Nicole Byres, QC

Nicole represents employers in labour arbitrations and other administrative tribunals including the Labour Relations Board and Human Rights Tribunal, and at all levels of courts in BC. She works collaboratively with her clients to provide strategic, practical advice for both provincially and federally regulated employers in the following areas:

• Labour relations: collective bargaining – strategic advice, negotiation, and drafting; labour arbitrations, labour relations and discipline; union certifications, successorship, and bargaining unit changes; essential services applications; and advice and applications regarding common site picketing, illegal picketing and strikes/lock-outs.
• Employment law: employment agreements and executive compensation; termination of employees and defence of wrongful dismissal claims; drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants; employee issues arising from the purchase and sale of a business or business unit; employment policies including those related to code of conduct, protection of intellectual property and confidential information; management of employees with performance problems or medical restrictions; and workplace investigations, including those related to bullying and harassment complaints.
• Occupational health and safety/workers compensation: prime contractor roles and responsibilities; advice and appeals of WorkSafe BC penalties, assessments, and accident assessments; and dealing with workplace incidents and fatalities.
• Human rights, employment standards, and privacy: complaints, demands, investigations, applications, and judicial review.

Nicole also has many years of experience sitting on corporate and not-for-profit boards, and regularly advises boards on matters relating to corporate governance, board and senior leadership assessment and renewal, and fiduciary obligations of officers and directors.