Nick led legal efforts in the bankruptcy of 17 nursing and retirement homes based in Hamilton, operated by the Royal Crest Lifecare chain. He negotiated a rare $6.5 million-dollar out-of-court settlement that won back workers’ rights, provided wage increases, pay equity payments, benefits, and pension contributions, and other entitlements to employees.
Nick won key labour law cases that established the legal framework for the two largest public sector unions in Hamilton, Ontario, during the amalgamation of the city—one at Hamilton Health Sciences and the other at the City of Hamilton.
Nick was part of the legal team that went to the Supreme Court of Canada to fight for a couple who had been denied pension benefits because they were gay. For the first time, the Supreme Court unanimously held that sexual orientation is protected under the Charter of Rights & Freedoms and is therefore a prohibited ground of discrimination in constitutional law.
Nick initiated a successful union organization campaign of employees at five high-profile law firms in Toronto, Ontario—including one Bay Street law firm.
Nick was part of the legal team that helped Burmese villagers bring a lawsuit against a giant oil and gas company for claims that building its pipeline led to forced labour, killings, and rape. The legal action was settled, and the Guardian newspaper called the resolution a “ground-breaking settlement thought to be worth millions of dollars.”
Nick co-authored Bill C-331, which was introduced into the Parliament of Canada in December 2016. The proposed law would allow lawsuits against Canadian corporations for any gross human rights violations that they commit abroad. Lawsuits would also be permitted if corporate activity significantly destroyed the environment or violated key international labour rights.