News | Page 3 of 21 | Roper Greyell LLP

Thomas A. Roper Q.C. Recognized as One of B.C.’s Most Influential Business Leaders

August 2022

Thomas A. Roper Q.C. was recently recognized in Business in Vancouver’s 2022 BC500 which features the 500 most influential leaders within British Columbia.

Over the course of his 46-year legal career, Tom has had a significant impact on employment and labour law in B.C. including being appointed one of three special advisers 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. He also shares his extensive experience and technical understanding of the law as a mentor of young lawyers in the firm.

This is the second time Tom has been named on this prestigious list.

Congratulations Tom!

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.

Roper Greyell Welcomes New Associate Sophie Toor

August 2022

Roper Greyell is delighted to announce that Sophie Toor has joined the firm as an associate.

Sophie first joined Roper Greyell as a summer student and completed her articles with the firm.

Sophie practices in all areas of workplace law. Congratulations Sophie on your call to the bar!

Learn more about Sophie 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/.

Roper Greyell Recognized as a 5-Star Safety Law Firm

July 2022

Roper Greyell was recently recognized by Canadian Occupational Safety as a 5-Star Safety law firm. The awards “recognize the lawyers and law firms that are leading the way and demonstrating admirable depth of knowledge on workplace safety matters.”

Two Roper Greyell partners were individually highlighted as 5-Star Safety Lawyers:

Gavin Marshall
Alissa Demerse

Canadian Occupational Safety 5-Star Law Firms and Lawyers 2022 list can be viewed here.

About Canadian Occupational Safety

For almost sixty years Canadian Occupational Safety has been the premier publication on occupational health and safety in Canada. In each issue, readers get a compelling mix of practical, informative, high-quality articles to help them in their work as health and safety professionals.

Canadian Occupational Safety is also the official publication behind Canada’s Safest Employers Awards. Launched in 2011, the event recognizes companies from across Canada with outstanding accomplishments in promoting the health and safety of their workers.

Roper Greyell Welcomes New Associate Donna Chapman-Jones

July 2022

Roper Greyell is delighted to announce that Donna Chapman-Jones has joined the firm as an associate.

Donna first joined Roper Greyell as a summer student and completed her articles with the firm. Donna practices in all areas of workplace law. Congratulations Donna on your call to the bar!

Learn more about Donna here.

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.

Four Roper Greyell Lawyers Recognized in Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Labour & Employment 2022

May 2022

We are pleased to announce that four Roper Greyell lawyers have been recognized as Thought Leaders in labour law and employment law in the 2022 edition of Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Labour & Employment.

The lawyers named in this year’s Who’s Who Legal are:

Thomas A. Roper Q.C.
Delayne Sartison Q.C.
Gregory J. Heywood
James D. Kondopulos

Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Labour & Employment 2022 Guide can be viewed here.

About Who’s Who Legal

Who’s Who Legal has identified the top legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law since 1996. Lawyers are selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide. Only specialists who have met independent international research criteria are listed.

Mandatory Vaccination Policy Upheld by BC Arbitrator

March 2022

On March 21, 2022, Arbitrator Somjen upheld a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy in BC Hydro & Power Authority and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 258.

The employer’s vaccination policy was found to be reasonable, except for language contemplating discipline for non-adherence to the policy. The arbitrator held that the express reference to discipline in the policy was excessive but contemplated that a termination could result at some future time.

The arbitrator’s decision is the first in British Columbia to consider a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy that does not provide a testing alternative to vaccination.

Graeme McFarlane, Christopher Munroe, Andrew Nicholl and Gabrielle Berron-Styan from Roper Greyell were counsel for BC Hydro in this matter.

For more information on this decision see: https://ropergreyell.com/covid19-update/mandatory-vaccination-policy-upheld-by-bc-arbitrator/.

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