Biography

Spotlight

"Nicole is so intelligent, she's really counselled us well and she's very strategic. She always thinks several steps ahead and is readily available." 

- Chambers Canada, 2022 Guide

Nicole practises in all areas of labour and employment law, including advising clients on wrongful dismissal, labour relations, human rights and privacy issues.

Nicole has represented clients in matters involving labour arbitrations, labour relations boards, employment standards tribunals, human rights tribunals, privacy commissioners, and has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. Nicole frequently negotiates collective agreements and provides strategic and tactical advice to clients on drafting employment contracts and the labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions.

Professional Activities

  • Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, President 
  • Canadian Bar Association, Member
  • BC Human Resources Management Association, Member

Community Activities

  • Western Canada Society to Access Justice, pro bono clinic volunteer

Recognitions & Rankings

Recognitions & Rankings

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: recommended as a Leading Practitioner for Employment law (Employer) (2023) and Workplace Human Rights (2023-2024)
  • Chambers Canada 2024: recognised for Employment & Labour - British Columbia (Band 3)
  • The Legal 500 Canada 2023-2024: recommended as a Next Generation Partner in the Labour & Employment category
  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2020-2024: recognised for Labour and Employment Law
  • Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2022-2023: recognised as a Litigation Star
  • Benchmark Litigation: recognised as one of Canada’s 'Top 100 Women in Litigation,' 2022-2023
  • Canadian HR Award Finalist
  • Acritas Stars 2019-2021
  • Benchmark 40 and Under Hotlist for 2018
  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada 2017: recognised for Employment Law
  • 2016 Lexpert Rising Star Award: recognised as one of Canada's Leading Lawyers under 40
  • In 2004, Nicole placed first in the Jessup International Law Moot and represented Canada at the international rounds of the Jessup Moot

Experience

Experience

  • Representing employers in both the provincial and federal sector in a diverse range of industries including: financial services, mining, transportation, construction, retail, First Nations organizations
  • Acting as chief spokesperson for first and subsequent collective agreements for clients in both the federal and provincial sector
  • Providing strategic labour relations advise to employers on matters such as collective agreement interpretation, discipline, grievance resolution, strikes and lockouts, including appearing at arbitrations and labour relations board hearings
  • Acting as counsel on labour board appeals, wrongful dismissal and general civil litigation trials including appearing before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada
  • Providing employment advice including wrongful dismissal, employment standards and drafting employment contracts
  • Providing advice on human rights matters including the duty to accommodate, the permissible scope of drug and alcohol testing, responding to human rights complaints and developing harassment policies
  • Providing labour and employment advice to clients on corporate transactions, reorganizations, downsizing and closures
  • Representing employers in responding to privacy complaints and requests for information pursuant to provincial and federal privacy legislation

News & Publications

News & Publications

Blog Posts

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

  • The Intersection Between Covid-19 and Workplace Privacy Rights, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, August 18, 2020, Panelist
  • Privacy & Data Security Seminar: How Are You Managing Your Risk?, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver | Vancouver, BC, November 6, 2019, Co-Presenter
  • Business Law: Employment and Privacy Seminar, The Innovation Centre | Kelowna, BC, July 11, 2019, Co-speaker
  • 2019 Annual Labour & Employment Seminar, Pan Pacific Hotel, June 12, 2019
  • "Global Implications of Privacy in a Digital Age," 15th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), Charlottetown, PEI, September 2018, Chair
  • "Major Caselaw and Legislative Update: Undue hardship, family status, damage awards, and more", Lancaster House Vancouver Human Rights and Accommodation Conference, April 2018, Speaker
  • "Employment Law Update", 2017 Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 31, 2017, Co-speaker
  • “Cause and Effect: Proof and Perils of a Just Cause Allegation”, 55th Annual HR Conference & Tradeshow, Vancouver Convention Centre West (May 2, 2017), Speaker
  • "Hot Privacy Topics, Coast-To-Coast: Hiring, Health and Hacks", 13th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Winnipeg, MB, September 22-24, 2016, Speaker
  • “Human Rights and Privacy Law Update”, 2016 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, Co-speaker
  • "Employment Law Update", 2015 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 28, 2015, Speaker
  • "Human Rights & Privacy Update", June 11, 2014, Speaker
  • "Employment Law Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (May 31, 2012), Speaker
  • "Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 14, 2011, Speaker
  • "Accommodating Disabilities", Burnaby Roundtable, BC Human Resources Management Association, February 17, 2011, Speaker
  • "Dismissing", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 2, 2010, Speaker
  • "Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, October 30, 2008, Speaker
  • "Duty to Accommodate", June 21, 2007, Speaker
  • "Drug and Alcohol Testing", June 21, 2006, Speaker
Nicole Skuggedal, Lawson Lundell Photo
Vancouver
t 604.631.6795
f 604.694.2912

Assistant Contact

Bar Admissions

  • British Columbia (2006)
  • Northwest Territories (2008)
  • Yukon (2010)

Education

University of Victoria (B.Comm. (with Distinction) 1999)

University of Toronto (J.D. 2005)

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