Roper Greyell Donates $10,000 to the Crisis Centre of BC

December 2022

At Roper Greyell, we are committed to having a positive impact in our local community. The year-end holiday season is meant to be a time of joy and celebration, however this can also be a challenging time for many individuals. This December, Roper Greyell is donating $10,000 to the Crisis Centre of BC to support their work in our community. The Crisis Centre of BC has been providing help and support to individuals, organizations and communities since 1969. This donation will help support their critical service offerings:

    1. Education to promote mental wellness
    2. Training programs for schools and organizations assist both youth and adults at risk of suicide
    3. 24/7 crisis lines (phone and online)

For more information on the Crisis Centre of BC and how you can support their work, visit: https://crisiscentre.bc.ca

Thomas A. Roper K.C. Receives 2022 Bora Laskin Award

November 2022

Thomas A. Roper, K.C. is one of two 2022 recipients of the Bora Laskin Award. Named in honour of the late Chief Justice Bora Laskin, who was a pre-eminent labour law scholar and labour arbitrator before joining the Supreme Court of Canada, this award was established by the University of Toronto to honour those who have made outstanding contributions to Canadian labour law.

Over the course of his 47-year legal career, Tom has had a significant impact on labour law in B.C through his counsel work, and as one of three special advisers to the Minister of Labour tasked with revamping the B.C. Labour Relations Code in 1992. As a leader within the legal community, Tom’s expertise is highly sought-after by clients, organizations, educators and colleagues. As the Chair of Roper Greyell, he shares his extensive experience and technical understanding of the law as a mentor of young lawyers in the firm.

As noted by the Selection Committee in announcing the award, Tom has “made an indelible mark in the labour relations community,” having “deservedly gained the confidence of both sides of the labour bar in British Columbia as well as universal respect from arbitrators and mediators in the province and beyond.”

Tom will be presented with the Bora Laskin Award on December 14, 2022, in conjunction with Lancaster’s Vancouver Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference.

Congratulations Tom!

Roper Greyell Welcomes Shikha Sondhi as Director of Finance

October 2022

Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome Shikha Sondhi to the firm as Director of Finance.

Shikha brings her expertise in financial analysis and controllership to her role at Roper Greyell. She is an experienced leader of financial accounting teams, providing a strategic vision and mentorship to the team.

Learn more about Shikha here.

Roper Greyell Ranked as Band 1 Firm in 2023 Chambers Canada Guide

September 2022

Roper Greyell LLP has once again been ranked by Chambers Canada as a Band 1 firm for Employment and Labour law in British Columbia and a Band 2 firm in the Nationwide rankings (the only BC-based firm to be included in this Band).

Chambers Canada also recognized five of RG partners as “Ranked Lawyers” in their 2023 Guide:

What clients are saying:

“Roper Greyell provided pragmatic advice that included strategic considerations which allowed us to get to quicker outcomes and avoid unnecessary litigation.”

“The team has an excellent ability to provide advice on complex matters taking into consideration the unique needs of our business.”

About Chambers Canada

Chambers Canada covers lawyers and law firms practicing in all provinces and territories in Canada. The guide recommends lawyers and law firms in over 40 specialist practice areas across Canada, and is published annually each September.

Roper Greyell Welcomes New Associate Katie Comley

September 2022

Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome Katie Comley to the firm.

Katie practices in all areas of employment and labour law. Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Katie was part of the Labour and Employment group at a national firm, and most recently practised with a boutique workplace law and commercial litigation firm in Vancouver

Learn more about Katie here.

Roper Greyell Welcomes Adam Garvin as Chief Operating Officer

September 2022

Roper Greyell LLP is pleased to announce Adam Garvin, CPA, CMA, has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 12, 2022. With almost 20 years of experience in investments, operations, and finance, Adam’s diverse background spans the areas of strategic financial planning and implementation, team leadership, and change management.

Learn more about Adam here.

Roper Greyell Welcomes Chira Perla as Director of Professional Development

August 2022

Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome Chira Perla to the firm as Director of Professional Development.

Chira brings experience as a lawyer and a background in student recruitment, adult learning, and legal professional development to her role at Roper Greyell. She practised as a commercial litigator with national firms in Vancouver and New York before moving into higher education program design and leadership positions, including five years as Assistant Dean of Career Services at the Allard School of Law.

Learn more about Chira here.

RG Celebrates the 2022 Vancouver Pride Festival

July 2022

The Vancouver Pride Festival has historically been one of the largest Pride festivals in Canada. It’s an opportunity for members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ community (along with friends, families and allies), to gather and celebrate at events across the city, culminating in the Pride Parade. However, over the past two years, COVID-19 has meant a significant reduction in Vancouver Pride celebrations and the cancellation of the in-person Pride Parade. This year the Vancouver Pride Festival is back with the theme of “Together Again” signifying the return to in-person events (including the Pride Parade, taking place on July 31st).

Community contribution is one of Roper Greyell’s core values, and we are committed to having a positive impact in our local communities. In the spirit of this commitment and to celebrate this year’s Vancouver Pride, Roper Greyell has made a $5,000 donation to QMUNITY.

QMUNITY is a non-profit organization, based in Vancouver, “that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. (They) provide a safer space for LGBTQ2SAI+ people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included.” Our donation will go towards QMUNITY initiatives such as employment support services, counselling and peer support programs for members of the LGBTQ2SAI+ community.

To learn more about the important work of QMUNITY please visit https://www.qmunity.ca/.

Significant Amendments to the BC Labour Relations Code Now in Effect

June 2022

On April 6, 2022, Bill 10 – 2022 Labour Relations Code Amendment Act, 2022 (“Bill 10”) received first reading.  On June 2, 2022 it received Royal Assent and is now in effect. Bill 10 includes two significant amendments to the BC Labour Relations Code (the “Code”). First, the Code will again allow for “card based” certification, the purpose of which is to allow easier access to unionization. Second, in the construction industry, raids will become easier through the elimination of the current three year waiting period.

The amendments are the latest in a series of changes since 2019 that have significantly altered the labour relations landscape in BC.

To read more about these changes and what they mean for employers please see our April 7, 2022 article by Ryan Copeland, Mike Hamata and Andrew Nicholl.

Roper Greyell Welcomes New Associate Teodora Bardas

May 2022

Roper Greyell is pleased to congratulate Teodora Bardas on joining the firm as an associate lawyer, after previously summering and articling with the firm.

Teodora practices in all areas of workplace law with a particular interest in workplace investigations, human rights, and labour disputes. Congratulations Teodora on your call to the bar!

Learn more about Teodora here.

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