Biography

Chris is a partner in Lawson Lundell's Kelowna - Landmark office and is a member of the firm's Labour, Employment & Human Rights, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Groups.

Chris’ labour and employment practice focuses on management-side labour and employment law. His practice includes advising and acting for clients on day-to-day labour and employment issues, mergers and acquisitions, grievances, arbitrations and mediations, human rights, employment standards, workers compensation, privacy, wrongful dismissal and post employment competition.

Chris’ commercial litigation practice focuses on contract disputes, including construction and real estate disputes, shareholder disputes, and commercial and landlord disputes, and includes seeking and defending injunctions.

Chris has experience working with a diverse range of clients and industries, including retail, government, first nations, construction, tourism and hospitality including wineries, hotels and resorts, technology, real estate and professional services, transportation, religious organizations, and manufacturing.

Chris has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and in matters before other provincial and federal courts and tribunals, and labour and commercial arbitrators.

Professional Activities

  • Law Society of British Columbia, Member
  • Canadian Bar Association, Member
  • Kelowna Bar Association, Member

Community Activities

  • 100 Heroes Kelowna
  • Central Okanagan Sailing Association, Secretary (past)
  • Kelowna Visual Performing Arts Centre Society, Vice President (past)

Recognitions & Rankings

Recognitions & Rankings

  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2024: recognised in Labour & Employment Law

Experience

Experience

Labour and Employment, and Commercial Litigation

  • Defending wrongful dismissal and other employment related actions.
  • Defending labour grievance arbitrations and labour relations board matters.
  • Acting for employers on union certification and decertification matters.
  • Defending human rights complaints.
  • Providing advice on downsizing, reorganizations and closures.
  • Drafting employment agreements, employment policies and procedures.
  • Defending unjust dismissal complaints under the Canada Labour Code.
  • Acting for clients in construction commercial arbitrations including delay claims.
  • Represented first nation arbitrator on judicial review of residential tenancy decision. Chiodo v. Doe, 2021 BCSC 658; 2022 BCCA 33
  • Represented community association defending petition regarding allocation of mooring spaces. Kalantzis v. East Kootenay (Regional District), 2019 BCSC 1001
  • Represented company obtaining injunction against blockades of road construction. Galena Contractors Ltd. v. Zarelli, 2014 BCSC 324

News & Publications

Assistant Contact

Bar Admissions

  • British Columbia (2002)
  • Alberta (2014)
  • Saskatchewan (2016)

Education

University of Alberta (LL.B., 2001)

Bishop’s University (B.A., 1996)

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