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Find Lawyers in Alberta, Canada 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.
Alison is a skilled labour and employment lawyer. She advises employers in Alberta and Ontario in a wide range of industries across the public and private sectors, including oil & gas, banking, food and agriculture, aviation, and health care. Alison works closely with in-house counsel as well as human resources and labour relations professionals providing strategic advice on labour relations, arbitration, collective bargaining, human rights, employment policies and procedures, disability ...
Damon Bailey, K.C. is a respected labour lawyer, known for his good judgment and straightforward, decisive approach. He has the ability to examine details and tie them together into a strategic plan to help employers successfully navigate the complexities of labour law. With a particular talent for arbitrations, Damon gets straight to the point with clear direction and concise advice. Clients want him in their corner because he’s a strong leader in negotiations who doesn’t equivoc...
Dan is a dedicated advisor and strategic problem solver. He is known for providing timely, practical advice and unrelenting advocacy. He leverages his tireless work ethic and substantial experience to achieve measurable results for his clients. Dan is an accomplished litigator and advisor to union and non-union employers with respect to labour, employment, workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, and administrative law issues. He is well-versed in termination issues, human...
Lori works with clients in a variety of sectors to achieve practical workplace solutions and manage risk. In doing so, she provides advice to employers on all aspects of the workplace relationship including recruitment, hiring, discipline, dismissals, disability management, health and safety, workers’ compensation, grievances and other labour relations matters. Lori strives to achieve efficient and cost-effective solutions through alternative dispute resolution. Where matters cannot oth...
Gary Clarke, KC is a partner and Co-Head of the Employment & Labour Group nationally and Head of the Employment & Labour Group in Western Canada. Gary’s practice focuses on employment, labour relations, human rights and privacy law. He assists employers in both union and non-union environments with various human resources and labour relations issues including: drafting employment agreements, compensation schemes, workplace policies, restrictive covenants and non-disclosure agree...
Erin is a reliable and skilled advocate who leverages her considerable experience and substantial legal knowledge to find creative solutions to a range of complex and challenging matters. A trusted advisor to individuals and organizations alike, Erin’s practice encompasses commercial litigation, employment, and insurance & risk management. In her commercial litigation practice, Erin advises and represents parties on a wide range of general litigation matters, including disputes rela...
Roxanne was called to the New Brunswick and Ontario Bars in 2003. She practiced in New Brunswick and then Ontario before settling in Calgary and joining Carbert Waite LLP in 2008. Roxanne became a partner in the firm in 2013. She practices litigation with a focus on employment law, including human rights, privacy, and occupational health & safety matters. Roxanne represents both employers and employees in a wide range of complex employment law matters. Roxanne’s employment practice ...
With his unique combination of diligence, pragmatism and creativity, Maurice Dransfeld makes sure employers and management have a solid understanding of their labour and employment issues. He doesn’t just give his clients a multitude of options and leave it up to them to figure out the best one. Instead, he gives clear recommendations and advice so employers and management can be confident in making sound decisions, even in the most complex situations, that translate into strategies for...
Tom Duke is an experienced labour and employment lawyer. Tom advises clients, including employers in federally and provincially regulated industries, on a wide range of matters such as human rights, employment standards, terminations, and workplace safety. Tom provides prompt and pragmatic advice on discipline issues. He also has diverse litigation experience that includes commercial disputes, shareholder disputes, and negligence cases. Tom has appeared in the Provincial Court, the Court of Q...
Joel Fairbrother is an employment lawyer. He is a partner and co-founder of Bow River Law LLP. Joel's key practice areas are employment law, labour law and human rights, but he does some general civil litigation as well. Prior to law school, Joel obtained a BA degree in Political Science from University of Alberta. He attended law school at University of Saskatchewan and obtained his Juris Doctor in 2011. Joel has experience litigating at all levels of court and many different tribunals in Al...
Vicki is highly sought-after for her extensive experience and ability to resolve matters quickly and efficiently. Practical and knowledgeable, she provides guidance that puts client needs at the forefront. Vicki’s practice focuses on the areas of employment, human rights, privacy, labour and administrative law. She advises employers on a wide range of employment, personnel and labour issues (including collective bargaining). She is valued by employers for her accessibility and capacity ...
Patricia is a partner with Parlee and primarily practices in the areas of employment law, human rights, labour law, and insurance defence. Patricia has successfully represented both employees and employers in relation to wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, harassment, discrimination, requests for accommodation, and workplace investigations. Patricia also has extensive experience drafting workplace policies and employment agreements incl...
Bruce practises in all areas of labour and employment law. He is an experienced litigator, regularly defending employers against wrongful dismissal claims, employment standards complaints, human rights complaints and grievance arbitrations. Bruce is committed to providing clients with practical and strategic advice when it comes to handling the workplace. This includes the enforcement of restrictive covenants, fiduciary duties, executive compensation, employee misconduct, severance analysis, ...
Rob was been head of the Parlee McLaws LLP Labour and Employment Group for over 20 years and has extensive experience in the practice of labour and employment law. Rob advises a wide variety of federally and provincially regulated clients on labour and employment matters including grievance arbitrations, Part III Canada Labour Code adjudications, human rights complaints and hearings, wrongful dismissal litigation, dismissal planning, collective bargaining, privacy complaint hearings, defence ...
Jennifer Koschinsky is senior counsel in the Employment & Labour Group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of the employment relationship, from pre-employment matters and hiring to performance management, and discipline and termination. Jennifer provides practical advice to employers concerning employment law compliance, human rights and workers’ compensation, including drafting employment agreements, policies, restrictive covenants, and termination documentation. She is also an ex...
Jeff Landmann is an employment and labour partner based in Calgary. Jeff advises employers in negotiation and preparation of employment contracts and severance packages, employment policies and procedures, employment standards, privacy, employment litigation, mediation, arbitration, and human rights claims before the courts, labour boards and administrative tribunals. In the context of unionized workforces, Jeff advises and represents employers in labour relations matters such as union organi...
Chris provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals in all aspects of labour and employment law, with particular experience handling drug and alcohol-related labour issues in the workplace. In his labour law practice, his clients include owners and contractors involved in large construction projects, health-care providers, and industrial clients. Always forward-thinking, Chris develops long-term labour relations plans that navigate issues and builds a foundation for success...
Jackie has supported employers in all areas of workplace law for over two decades. Jackie represents provincially and federally regulated employers, in both the public and private sectors, and provides strategic advice in managing complex legal situations involving employees and unions. She has extensive experience assisting employers on day-to-day matters in the areas of workplace conflict, labour arbitration, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, union certifications and policy develo...
Brent provides advice and guidance on commercial and financial litigation to a broad range of clients, including financial institutions, Receivers and Trustees in Bankruptcy, creditors and debtors, having particular experience with debtor-creditor, insolvency, commercial foreclosures, shareholder disputes and defamation claims. In addition, Brent has represented various owners, construction professionals and trades in construction and real estate disputes including builders’ liens, cons...
Joyce is a leading labour and employment lawyer, known to both clients and opposing counsel for being meticulous in preparation and fearless in execution. Employers depend on Joyce to help address sensitive and consequential matters with a focused, disciplined approach that achieves results. Leveraging 30 years of labour relations experience in British Columbia and Alberta, Joyce represents clients before the Alberta Labour Relations Board, the B.C. Labour Relations Board, and the Canada Indu...
Tim is peer ranked as one of the top labour and employment lawyers in Canada. For over 25 years, Tim has advocated for federally and provincially regulated employers on matters related to workplace law. He acts as lead counsel on significant labour, employment, and workplace human rights cases, including in matters that have been elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada. Tim sets a new standard for employer advocacy. His commitment to building trusting relationships through counseling employer...
It would be hard to find someone who knows more about occupational health and safety (OHS) than David Myrol. A partner and chair of the McLennan Ross OHS Practice Group, he has been a visionary at the forefront of the development of OHS law for decades. Starting as Alberta’s first designated OHS Crown Prosecutor, then working as one of Canada’s first full-time OHS Defence Lawyers, he has become nationally recognized in OHS law and a trusted advisor to industry and government alike...
Kris Noonan is a partner in the Employment & Labour Group. His practice focuses on employment and labour law, privacy law and human rights. Kris is a management-side lawyer that represents a diverse group of employers in both union and non-union work environments, with various human resources and labour relations issues, including drafting employment agreements, workplace policies, restrictive covenants and non-disclosure agreements, termination practices and procedures, discipline and gr...
Joseph graduated law school in 2003. In 2011 he joined Carbert Waite LLP after practicing with a large regional firm practicing in insurance and commercial litigation. He became a partner of the firm in 2014. His practice focuses on employment law, commercial litigation and plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. He has appeared as counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta. In his employment law practice, Joseph represents employees and employers in all aspects of the employment rel...
Cheryl Rea is senior counsel in the Employment & Labour and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Groups. Her practice focuses on corporate commercial litigation and dispute resolution, employment and labour law, human rights and privacy. Cheryl represents clients in all areas of corporate commercial litigation and dispute resolution. In her labour and employment practice, Cheryl works with employers to litigate, mediate and resolve disputes relating to employment matters, human rights and ...
Dave Ross has represented employers in virtually all aspects of labour and employment law for more than 50 years. He is a senior partner at McLennan Ross and is recognized as Alberta’s most experienced counsel representing management in labour relations and employment law. Dave has handled numerous precedent-setting cases in the complex areas of his labour practice before tribunals and all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Dave’s experience has been rout...
Tom is a leading practitioner in management-side labour and employment law with over 25 years of experience. Applying sound judgment, proactive strategies, and common sense, Tom has successfully represented employers in a wide range of complex and challenging matters. His continued success has earned him recognition from several leading industry guides as well as the respect of both colleagues and clients. With a focus on unionized workplaces, Tom advises and represents employers in labour ar...
Joshua (Josh) Sadovnick has a split practice, with focuses on commercial litigation and employment disputes, both insured and uninsured claims.With reference to commercial litigation, Mr. Sadovnick regularly represents insurers, owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Mr. Sadovnick has acted as counsel in commercial disputes on a variety of complex claims, including general commercial and construction disputes, deficiency claims, construction failures (including...
Jody Sutherland collaborates with her clients to come up with creative, proactive solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. She offers timely communication, honest opinions, and a thorough analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each case in three key areas of law: employment, litigation, and insurance defence. Jody’s significant experience representing employers in employment and human rights matters allows her to see an issue from different perspectives and understand t...
Teri Treiber provides advice and representation to employers in all areas of labour and employment law. She assists employers with a variety of issues, including employment agreements, collective agreements, workplace policies, human rights, employment standards, privacy, workplace investigations, performance management, employee discipline, terminations, wrongful and constructive dismissal, grievances and arbitrations, and restrictive covenants.
Michael has over 30 years’ experience advising employers on workplace law issues and is a certified human resources professional. He is counsel to employers in the oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, municipal & health care sectors and the hospitality industry. He has also worked in-house as a labour and employee relations specialist for companies with operations in multiple Canadian jurisdictions, the U.S.A and Mexico. Michael, who works out of our Calgary, Vancouver and Vict...
Michael began his legal career with Bennett Jones LLP. Michael joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2003. In 2020, Michael was appointed King’s Counsel by Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer. Appointments of King’s Counsel are awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and have demonstrated exceptional leadership. LITIGATION PRACTICE Michael is an accomplished advocate and maintains an active civil and commercia...
Jill Wilkie is a trusted advisor to employers and specializes in advising on all aspects of labour and employment law, and is the Leader of Miller Thomson’s Labour & Employment Group. She has developed significant expertise in assisting clients in the health, manufacturing and education industries, as well as in Alberta’s Indigenous communities. Jill’s experience includes advising on the discipline and dismissal process, the defence of wrongful, constructive and unjust d...
Jason Wilkins, KC articled with Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 2001 and joined the partnership in 2010. Jason practices primarily in the area of employment and family law. Jason acts for both employers and employees and enjoys the perspective both bring. Jason is experienced in all facets of property disputes, spousal support, custody/access and child support. He has a particular interest in Hague Convention (international child abduction) cases. He also maintains a civil litigation practice inc...
The high degree of diligence with which Iain approaches each matter is what sets him apart. He applies attention and care that often exceeds client expectations. Iain’s practice focuses on workplace compliance. He acts on behalf of employers, defending clients from prosecution relating to regulatory offences, class actions concerning working conditions, and in other employment-related matters brought before courts and administrative tribunals. In a field that demands acute attention to ...
Jennie Buchanan is an associate in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group in Calgary. Jennie has a general commercial litigation practice, with a focus on commercial arbitration, employment litigation, and securities litigation. Jennie has appeared as counsel before all Alberta Courts, and the Alberta and Ontario Securities Commissions. In her commercial arbitration practice, Jennie assists clients involved in complex construction disputes, both domestically and internationall...
Dana Kiefer is an associate in our Labour, Employment and Human Rights Group in Calgary. She approaches matters with common sense and focuses on providing practical advice tailored to each client’s unique business. She provides strategic advice on a wide range of workplace issues, including compliance with employment standards, human rights legislation, collective bargaining agreements, and workplace health and safety. She regularly works with our corporate lawyers to provide advice on ...
Jennifer McBean is an associate in the Employment & Labour Group. She provides advice to clients on employment contracts, policies, terminations, restrictive covenants, legislative compliance, and corporate due diligence. Jennifer’s practice also covers representing employers in wrongful dismissal actions and human rights matters.
David Price is an associate in the Employment and Labour Group. His practice focuses on employment, labour relations, human rights and privacy law. He represents union and non-union employers on issues relating to labour and employment standards compliance, employment agreements, workplace policies, discipline and grievances, termination practices and procedures, restrictive covenants, human rights matters, collective bargaining, and litigation arising from employee terminations. He regularly...
Cassandra Sutter has extensive experience in civil litigation across a broad range of practice areas and industries. Her practice areas include commercial disputes (domestic and international), contractual disputes, fraudulent conveyance & enforcement claims, property litigation, professional negligence, landlord-tenancy disputes, class actions, defamation and employment. Cassandra focuses on practical solutions to her clients’ needs and has significant courtroom experience. Educati...
Ian Wilson is a labour and employment lawyer, who also maintains a broad commercial litigation, and sports and entertainment practice. Ian advises employers in both federally and provincially regulated industries, on a wide range of matters including employment standards, human rights, occupational health and safety, and labour relations.
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.