Duncan Burns-Shillington

Duncan Burns-Shillington

Counsel
About

Duncan Burns-Shillington is a labour and employment lawyer who advises and represents employers across British Columbia and Ontario on a broad range of workplace matters.

Duncan’s practice focuses on providing practical and strategic advice to employers on day-to-day workplace issues and complex employment and labour matters. He regularly advises on employment standards compliance, human rights and accommodation, workplace policies, investigations, privacy, employee discipline and terminations, collective agreement interpretation and ‎negotiation, union organizing and certification matters, and the employment aspects of corporate transactions. Duncan also represents employers in employment-related litigation, arbitrations and other workplace disputes. 

Duncan has appeared before various levels of courts and tribunals, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of British Columbia, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Labour Relations Board, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Duncan completed a secondment as a solicitor with the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Before entering private practice, Duncan worked for the federal government in the area of executive policy and compensation. During law school, Duncan was a Dean’s Honour List student.

 
Areas of FocusEmployment
Bar admissionsBritish Columbia, 2020Ontario, 2017
Education
  • J.D., Queen’s University, 2016
  • B.A. (with Distinction), Industrial Relations, McGill University, 2012

Media Mentions

  • Quoted, "Are you ready for Ontario’s new hiring transparency requirements?" Canadian HR Reporter, September 16, 2025
  • Quoted, "New rules for telework safety, sick notes, job postings with Working for Workers Five Act," Canadian HR Reporter, November 7, 2024

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Law Society of Ontario
  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia