Biography

Spotlight

Rob is renowned for his skill in wrongful dismissals, workers' compensation claims and workplace investigations. Additionally, he has notable experience advising on the employment aspects of M&A transactions. Clients say: "He is a very strategic lawyer with good people skills. Robert is an elite lawyer."

- Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

Rob Sider, KC, is the head of the Labour, Employment and Human Rights Group at Lawson Lundell. His practice focuses on management-side labour and employment law. He advises on labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions and day-to-day labour and employment issues. His work includes labour and employment litigation, arbitrations, human rights, employment standards (including director and officer liability issues), collective bargaining and workers compensation.

Rob has appeared in front of labour relations boards, employment standards tribunals, human rights tribunals as well as before the British Columbia Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal. 

Professional Activities

  • Canadian Bar Association, Member
  • Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Employment Law Subsection, Member and past Chair (2004-05)
  • Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Labour Law Subsection, Member
  • Human Resource Management Association, Member
  • Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), Member

Community Activities

  • Men's League Director, Tennis BC
  • Past President, New Westminster Tennis Club
  • Director and Secretary, Fraserside Community Services Society

Recognitions & Rankings

Recognitions & Rankings

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: recommended as a leading practitioner for Employment law (Employer) (2023-2024) and Workplace Human Rights (2024)
  • Chambers Canada 2024: recognised for Employment & Labour - British Columbia (Band 2) 
  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2014-2024: recognised for Labour and Employment Law
  • The Legal 500 Canada 2023-2024recommended as a Leading Individual in the Labour & Employment category
  • Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2019-2023: recognised as a Litigation Star
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2022: recommended as a leading practitioner for Employment law (Employer) and Labour Relations
  • Who's Who Legal:
    • recommended in Labour, Employment & Benefits (Canada) 2023
    • recommended in Labour, Employment & Benefits (Global Guide) 2023
    • recommended in Global Elite Thought Leader 2024
  • Thomson Reuters "Stand-out Lawyer" 2022
  • Acritas Stars 2019-2021
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2019: recommended as a leading practitioner for Workplace Human Rights law (Employer)
  • Chambers Global 2018: recognised in the Employment & Labour (Canada) category
  • Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated

Experience

Experience

  • Defending wrongful dismissal and other employment related actions 
  • Providing advice on negotiating and litigating restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements
  • Providing advice on significant downsizings, plant closures, and reorganizations
  • Negotiations of employment contracts, stock option plans, and change of control agreements with senior executives
  • Providing advice to Boards on compensation and director liability issues
  • Conducting investigations of harassment and defending employers in respect of harassment claims
  • Acting as chief spokesperson for the employer on both first collective agreements and renewals
  • Successfully negotiating collective agreements for a wide variety of employers in both British Columbia and Alberta, including employers in the forestry, construction, transportation, service, financial and food industries
  • Providing advice on share and asset deals in the forestry, mining, manufacturing, financial and service industries

News & Publications

News & Publications

Blog Posts

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

  • 2019 Annual Labour & Employment Seminar, Pan Pacific Hotel, June 12, 2019
  • "Employment Law Update", 2017 Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 31, 2017, Co-speaker
  • "Cause and Effect: Proof and Perils of a Just Cause Allegation", HR Conference + Tradeshow 2017, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia and Yukon, May 2-3, 2017, Moderator
  • "Mental Health ‐ Innovative Accommodations For New and Evolving Disabilities", 13th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, September 2016, Presenter on Human Rights Panel
  • "What's New in Employment Law", 2016 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 16, 2016, Speaker
  • "Environmental Sensitivity and Duty to Accommodate" - OH&S Human Rights Panel, CACE Conference 2015: Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 10, 2015, Panel Member
  • "Employment Law Update", 2015 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 28, 2015, Speaker
  • "Latest in Duty to Accommodate", Legal Symposium, BC Human Rights Management Association, May 29, 2014, Speaker
  • "Cross Canada Human Rights Update", 10th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Banff, AB, October 3 - 5, 2013
  • "The Rundown on Employment Law", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 6, 2013, Speaker
  • "Creating a Psychologically Safe Workplace: Reducing stress and addressing mental illness", Human Rights and Accommodation Conference, Lancaster House, Vancouver, BC, April 17-18, 2013, Speaker
  • "Employment Law Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (May 31, 2012), Speaker
  • "Tackling Tough Duty to Accommodate Issues", April 26-27, 2012, Speaker
  • "Employment", February 16, 2012, Course Presenter
  • "Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 14, 2011, Speaker
  • "Background Checks in the Age of Facebook", BC Human Resources Association Conference, April 14-15, 2011, Speaker
  • "Written Employment Agreements - Getting It Right", Legal Symposium, BC Human Resources Association, February 10, 2011, Speaker
  • "Written Employment Agreements - Getting It Right", Legal Symposium, BC Human Resources Association, January 27, 2011, Speaker
  • "Employment Law", Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, September 23, 2010, Course Presenter
  • "Benefits, Pension and Tax Issues Arising from Employment Related Settlements", Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Employment Subsection, September 20, 2010, Speaker
  • "Hiring", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 2, 2010, Speaker
  • “Downsizing in a Downturn: Points to Consider when Reducing your Workforce”, Practical Tips for Tough Economic Times Seminar, May 20, 2009, Speaker
  • "Layoff, Bumping and Recall: Canvassing Options in Tough Economic Times", Lancaster House, March 5, 2009, Speaker
  • "Labour Relations Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, October 30, 2008, Speaker
  • "Employment Law Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 21, 2007, Speaker
  • "Pre-Employment Screening and the Hiring Process", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 21, 2006, Speaker
Robert Sider, KC, Lawson Lundell Photo
Vancouver
t 604.631.6722
f 604.669.1620

Assistant Contact

Bar Admissions

  • British Columbia (1991)
  • Alberta (1999)
  • Yukon (2010)

Education

Dickinson College; Victoria College, University of Toronto (B.A., 1987)

University of Toronto (LL.B., 1990)

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