Kevin Banks

Kevin Banks is an Associate Professor of Law at Queen's University and the Director of the Queen's Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace. He holds appointments as Associate Dean (Faculty and Academic Policy) and Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal. His research focuses on labour arbitration efficiency, globalization's impact on workplace law, and the intersection of international trade agreements with labour standards. He is a part-time member of the Ontario Grievance Settlement Board and has served on dispute panels for trade agreements like the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and Canada-EU CETA.

Education:

• S.J.D., Harvard Law School (2003)
• LL.B., University of Toronto (1989)
• B.A. (Economics), University of Toronto (1986)

Research Interests: Banks explores constitutional collective bargaining rights, gaps in disability accommodation at work, and the enforcement of employment standards. He critiques trade agreement labour chapters and examines third-party liability for wage violations. His work bridges domestic law with global economic policies, emphasizing equitable labour practices in transnational contexts.

Professional Achievements: He chaired the first-ever labour rights dispute arbitration panel under a free trade agreement (US-Central America FTA) and advised Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review. His edited casebook, Labour and Employment Law, is Canada’s leading text in the field.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace, coordinating interdisciplinary research on modern workplace legal challenges.