Experience

• Successfully defended an employer in a wrongful dismissal action where the court agreed that the employer had cause for dismissal of the employee (Knowlan v. Trailmobile Parts & Service Canada Ltd., 2006 BCSC 337)
• Advised an employer on the legal liabilities to union and non-union employees on closure of a mill in BC, including notice and severance requirements
• Advised an employer on the successful introduction of a drug and alcohol testing policy and procedure in a BC mine
• Assisted a mining company with the closure of its mine in BC on completion of its ore reserves
• Regularly advises corporate employers on their obligations to disabled employees, including duty to accommodate
• Represented employer in the transportation industry relating to the certification, negotiations towards a first collective agreement and ultimately decertification of the bargaining unit
• Successfully negotiated the settlement of hundreds of wrongful dismissal claims against corporate employers
• Represented a major forest industry client to successfully defend claims of discrimination under the occupational health and safety regulations
• Represented a large construction company during the WorkSafe investigation following a fatality, successfully avoided penalty assessments or regulatory prosecution and assisted the client in reviewing and revising its work practices
• Acted as a third party independent investigator for a complaint of sexual harassment for a large employer in the forest industry
• Represented a client in the retail sector in successfully defending a claim of discriminatory treatment based on disability

News / Publications

“Recent Legal Decision in Employee Benefits, Labour and Employment Law” International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists Symposium (September 18, 2007)

“Complying with your Duty to Accommodate Employees with Addictions” Canadian Institute – Western Canadian Forum on Employment Law (February 1, 2007)

“Foreign Workers: Work Permits & Confirmations of Employment” (October 31, 2006)

“Employer’s Right to Suspend Post McKinley” CACE conference Employment Law Update (September 28-30, 2006), with Oscar Allueva

“Occupational Health & Safety: Obligations & Liabilities” (May 24-25, 2006)

“Recent Developments in Employment Law” BC HRMA (April 21, 2006)

"Mandatory Retirement" BC HRMA (October 5, 2005)

Conferences

"Damages after Honda / Keays – Too Soon for a Funeral for Wallace!", 5th Annual Western Canada Labour Relations Conference, Insight Information (January 21, 2010), Speaker

"Damages after Keays v. Honda - What Now? Consideration by Canadian Appellate Courts", 6th annual CACE Conference (September 10, 2009), Speaker

“Employment Related Class Action Disputes” Risk Assessment Seminar (June 25, 2008), Speaker

“Personal and Psychological Harassment in the Workplace: recent critical cases” Lancaster House Human Rights and Accommodation Conference (April 9, 2008), Moderator

“Benefits for Disabled Workers; Navigating the Maze” Lancaster House Audio Conference (November 28, 2007), Speaker

“Recent Legal Decision in Employee Benefits, Labour and Employment Law” International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists Symposium (September 18, 2007), Speaker

“Accommodating Religious Practices” Lancaster House Audio Conference (February 22, 2007), Speaker

“Complying with your Duty to Accommodate Employees with Addictions” Canadian Institute – Western Canadian Forum on Employment Law (February 1, 2007), Speaker

Lancaster House Workers’ Compensation Conference (November 1-2, 2006), Speaker

“Foreign Workers: Work Permits & Confirmations of Employment” (October 31, 2006), Speaker

“Employer’s Right to Suspend Post McKinley” CACE conference Employment Law Update (September 28-30, 2006), Speaker

“Psychological Harassment: modern Solutions to a Pressing Problem” Lancaster House (June 15, 2006), Speaker

“Occupational Health & Safety: Obligations & Liabilities” ( May 24-25, 2006), Speaker

“Recent Developments in Employment Law” BC HRMA (April 21, 2006), Speaker