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Find Lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia for Labour and Employment Law
Practice Area Overview
Labour and employment counsel provide assistance with the negotiation, drafting, interpretation, and application of collective agreements and the development of collective bargaining strategies and labour dispute contingency plans.
Counsel also assist with the development, drafting, implementation, and enforcement of workplace policies, the conduct of workplace investigations, and the determination of disciplinary matters and terminations.
They provide assistance with the negotiation and drafting of employment agreements, compensation, benefit and pension matters, and the interpretation and application of all labour and employment related legislation, including apprenticeship standards, employment equity, employment standards, immigration, labour relations, pension, privacy, workplace safety and health, and workers' compensation related legislation.
Labour and employment counsel are also regularly involved in corporate reorganizations and downsizing, mergers and acquisitions, and providing advice on all labour and employment matters that arise during such transactions.
Human rights matters often arise in the employment context and labour and employment counsel also regularly assist clients in dealing with human rights matters, including discrimination and harassment complaints and the duty to accommodate.
Labour and employment counsel also handle all labour and employment related disputes, including disputes relating to conduct during the union organizing and certification process, collective bargaining and strikes and lockouts, grievances and related arbitrations, wrongful dismissal claims, restrictive covenant issues, prosecutions under workplace safety and health legislation, employment equity, employment standards, human rights and privacy related complaints, and pension and workers' compensation issues. As a result, labour and employment counsel regularly appear as advocates for clients before arbitration boards, labour boards, employment equity, human rights, pension, privacy and workers' compensation related tribunals, and provincial and federal courts.
Given today’s work environment, labour and employment related issues can arise at any time and often require immediate attention. Effective labour and employment counsel ensure that they have a full understanding of their client’s operations and business requirements and are equipped to provide practical advice in a timely manner.
Paige Ainslie is an Associate Counsel at Roper Greyell, practicing in all areas of employment and labour law, with particular emphasis on human rights and labour arbitration. Based in Nelson, BC, Paige is uniquely positioned to provide on-the-ground representation to clients in the Kootenay region of the province in addition to providing legal counsel to clients located throughout BC. Paige has been called to the bar in both British Columbia and Alberta. With nine years as in-house counsel fo...
Danny is a partner* at Roper Greyell where he provides strategic and timely advice to clients on labour, employment and human rights issues that arise in the workplace. He advises employers throughout Canada across a wide range of industries, and values getting to know his clients and their businesses and becoming a trusted advisor in order to get the results that meet their short and long-term objectives. Danny guides his clients through litigation processes with advocacy and advice, represe...
Maggie is a partner at Roper Greyell where she practises in all areas of employment and labour law. She provides clients with practical and strategic advice in her role as a trusted advisor. Maggie’s goal is to understand the world her clients operate in – applying her legal knowledge in a pragmatic way and providing user-friendly advice. She builds strong relationships with her clients and works collaboratively with them to navigate a variety of unionized and non-unionized workpl...
Israel provides ongoing advice relating to employers’ statutory and collective agreement obligations. He is an active advocate appearing on behalf of employers before the Labour Relations Board, the Employment Standards Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal, arbitration boards and both Provincial and Federal Courts. He practises in multiple jurisdictions across Canada. Israel taught at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Commerce and lectured and published in the area of ...
Mark practices in all aspects of labour, employment, and human rights law, representing management in various sectors including forestry, education, and municipal government. He offers advice and representation on dismissal and disciplinary matters, seniority issues, job competition grievances, contracting issues, and layoff/recall disputes. He regularly appears before the BC Labour Relations Board and boards of arbitration, and has appeared before the Federal Court and all levels of court in...
Peter is an experienced, thorough, confidence-inspiring counsel. When someone comes to him with a problem, he uses his skill to gather key information from everyone who’s directly and indirectly involved in order to build a solid case. He particularly enjoys the most difficult cases, including terminations, and approaches them with a relentless and tenacious focus. His deep experience representing clients enables him to guide them expertly through the process, represent them well and, a...
Alissa Demerse is a partner at Roper Greyell LLP where she provides practical and strategic advice to employers in all areas of employment and labour law. As RG’s Workplace Safety Practice Lead, Alissa also maintains a specialized practice in occupational health and safety prevention matters, workers’ compensation claims, and human rights law including return to work issues and harassment claims. Alissa’s approach is to be proactively involved with her clients in resolving d...
Jennifer is a partner at Roper Greyell where she advises employers in all areas of labour, employment, and human rights law. Jennifer provides strategic advice regarding the management of workplace legal issues in both unionized and non-unionized environments. Jennifer’s clients include school boards, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, health authorities, retailers, and other private corporations. Clients can draw from Jennifer’s depth of experience. She has managed case...
Peter Eastwood practices in all areas of labour and employment law. He joined Hamilton Howell Bain & Gould in 2012, after practicing for nine years at a national law firm, where he was a partner. Called to the bar in 2003, Peter has advised employees, employers and unions on a wide variety of issues in the workplace, including terminations and severance packages, employment standards, human rights, privacy and personal information, labour relations, workers’ compensation, illness an...
David Edinger is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation, Construction, Insurance and Workplace Law Groups at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. He is also chair of the firm’s Conflict Committee, and a Member of the Management Committee. David specializes in uniquely tailored and effective approaches to dispute prevention and resolution, which includes advising on contract and procurement strategy, crafting creative risk management solutions, and resolving matters through negotiation...
Derek is a member of Alexander Holburn’s Wills, Estates + Trusts; Labour + Employment; Business Disputes; Intellectual Property + Technology; and Insurance practice groups. He has a broad business litigation practice which includes contractual, shareholder, employment, human rights, and intellectual property disputes. Derek also has a particular interest in estate and trust disputes, including wills variation, will validity, trustee and executor liability, and trustee remuneration cases...
Lynsey is a lawyer in the labour and employment group at MLT Aikins, representing public and private sector employers. She regularly advises employers on collective agreement interpretation and bargaining, drafting workplace policies, discipline and discharge, and navigating workplace accommodations and human rights issues. Lynsey also practises in the area of professional regulation and administrative law. In 2022, Lynsey completed the seven-week Innovation Governance Program provided by the...
Colin has practiced labour, employment and human rights law since his call to the British Columbia bar in 1986. He is ranked by his peers as one of the leading management side labour and employment lawyers in British Columbia. The majority of Colin’s practice involves acting for universities, special purpose teaching universities, colleges and institutes in British Columbia’s post-secondary and university sectors. He also advises and represents employers in a wide variety of priva...
Anthony (Tony) has practiced labour and workplace law since his call to the BC Bar in 1994. He became a partner in 1997 and remained with the same firm which ultimately became Glavin Gordon Clements and now Koskie Glavin Gordon. Best Lawyers in Canada recognizes Anthony for his expertise in Employee Benefits Law and Labour and Employment Law. Chambers and Partners Canada ranks both the firm and Anthony in its top echelon (Band 1) for employment and labour relations in BC. In addition, Lexpert...
Sandra is a partner* at Roper Greyell and a member of its management committee. She practices in all areas of employment and labour law, with a focus in human rights and respectful workplace issues. Sandra is focused on the needs of her clients and works with public and private sector employers providing proactive and practical advice for unionized and non-unionized environments. Her particular interests include management-side representation, respectful workplace issues, investigations, hiri...
Stephanie Gutierrez has an active labour and human rights law practice in Vancouver. She represents unionized and non-unionized employers in a wide range of matters and disputes. Companies value Stephanie’s practical, client-centric and strategic advice. Stephanie has significant expertise in labour relations, and regularly acts for employers before the Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunal, and labour arbitrators in wrongful dismissal actions, collective agreement interpretatio...
Mike is a partner* at Roper Greyell and practises in all areas of employment and labour law, including disputes with unions, workplace safety, human rights and employment litigation. Mike helps employers plan workplaces that minimize legal conflict and maximize productivity, efficiency and profit. When employees or unions create conflict, Mike is a relentless, strategic, and practical advocate. He helps his clients pick and win the fights that matter in the big picture while avoiding getting ...
Michael acts for clients in both the public and private sectors, with expertise in the area of education law. In addition to 11 years as a member of Harris’ Education Group, Michael was General Counsel for the BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA) and the Vancouver School Board (VSB). He acted as lead negotiator and spokesperson for BCPSEA in bargaining, including during the illegal withdrawal of services in 2005. At VSB he was responsible for education, real estate, and comme...
Paul Heisler is counsel at the firm and practices in the areas of employment law, constitutional litigation, and commercial litigation. Paul has extensive experience representing clients in disputes relating to wrongful dismissal, privacy law, workers’ compensation, post-employment competition, human rights, public law, labour relations, shareholder rights, and commercial matters. Paul also regularly provides legal and strategic advice to both employers and senior employees in the publi...
Greg is a founding partner* at Roper Greyell where he provides strategic and practical advice to employers on labour and employment issues in the workplace. He has over 30 years of experience as a labour litigator with a respected reputation as a formidable opponent. Known for his resilient advocacy for his clients and aggressive cross-examination skills, clients can rely on Greg to fight for them. He has had experience as a client himself, so he knows what to expect in representation and how...
Gavin is extremely well known in the labour law community, and was voted by his peers as Labour and Employment Law Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in Canada in 2012. He brings a wealth of experience working with clients in the labour and employment field and has a deep knowledge of the history, origins and key issues in law. Gavin intuitively understands the forces and dynamics of a situation and provides his clients with expert, straightforward advice. Gavin’s practice focuses on la...
Herb Isherwood is a partner in our employment and labour team. He has over 30 years of experience assisting public and private sector employers with a wide range of labour and employment issues. Mr. Isherwood maintains a busy practice advising employers on disability and absenteeism, termination and wrongful dismissal, union organizing campaigns, labour relations strategy and collective agreement negotiation, collective agreement interpretation, grievance arbitration, workers compensation, em...
Robyn combines an extensive civil litigation practice with relevant experience in employment law. She has advised and represented clients in a variety of sectors with complex corporate and commercial litigation issues, including professional regulatory matters, contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, negligence, breaches of trust and fiduciary duties, and civil fraud. Robyn’s employment law work has included acting on behalf of employers and employees with respect to wrongful dismis...
Vince is a creative, personable and persuasive lawyer. He spends time building relationships with his clients, because he believes in understanding their issues and goals. Clients quickly become loyal to him because they find he solves their small and large problems with care, and helps steer them through the day-to-day issues to keep their human resources working smoothly. While Vince works hard to keep people out of court and arbitration, he is a very skilled litigator who represents his cl...
Clayton Jones has a busy labour, employment and human rights practice in Fasken’s Vancouver office advising employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. Clayton provides practical advice intended to prevent and resolve workplace disputes in both union and non-union contexts. Clients also frequently rely on Clayton to assist with significant workplace changes including workforce reductions, closures, bankruptcies/insolvencies, and corporate transactions.
Don’s practice focuses on the areas of labour, employment, administrative and constitutional law. He acts for a broad range of private sector employers with regard to matters arising from their unionized workplaces as well as their general employment law matters. He is frequently retained to advise on administrative law matters and to conduct trials and appeals in this area before the courts of British Columbia. Don has appeared at all levels of the judicial system and has been counsel ...
Randy J. Kaardal, K.C. is a senior litigator handling a wide range of commercial litigation for clients in the financial, mining, forestry, and manufacturing sectors. He has conducted hearings before all levels of Court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also regularly appears before various administrative tribunals including the B.C. Securities Commission, the Federal and Provincial Human Rights...
Rose is a partner with Harper Grey and maintains a busy and diverse practice, focusing on both Workplace Law and Critical Injury. With over 25 years of experience, Rose brings sound judgment and a well-rounded perspective to her broad practice. The guiding principle for Rose is finding the right legal solution for her clients and in doing so nothing is more important than being respectful, compassionate and responsive. She is the Chair of our Critical Injury Group and a prolific member of our...
Suzanne has built a strong practice in access and privacy law. She advises both public and private sector employers on their responsibilities as they navigate the implications of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other related legislation. Suzanne regularly provides one-on-one training to in-house privacy and access coordinators on respo...
Michael is a partner at Roper Greyell, and a member of its management committee, where he provides advice to employers on employment, labour relations and human rights issues in the workplace. Known for his insight and responsiveness, Michael takes the time to walk employers through complicated issues, repercussions and proactive approaches that minimize employee disputes. Michael assists employers with drafting, maintaining, and enforcing employment contracts and workplace policies. Through ...
James is a founding member and partner* at Roper Greyell. He practises in all areas of employment and labour law and acts as a mediator in workplace law disputes. James is known for providing practical, cost-effective and long-lasting solutions to difficult employment, labour and workplace challenges, including those related to wrongful or constructive dismissal actions, restrictive covenants, compensation disputes, disability and attendance management, and discipline and discharge in the uni...
Michael practises labour and employment law. He represents employers in all aspects of labour and employment law disputes, including arbitrations, labour board hearings, human rights matters, workers compensation matters, employment standards matters, and wrongful dismissal actions. Michael has acted as counsel for employers in several industries and sectors, including post-secondary institutions; newspapers; supermarkets; transportation companies; printing companies; beverage companies; tele...
Kacey advises and represents private and public employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. In particular, she focuses on grievances, human rights issues, wrongful dismissals, discrimination claims, policy reviews, and employment agreements. She has appeared before the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the BC Court of Appeal, as well as the BC Labour Relations Board, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and the Workers’ Compensation Appea...
Chris is a partner in our Vancouver office and brings three decades of experience advising employers in all aspects of labour and employment law. Chris has appeared as counsel in hundreds of reported decisions, which include arbitrations, labour relations boards, human rights tribunals, and the courts, in both federal and provincial jurisdictions. Chris provides strategic advice, and assists employers in navigating collective agreements and day to day operations, including the purchase and sa...
Geoff takes a direct, methodical and highly effective approach. He draws on his knowledge of a client’s business and workforce to offer straightforward, practical advice, and in order to create trust, is always pragmatic and realistic about what they can achieve. Geoff is highly productive, taking an organized, systematic and disciplined approach to preparation. He communicates clearly and drives hard to find solutions that are feasible and solid, and which clients can depend on. Geoff ...
Taryn Mackie advises clients on all aspects of workplace law in unionized and non-unionized environments, including on collective bargaining, labour relations, human rights, workers' compensation, disability management and workplace accommodations, wrongful dismissals, unjust dismissals, and employment standards. Ms. Mackie regularly prepares and advises upon employment agreements and workplace policies, including executive employment agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement...
Gavin is a partner at Roper Greyell, practicing in most areas of workplace law. Over his professional career, Gavin has always enjoyed building lasting client relationships, with a focus on being a trusted advisor for workplace decision-making. He likes clients to know that he is on their team, and in their corner. Gavin believes lawyers should always tailor their approach to the needs of the particular client, as the first step to giving useful advice and finding solutions. “I won&rsqu...
Scott advises and represents employers in all areas of labour and employment law. His practice focuses on human resources, terminations, policy development, and human rights. Scott has experience appearing before arbitration boards, a variety of administrative tribunals, and has appeared as counsel in all levels of court in British Columbia. Scott acts for a broad spectrum of clients in both the public and private sector, across nearly all industries, including not for profit. A large part of...
David McDonald is a leading labour, employment and human rights lawyer in Vancouver. Employers seek out David’s skills as strategic counsel in workplace law. David proactively works with clients to find solutions to employment issues. He has a particular focus on labour relations and collective bargaining. He also gives advice in all areas of employment law, human rights in the workplace and occupational health and safety.
A Partner in our Vancouver office, Paul has been helping employers across Western Canada resolve workplace law problems for over two decades. He has significant experience in the mining, transportation, education, hospitality, construction and financial sectors. Recognized as a leading practitioner by Best Lawyers and Lexpert, Paul provides strategic counsel to clients concerning employment litigation, occupational health and safety, shareholder disputes, workers’ compensation, human ri...
Keith has advised clients in the education sector about school, labour and employment law for more than 25 years. He works with school boards, colleges and university educators and administrators to help them with the full range of legal problems they face, including labour and employment, education, human rights claims, privacy issues and dealing with students and parents. In addition to his work in education, Keith’s diverse background has had him advising clients in many sectors incl...
Naz Mitha, QC is recognized as one of the leading counsel in British Columbia in the areas of labour and employment law and commercial litigation. Naz handles a wide range of workplace matters, including in the areas of employment, labour, human rights and administrative law. Naz’s clients include public and private sector employers and senior employees. He also maintains a general commercial litigation practice, frequently acting in shareholder and partnership disputes. Naz has conduct...
Keith has been assisting employers for over 25 years providing strategic and timely advice on various workplace law issues. Keith is frequently retained to help his clients respond to challenging labour relations matters, union organizing campaigns, and human rights complaints. Keith is one of the most experienced labour litigators in Western Canada, having represented employers in hundreds of arbitrations and labour board hearings. He routinely acts as chief spokesperson for employers in col...
Irwin Nathanson, K.C. is one of the top trial and appellate lawyers in British Columbia, and has litigated many of British Columbia’s leading complex business disputes. Leading publications have referred to Mr. Nathanson, saying: "Irwin is still going like a champ, a ‘senior statesmen’ who still doesn’t miss a beat“; You won’t find a better litigator anywhere in the country”; “He is the biggest gun in Vancouver”; He is “resolute, coo...
Elizabeth Reid is a labour, employment and human rights lawyer in Vancouver. Clients appreciate Elizabeth’s technical expertise and engaging personality as they navigate through the complex employment and human rights laws that impact their relationships with their employees. Elizabeth’s approach starts with prevention. Her focus is creating clear and accessible contracts and policies that can be understood by employees and employers alike. She is a skilled advisor for day-to-day ...
Tom is a founding partner* at Roper Greyell where he advises employers on all aspects of employment law and labour relations and represents clients in employment related litigation. A tireless advocate for the highest standards of employment and labour practices, Tom’s expertise is sought after by clients, organizations, educators and colleagues. During his career, spanning almost five decades, Tom has shared his extensive experience and technical understanding of the law with young law...
Jennifer is a partner* at Roper Greyell where she practices employment, labour, and human rights law on behalf of public and private sector employers. As a skilled and loyal advocate, Jennifer represents her clients before courts of all jurisdictions in British Columbia and Canada as well as at arbitration and before the Labour Relations Board, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal, and the Employment Standards Tribunal. She also has expertise in appell...
Delayne is a founding partner* of Roper Greyell. A trusted advisor, negotiator and advocate, she advises employers on all aspects of management-side labour, employment and human rights issues in the workplace. Delayne is a creative yet focused lawyer who efficiently and effectively applies her vast experience to address a wide variety of workplace law challenges facing both public and private organizations. She thrives on partnering with her clients to achieve the best possible outcomes, whet...
Danielle is an Associate Counsel at Roper Greyell. She practices in all areas of labour and employment law, with a particular focus on workplace investigations. As an experienced workplace investigator, Danielle conducts and assists clients with workplace investigations involving complex issues that include bullying and harassment, discrimination, and sexual harassment. Danielle also has significant experience advising and representing union and non-union clients in grievance arbitrations, co...
Gabrielle is a founding partner* of Roper Greyell and a trusted legal advisor to her clients, many of whom she has acted for throughout her career. Her clients include public and private sector organizations in the municipal, retail, transportation and manufacturing fields, in unionized and non-union environments. Gabrielle’s clients rely on her proactive and practical approach to problem solving and her thoughtful strategic advice, both in resolving and litigating workplace issues As a...
Rob's practice focuses on management-side labour and employment law. He advises on labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions and day-to-day labour and employment issues. His work includes labour and employment litigation, arbitrations, human rights, employment standards (including director and officer liability issues), collective bargaining and workers compensation.
Lindsie is exceptionally organized and efficient. A believer in practical, straightforward advice, she works to help employers identify problems early, so they can manage their workforces more easily. When a problem does arise, she uses the law to find a durable and effective solution. Lindsie’s labour and employment law practice is a mix of day-to-day interaction with clients on labour, employment and human rights issues, as well as representation of employers in labour arbitrations, l...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.