Tom is recognized as a leading practitioner in western Canada in advising and representing union and non-union employers in respect to labour arbitrations, Labour Relations Board applications, wrongful dismissal, human rights, privacy, employment standards, workers’ compensation, and various other labour and employment matters.

He advises employers regarding the drafting, implementation, and application of executive contracts, employment agreements, non-competition and confidentiality provisions, change of control agreements, drug and alcohol testing programs, harassment policies, and general employment policies and practices.

Tom also advises employers regarding corporate structure from a labour relations perspective, particularly in respect to major industrial construction and leads employers in respect to collective bargaining.

Employers from many different industries engage Tom to advise and represent them in a variety of matters and before various tribunals and courts, including: Court of Appeal of Alberta, Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Federal Court of Canada, Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, Provincial Court of Alberta, Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, Canada Human Rights Commission, Employment Standards, Workers’ Compensation Board, Arbitration Boards and many other administrative tribunals.

Based in Calgary, Tom conducts cases across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Education

• LL.B., University of Alberta
• B.A. Business Administration (Honours), Ivey School of Business - University of Western Ontario

Awards and Recognition

• Leading practitioner - Labour & Employment (Management), Workplace Human Rights, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 
  
• Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of Employment Law, 2012 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
• Recognized in the area of Labour and Employment Law, Best Lawyers in Canada
• Recognized as a leading business lawyer under Management Labour and Employment by Who's Who Legal
• Finalist, Top 40 under 40, 2006

Professional Associations and Affiliations

• Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
• Member, Canadian Bar Association 
  • Labour Law Section
• Member, Human Resources Association of Calgary
• Member, Canadian Industrial Relations Association
• Senator, Junior Chamber International

Labour & Employment

• Represented employers in precedent-setting labour appeals (Voice Construction, Consolidated Fastfrate) and leave to appeal applications (Enmax, Finning Canada) before the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Acted as co-counsel to the Province of Alberta in respect of the constitutionality of federal firearms legislation (Firearms Reference) before the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Conducts appeals from judicial review for employers.
• Regularly represents organizations on judicial review applications and employment lawsuits.
• Continually represents and advises employers before the Alberta Labour Relations Board and the Canada Industrial Relations Board regarding matters such as union certification and revocation, unfair labour practice complaints, strikes and lockouts, and successorship and common employer applications.
• Regularly represents employers before Grievance Arbitration Boards in disputes arising under collective agreements. Tom has represented employers in respect to such issues as management rights, employee discipline and terminations, layoffs, discrimination, sexual harassment, workplace accommodation, intoxication, employee compensation, employee benefits, and union dues and remittances.
• Regularly represents employers in respect to human rights complaints before the Human Rights Commission of Alberta.
• Represents employers in respect to privacy complaints presented to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
• Represents employers in respect to employment standards complaints.
• Tom frequently negotiates collective agreements in the fields of construction, steelworks, manufacturing, education, professional services, and utilities.
• Tom assists many employers in the immigration of temporary foreign workers.

   

2011

• “Employment Policies, Don’t Leave Home Without Them”, Institute of Professional Management
• “Managing Employees in Today’s Workplace”, Travelodge Canada
• “Labour Law Update”, Labour Arbitration Conference and Policy Conference

2010

• “Alternative Unionism”, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
• “Consolidated Fastfrate Case”, Canadian Transport Lawyers Association
• “Drug and Alcohol Testing”, Canadian Bar Association
• “Managing Employees in Today’s Workplace”, Cooperators
• “Labour and Employment Update”, Canadian Bar Association Alberta Law Conference

2009

• “Drug and Alcohol Testing", Canadian Institute Construction Superconference
• “FCL re. Accommodation and Human Rights”, Human Resources Association of Calgary

In addition to those listed above, Tom presents at many client seminars on union organizing and certification, human rights and accommodation, employee management, conducting investigations, collective bargaining, labour and employment legislation, privacy, and employment standards. Tom frequently fields media inquiries in respect to labour and employment matters.