Labour & Employment

Our Labour & Employment Law Group assists clients in meeting the challenges of today’s workplace by providing practical advice on all aspects of the employment relationship. We also understand the client’s concern about its bottom line.  Our approach is to establish a close working relationship, understand your objectives and then work hard to help your organization prosper.

We advise a wide range of clients on issues relating to union and non-union settings in both the public and private sector throughout British Columbia. We regularly represent our clients before federal and provincial courts, arbitrators, and administrative panels.  Our lawyers have a diverse background and can provide innovative solutions to problems arising in the employment context including:

Employment Law

• Employment aspects of business startups, reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and closures.
• Employment contracts and severance agreements.
• Confidentiality, non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements.
• Human resources issues, including policy formulation and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Wrongful dismissal litigation.
• Statutory compliance and complaints (including employment standards, human rights, and workers’ compensation matters).
• Attendance and absenteeism, employee health and disability issues,
• Workplace safety issues.
• Discipline and discharge of employees.
• Workplace harassment and discrimination.

Labour Law

• Union avoidance strategies.
• Bargaining unit organization and certification, unfair labour practices, collective bargaining.
• Grievance handling and arbitration.
• All aspects of union strikes, lockouts, and picketing disputes.

Please do not hesitate to contact one of our employment lawyers for more information or a confidential consultation.

Labour & Employment Group

Alfred Kempf Bio vCard Email Alf carries on a litigation practice concentrating on labour and employment law as well as commercial and insolvency litigation matters.   Alf is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Bachelor of Law Degree. He joined Pushor Mitchell in 1982 and became a partner in 1985. He is the author of a number of articles on labour and employment and has spoken to many diverse groups on these topics. More   Joni Metherell Bio vCard Email Joni’s practice encompasses a range of civil litigation areas. She has experience with estate disputes, commercial disputes, and labour and employment issues. More   Mark Baron Bio vCard Email Mark has practiced civil litigation for over twenty five years with a focus on commercial disputes, construction litigation, wills and estates litigation and personal injury litigation.   More   Robert Smithson Bio vCard Email Robert is a member of the firm’s Labour and Employment Law Group. His practice is focused exclusively on employment law in the union and non-union contexts.  More   Una Gabie Bio vCard Email Una’s practice area involves business law, wills and estates, trusts, real estate and employment law. During her time with Pushor Mitchell she has been involved in a number of cases and transactions in these areas. More