Academy and Annual Conference in Toronto.
November 2018
Key Case law Developments in Academic Labour Arbitrations and Court Cases
Tara Erskine, QC spoke at the Faculty Bargaining Services National Academy and Annual Conference in Montreal.
September 2018
The Employer Response: Sexual Harassment in the Era of #MeToo and #TimesUp
Tara Erskine, QC chaired the panel at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers Annual conference in Charlottetown.
May 2018
Major Caselaw Developments
Tara Erskine, QC spoke on the panel at the Lancaster House Atlantic Canada Human Rights and Labour Law Conference, Halifax.
May 2018
Immigration Restrictions in Developed Nations and Their Impact On Cross-Border Employment
Tara Erskine, QC participated in a panel at the International Bar Association Annual Employment and Discrimination Law Conference, Montreal.
November 2017
Regional Overview of Recent Kay Caselaw in Academic Labour Arbitrations
Tara Erskine QC. spoke on the panel at the 2017 Faculty Bargaining Services National Academy and Annual Conference in Toronto.
September 2017
Workplace Update from Atlantic Canada
Tara Erskine, QC presented on the panel Cross Canada: Workplace Update annual conference of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers in Calgary, Alberta.
June 2017
Human Rights – Update on Accommodation of Mental Disabilities
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the inaugural Mathews Dinsdale Halifax Labour and Employment Law Seminar
May 2017
Job Re-design: When does Accommodation Result in Undue Hardship?
Tara Erskine, QC was a panelist at the Lancaster audio conference.
November 2016
New Developments in Accommodation of Family Status
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers Webinar, Hot Topics in Workplace Human Rights – Alcohol & Drug Testing and Family Status/Caregiving.
November 2016
Human Rights Tribunals: An Update on Damages and Remedies and a Guide to Avoiding Them
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the Human Rights Association of Nova Scotia (HRANS) Annual Law Seminar in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
November 2016
Demystifying Labour Law: A Primer of Canadian Labour Law and Labour Relations and What's New In Academic Labour Law: Atlantic Canada
Tara Erskine Q.C. presented both topics at Faculty Bargaining Services National Academy and Annual Conference in Toronto.
June 2016
"Overtime" at the Office
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the Employer Advisor Annual Conference in Halifax.
June 2016
The Law on Employment Discrimination: Updates from Canada on Disability, Religion, and Age
Tara Erskine, QC presented at the Lex Mundi Labor and Employment and Employee Benefits and Pensions Practice Group Joint Global Meeting in Rome, Italy.
May 2016
Cracking the Code: Deciphering Doctors' Notes
Tara Erskine, QC was a panelist at the Lancaster 2016 Human Rights and Labour Law Conference in Halifax.
September 2015
Workplace Update: Atlantic Canada
Tara Erskine, QC presented on the panel Labour Law Update at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers Annual Conference in Halifax
News
We are proud to announce that Tara Erskine, KC, has been recognized by Atlantic Business Magazine as one of Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business. Congratulations Tara!
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale recognized by The Legal500 Canada 2023 as a leading firm in Labour and Employment, highlighting our national reach. Testimonial - "It is the only workplace law firm with offices from coast-to-coast, so being a national organization ourselves this is extremely important to us. It was Canada’s first law firm to devote its practice to employment law."
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2023 Guide for Employment & Labour - Nationwide, Ontario and British Columbia. Congratulations to our lawyers in BC, AB, ON and Atlantic Canada, who have been ranked and recognized this year.
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2023 recognizes 24 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-cost, as leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Who’s Who Legal Canada 2022 recognizes seven Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from BC, ON and NS as Thought Leaders in the fields of Labour and Employment Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale recognized as a leading firm by The Legal500 Canada 2022, highlighting our national reach. Testimonial - "Our business is national and so is the employment law firm we have partnered with. No matter what area of Canada where we may be experiencing a concern our partners at Mathews Dinsdale have an office close by with well-versed lawyers to provide advice and guidance."
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2022 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
Tara Erskine spoke to CTV Atlantic on the issue everyone is talking about Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines Can an Employer Require It?
22 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2022 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law and Immigration Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour Law, Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, Occupational Health & Safety Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Sonia Regenbogen, Tara Erskine and Hilary Grice are presenting at the Ius Laboris Legal HR Summit 2020. A virtual event where legal and HR meet to share their vision for the future of the working world. This complimentary event will take place Nov 4-5, 2020.
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2021 guide for Employment & Labour Law nationwide. Congratulations to our lawyers from coast-to-coast who have been recognized as notable practitioners this year.
Tara Erskine and Sara Malkin are presenting at Lancaster's virtual 2020 National Human Rights and Accommodation Conference taking place on Sept 16, 23, 30 and Oct 7, 2020.
21 Mathews Dinsdale lawyers, from coast-to-coast, are recognized as leaders in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2021 in the fields of Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as leaders in Labour & Employment Law, Construction Labour Relations, OH&S Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in Who's Who Legal 2020 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law.
Tara Erskine interviewed as part of a CTV News Atlantic story on Employer and Employee Rights in Dealing with COVID-19.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2020 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Immigration Law, Workers’ Compensation Law.
Mathews Dinsdale Lawyers from coast-to-coast recognized by Chambers and Partners 2019 as leaders in Labour and Employment Law.
Insights
COVID-19
Nova Scotia Announces Plans for Proof of Vaccination Policy
Nova Scotia will be implementing a Proof of Vaccination Policy effective October 4, 2021 that requires individuals to be fully vaccinated if taking part in activities that are “discretionary, recreational, or non-essential”.
Read more
In A Flash
Supreme Court of Nova Scotia Doubles Fine Issued to Employer for OHSA Violations Following Worker Fatality
This article provides an update on R v Hoyeck, 2021 NSSC 178, and reviews the principles that will be taken into account by the courts in assessing fines and sentencing in occupational health and safety matters.
Read more
In-Depth Analysis
Employers’ Advisor – Atlantic Canada Labour & Employment Law Year in Review
This issue provides a look back at some of the developments in labour and employment law across Atlantic Canada and upcoming changes for 2020.
Read more
In A Flash
Employers Must Provide Employees with Paid Time Off to Cast Their Ballot on Election Day
A reminder for employers on the obligation to provide employees with time off to vote.
Read moreEvents
Seminar
September 20, 2018
A Spotlight on Sexual Harassment: Best Practices for Employers in the Age of #MeToo
Read more
Complimentary Webinar
January 25, 2018
Marijuana & Workplace Safety – What’s an Employer to Do? Medical and Legal Issues with Marijuana Legalization
Read moreWebinars
Our complimentary webinars address the practical and legal issues for Canadian employers.
View our Webinars