Joyce A. Mitchell, K.C.

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 Industrial Relations Board on matters including union certification and revocation, unfair labour practice complaints, strikes and lockouts, and successorship and common employer applications. Joyce also has extensive experience representing employers in grievance arbitration. She advises clients on collective bargaining as well as the interpretation and implementation of the Collective Agreement.

Joyce is recognized as a leading practitioner in the area of human rights. She regularly defends employers in complex matters before the Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, including a recent matter addressing the Rapid Site Access Program relating to alcohol and drug testing in Alberta’s construction industry.

Joyce is a strong litigator acting for employers in wrongful dismissal actions, in class actions, and on judicial review. She has particular experience in class action proceedings, including the successful defence of Canada’s first-class action claim on the basis of alleged sexual harassment in the workplace.

Joyce is an experienced investigator frequently called on by employers as well as other counsel to provide an independent investigation into complicated allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace.

When clients are facing a potential crisis, they turn to Joyce to step in, calmly assess the facts and build a solid strategy. She can be counted on for thoughtful, timely advice that helps clients resolve employment matters efficiently and move forward productively.

A guiding force within the firm, Joyce is a member of McLennan Ross’ Executive Committee. She ensures McLennan Ross is well-positioned for the future by focusing on growth and talent development. She is integral in carrying out the firm’s strategy to expand our core areas of strength and to seize opportunities that will benefit our clients.

Joyce frequently writes and presents on human rights, labour relations and employment matters.