Employment & Labour
Canada Guide 2025 : British Columbia
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 604 684 9151About
Provided by Farris LLP
Farris has a full-service labour and employment practice, providing advice, counsel, and representation to our clients in all aspects of workplace law.
We have broad experience representing employers in employment law disputes, including wrongful dismissal matters, disputes relating to restrictive covenants, disability related claims, discrimination and accommodation matters, Human Rights issues, employment and labour standards matters, privacy matters, and workers compensation issues. Our lawyers regularly represent our clients in Court and before administrative tribunals that apply employment-related statutes.
Our lawyers have vast experience in labour relations matters, acting before arbitrators, arbitration boards, and appearing in related judicial reviews and injunction applications before all levels of court and advising employers in a wide range of industries. We regularly act for employers with respect to grievance arbitration and collective agreement administration. Our lawyers conduct Labour Board hearings including applications for certification and decertification, unfair labour practices, variance, common employer and successorship issues. We assist clients with strikes and lockouts and the legal issues that can arise including picketing, ally and replacement workers.
Chambers Review
Farris offers a strong, full-service employment and labour practice in British Columbia. The firm has offices in Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria, and is often selected to advise employers on both unionised and non-unionised workplace issues. It also frequently acts on employment contracts, strikes and lockouts, as well as unfair labour practice cases. The lawyers also have experience handling human rights complaints, notably when pertaining to allegations of discrimination. Telecommunications, real estate and education are among the diverse range of sectors from which the team's client base originates.
Work Highlights
- Farris represented Starbucks in a dispute arising from the wage increase to non-union personnel, without providing the same to its unionised personnel.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Farris' advice is extremely insightful, factual and understandable."
"Farris are extremely knowledgeable and can always be counted on. They understand that our business is extremely complex and fast moving and their customer service is fantastic."
"Farris are very responsive to phone and email requests from our team. They usually get back to us within an hour, which is outstanding."
"They are very detailed and committed to ensuring that they understand the full scope of the issue being presented. They are also highly prepared once you get to the hearing."
"Farris' advice is extremely insightful, factual and understandable."
"Farris are extremely knowledgeable and can always be counted on. They understand that our business is extremely complex and fast moving and their customer service is fantastic."
"Farris are very responsive to phone and email requests from our team. They usually get back to us within an hour, which is outstanding."
"They are very detailed and committed to ensuring that they understand the full scope of the issue being presented. They are also highly prepared once you get to the hearing."
Notable Practitioners
Michael Korbin is based in Vancouver and operates a robust contentious employment practice. He acts for clients based provincially and federally on a range of issues, from human rights discrimination claims to both unionised and non-unionised grievance arbitrations.
"Mike is fantastic counsel. He is very easy to talk to and provides very sound advice on files ensuring that we make the right decisions."
"Michael is very pragmatic, challenges back and takes the time to weigh out the pros and cons of every file."
"Michael is simply outstanding. He is our go-to guy for highly important cases, including interpretational, discipline and human rights files."
"Mike is outstanding and an extremely talented, knowledgeable and kind lawyer. There is no other way to describe him."
"Michael offers insightful and thoroughly well though-out advice consistently."
Ranked Lawyers at
Farris LLP
British Columbia
Industries
Provided by Farris LLP
Administrative & Regulatory Law
Appellate Advocacy
Arbitration
Corporate & Commercial
Human Rights
Insolvency & Financial Restructuring
Professional Liability