Back in February 2009, I wrote a short entry regarding a national survey that law firm Fasken Martineau had commissioned that revealed that:

• "40 per cent of companies with more than 50 employees were involved in litigation last year, most commonly for labour and employment or contracts"; and
• "labour and employment topped their lists of legal concerns for the year ahead."

In light of these findings, I was not surprised to learn recently that a 2009 survey of 500 in-house counsel in Canada found that employment and labour law matters were also of key importance to them.

The In-House Counsel Barometer 2009 study was a joint effort by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and law firm Davies Ward Philips & Vineberg LLP. It surveyed the attitudes and opinions of in-house counsel regarding topics of interest and importance to them.  

Specifically, the Barometer 2009 study found that:

• "The number of in-house counsel that stated 'employment and labour' is one of the most challenging issues of law has increased significantly from 2008" (pg. 3).
• When asked to rank the top 3 areas of law that they think will be the most challenging, "employment and labour" law matters tied for second with 11% of respondents ranking it as the top area. Regulatory compliance was ranked first (pg. 16).
• In house counsel in Ontario were more likely to report that employment and labour are the most challenging area of law (16%, compared to 11% nationally) (pg. 17).
• In-house counsel operating in the government (17%) and utilities sectors (15%) were the most likely to highlight "employment and labour" as the most challenging area of law (pg. 17).