Department profile
Fasken

Employment & Labour

Canada Guide 2026 : British Columbia

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Fasken

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About

Provided by Fasken

Appropriately navigating the labour, employment, and human rights landscapes is essential to attracting, retaining, and motivating your employees and by extension successfully maintaining and developing your business.

With offices in all the major city centres across Canada, our Labour, Employment & Human Rights (LEHR) lawyers work with clients to provide proactive and pragmatic advice. Whether you need help to conclude innovative collective agreements or create risk management and compliance programs, we have the in-depth knowledge and experience required. In the event disputes arise, we will help you defuse tension among stakeholders and skillfully represent your interests in court, before tribunals or at arbitration.

As one of the largest national labour, employment and human rights practices in Canada, we are able to comprehensively assist clients with their LEHR needs across the country in a coordinated manner. We represent major federally regulated employers including banks, airlines, telecommunication companies and Crown corporations. We also advise many significant employers in a broad range of provincially regulated sectors including retail, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, education, health, financial services, among others.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment & Labour - British Columbia

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Fasken is an esteemed national law firm with a highly respected employment and labour practice in Vancouver. It is appointed by employers ranging from regional companies to national and multinational corporations in sectors as diverse as retail, technology and energy. The firm advises on a broad array of matters, including collective bargaining agreements, labour relations and wrongful dismissal complaints. It possesses further expertise in human rights issues, including in relation to allegations of sexual harassment, and regularly handles matters relating to the employment aspects of large M&A transactions.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Fasken represented Overstory Media Group in a union certification application brought by the Canadian Media Guild for a bargaining unit of Overstory’s employees across Canada.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Fasken provides great communication, is highly knowledgeable and has expertise to draw from.

    Employment & Labour respondentCanada

  • The Fasken team is experienced in the field and understands our sector and the concerns driving our operations.

    Employment & Labour respondentCanada

  • The legal representatives at Fasken provide us with advice that we trust.

    Employment & Labour respondentCanada

  • Fasken has expertise, care of service and customer support. The high degree of commercial awareness at Fasken has helped provide valuable insight to our business.

    Employment & Labour respondentCanada

  • The firm has strong understanding of the legalities around employment issues.

    Employment & Labour respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • David McDonald
    David McDonald

    David McDonald

    David McDonald is a partner in Fasken's Vancouver labour, employment and human rights group. He acts for federal clients both in British Columbia and across Western Canada, most significantly on collective agreements, strike actions and judicial review. He advises his clients on labour relations, all areas of employment law, human rights and occupational health and safety.

    • David is a wealth of knowledge and very practical.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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  • Clayton Jones
    Clayton Jones

    Clayton Jones

    Clayton Jones is the manager of Fasken's labour, employment and human rights group in Vancouver. He is a prominent lawyer when it comes to labour arbitration, most significantly acting for clients in the forestry and infrastructure sectors. He exhibits further strengths in advising on the employment aspects of corporate restructurings.

    • It has been a pleasure to work with Clayton. He is clear in his messaging and supportive when difficult decisions must be made.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • Clayton is very knowledgeable, pragmatic and provides alternative options to consider. He is very personable and takes the time to build rapport.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • I swear by him; it doesn't matter what the issue is, I can always count on him. Clayton handles all matters beautifully and he has extensive knowledge.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • He has the ability to provide sound, direct advice and maintain an approach that keeps the issue down to earth.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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  • David Wong
    David Wong

    David Wong

    David Wong is co-leader of Fasken's national labour, employment and human rights practice group and the head of the human rights group in the Vancouver office. He has developed a notable reputation for his capabilities in a variety of employment issues, from labour relations and collective bargaining to grievance arbitrations and human rights cases.

    • David is really thoughtful and listens thoroughly. He's flexible and understands when we need to get creative.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • I always feel like he makes our organisation a priority and he is always well prepared.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • David is a great leader of his team.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • David is always available to answer questions and gives business-minded advice when considering complicated employment-related issues.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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  • Stephanie Gutierrez
    Stephanie Gutierrez

    Stephanie Gutierrez

    Stephanie Gutierrez is based in Fasken's Vancouver office and has fast become a go-to lawyer for numerous national and provincial clients in collective bargaining and contentious labour matters.

    • She routinely demonstrates a high degree of care for us as a client and has provided invaluable support to numerous sophisticated matters.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • Stephanie is very responsive to our needs, always willing to discuss options and is knowledgeable on the issues.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • Stephanie has a deep understanding of our business.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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  • Leslie Whittaker
    Leslie Whittaker

    Leslie Whittaker

    Leslie Whittaker is an associate based in Fasken's Vancouver office. She delivers comprehensive guidance across a variety of employment matters.

    • I adore working with Leslie. Her knowledge and responsiveness is top-notch.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • We couldn't have better support from Leslie. She takes the time to explain situations which I'm unsure how to navigate.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada

    • I really appreciate that Leslie is clear and decisive.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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  • Matthew Allard
    Matthew Allard

    Matthew Allard

    Matthew Allard is an associate who capably supports employers on a wide spectrum of employment, labour and human rights issues. He is based in Fasken's Vancouver office.

    • Matthew is very knowledgeable and supportive.

      Employment & Labour respondentCanada
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Ranked Individuals at Fasken (6)

British Columbia

Members

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