Bill Watson

Bill Watson

Bill was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1981 and has practiced with Baker McKenzie for much of his career, becoming a Partner Principal in 1987.  Bill has served three times as the Practice Group Leader for the Labour, Employment, Employment Benefits and Immigration Practice Group and is a former Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie LLP in Canada.  Bill’s practice focuses on large-issue litigation and the conduct of complex negotiations, domestically and internationally, in the following fields:  arbitration and dispute resolution; collective bargaining; education law and university governance; employment law;  health law; human rights; inquests; international labour standards; labour relations; occupational health and safety; and privacy law.  Bill served as the Canada-wide negotiator in the negotiation of the first compensation package for victims of HIV-tainted blood in the 1990s.  Bill served for 5 years as a member of the Canadian Employer Delegation to the International Labour Organization including a term as the head of that Delegation and Vice-President of the Annual ILO Conference.  Bill served as a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo from 2011-2017 and as Board Chair from 2015-2017. Previously, Bill served as President of the University of Waterloo Alumni Association.  Bill was an initial recipient of the University of Waterloo 50th Anniversary Alumni Award in recognition of professional achievement and public service.  Bill and his wife, Jeanne, are active supporters of St. Paul's University College (now United College) and have served on the organizing committee for the Annual Alumni Golf Charitable Event. Bill and Jeanne are also active in the theatre community and are members of the Governor’s Council at the Shaw Festival Theatre - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.  Bill and Jeanne have been recognized for their commitment to philanthropy by the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.