Roper Greyell LLP is pleased to announce that the following lawyers have been recognized in the area of Labour and Employment Law in the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers in Canada:
Sandra Guarascio
James D. Kondopulos
Thomas A. Roper, QC
Delayne Sartison, QC
Gabrielle Scorer
Kim Thorne
We are pleased to announce that Tom Roper has been elected to serve another three year term as a member of the Board of Governors of the Business Council of British Columbia.
The Business Council of British Columbia is a non-partisan association made up of 260 leading companies, post-secondary institutions and organizations from across BC’s diverse economy, which collectively support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the province. For more information please visit their website.
Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome, new associate, Brandon Hillis to the firm. Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Brandon summered, articled and practiced as a labour and employment associate at a national law firm in Vancouver. Brandon was called to the British Columbia bar in 2012.
Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome, new associate, David Louie to the firm. David joined the firm as a Summer Student in 2013, and completed his articles with the firm. David was called to the British Columbia bar in 2015.
The Human Resources Management Association (HRMA) will present Tom Roper with a Honorary Lifetime Membership at its annual awards luncheon on April 29, 2015.
Each year, HRMA celebrates industry leading professionals who have made a significant impact in the human resources community. Candidates are nominated by three fellow HRMA association members and the prestigious status is then granted by the Board of Directors. This year, HRMA is celebrating three recipients: Thomas A. Roper, Q.C., Betsy Gibbons and David Yarmish, CHRP.
Tom served as President in 1989-90 and remains an active member of the association. He has been a strategic advisor to the human resources community and dedicated to educating HR professionals on the business of employment and labour law. As a mentor, Tom shares his passion, experience and knowledge of the law with other lawyers at his firm and throughout the legal community.
Lynn Joly, Associate Vice-President, Human Resources at Royal Roads University and a member of Tom’s nominating committee wrote, “I feel honored to have been able to work with Tom over many years and learn so much from him. He holds the highest standards of conduct in his legal practice and with his clients.”
Tom was appointed Queens Counsel in 1998 and is consistently recognized by his peers for his contributions to the legal industry. He is highly ranked in LEXPERT’s Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, The International Who’s Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers, and Best Lawyers’ International. Tom was also chosen as Lawyer of the Year in Labour and Employment Law (Vancouver), in the 2014 edition of Best Lawyers.
This Honorary Life Membership is an acknowledgment of Tom’s 40 years of dedication and outstanding achievement within the human resources community.
We are pleased to announce that Roper Greyell has once again been ranked as a leading employment and labour law firm in the 2015 edition of Chambers Global. Thomas A. Roper, Q.C., Delayne Sartison, Q.C. and Gregory Heywood were also ranked individually.
Meet the Roper Greyell lawyers who have been recognized for their expertise:
Thomas A. Roper, Q.C. is a “litigation specialist who maintains a thoroughly varied labour and employment practice.” One peer commented: “first-rate lawyer” who is “one of the big guns.”
Delayne Sartison, Q.C. is a “founding partner who was first ranked in Chambers Global 2012. She has notable expertise in management-side employment and health sector labour relations.”
Gregory Heywood “specialises in matters relating to labour law and is frequently involved in human rights tribunal hearings.” One peer commented: “He has a thriving practice and is well regarded.”
All quotes are from Chambers Global 2015.
About Chambers Global
Chambers Global is a well-respected legal publication that ranks the world’s best lawyers and law firms. Rankings are based on in-depth research and interviews conducted by over 150 highly qualified researchers.
Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome, new associate, Meaghan McWhinnie to the firm. Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Meaghan articled and practiced at a national firm in Toronto. Meaghan was called to the Ontario bar in 2013 and the British Columbia bar in 2015.
Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome Jennifer Devins, Michael Kilgallin and Jennifer Russell as new partners of the firm. The addition of these partners builds on our commitment to provide our clients with the highest quality legal representation and strategic advice in the areas of employment, labour and workplace law.
Meet our new partners:
Jennifer Devins is a trusted advisor to employers in all areas of workplace law, with extensive experience in human rights issues. Her clients value her skill in helping them navigate highly complex challenges and she has acted on their behalves in arbitrations, at tribunals, and at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Michael Kilgallin is a client-focused, proactive advocate with extensive experience at nearly every level of court and tribunal. His clients benefit from his responsiveness and skill in helping them avoid disputes before they arise, and in resolving them when they do. He has proven experience in guiding employers away from union certification, as well as helping them operate successfully in a unionized environment.
Jennifer Russell is a skilled and loyal advocate who builds strong relationships with her clients by developing a deep understanding of their businesses and unique challenges. Practicing in all areas of employment, labour and human rights law, she represents clients in both the public and private sector. Jennifer is resourceful and experienced litigator with particular experience in judicial review and appellate advocacy. Her clients appreciate her strategic and practical advice, trusting her to act as their spokesperson in collective bargaining.
The Vancouver Bar Association presented Thomas A. Roper, QC with the Peter S. Hyndman Mentorship Award at its annual general meeting held on November 20, 2014.
This prestigious annual award recognizes legal professionals who have provided guidance and mentorship to others in the legal industry. Past recipients of the award are William S. Berardino, QC, Richard C. Peck, QC, Leonard T. Doust, QC, Leon Getz, QC, Robert G. Ward, QC, Bruce R. Grist, and Donald W. Yule QC.
Tom exemplifies what it means to be a mentor. His extraordinary enthusiasm, integrity and generosity have taught so many what it truly means to practice law at the highest level. Anyone that knows Tom will not be surprised that he is this year’s recipient of the mentorship award.
As an endorser of Tom’s nomination, Delayne Sartison, QC wrote, “Tom is generous with both his vast knowledge and his time and is a true collaborator by nature. Despite his well-deserved personal reputation as a pre-eminent labour and employment lawyer, Tom has been and remains devoted to the development of his “team” whom he regularly, consciously and publicly credits with shared successes. Tom does not develop students, associates or junior partners to support his work behind the scenes. Tom treats his colleagues, no matter their status or year of call, as valuable colleagues. Those around him benefit immensely and develop legal and practice management skills much more rapidly than they would without a team-focussed mentor like Tom.”
Over the past 40 years, Tom has been recognized by his peers and others for the contribution he makes to the legal industry. In 1998 he was appointed Queens Counsel, he is highly ranked in LEXPERT’s Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, The International Who’s Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers, and Best Lawyers’ International. In 2014 Roper was chosen as Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in Labour and Employment Law in Vancouver.
The Peter S. Hyndman award is just one more acknowledgment of Tom’s impact on his chosen profession and his firm . Roper Greyell is proud to have Tom on its team. His leadership continues to propel us to excellence and has resulted in a phenomenal team of lawyers and staff.
We are very pleased to announce that Jill Karras is the winner of the Roper Greyell LLP Course Prize at TRU’s Faculty of Law. The prize is awarded to the student with the highest final mark in the upper years course in the J.D. program. Congratulations to Jill!
