News

Roper Greyell Recognized in Chambers Global 2018

February 2018

We are pleased to announce that Roper Greyell has once again been ranked as a leading employment and labour law firm by Chambers Global. Thomas A. Roper, Q.C., Delayne Sartison, Q.C. and Gregory Heywood, were also ranked individually in the latest edition of the annual publication.

Meet our lawyers who have been recognized as leaders in employment and labour law:

Thomas A. Roper, Q.C. is described as a “well respected figure whose practice sees him represent clients in a variety of employment-related litigation.” Tom’s significant contributions to the development of labour legislation in BC over the course of his career is highlighted in the publication.

Chambers highlights Delayne Sartison, Q.C.’s experience in the healthcare sector, workplace human rights claims, collective bargaining and workplace harassment issues. Sources call Delayne: “One of the leading labour lawyers in British Columbia.”

Market commentators describe Gregory Heywood as “a very able and active labour law practitioner.” Greg is described as an employment litigator who “has represented clients in wrongful dismissal cases as well as matters relating to workplace human rights.”

All quotes are from Chambers Global 2018.

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 Welcomes Keri L. Bennett as Partner and Privacy Lead

January 2018

We are pleased to welcome Keri L. Bennett to the firm as partner and privacy lead.

As one of the largest and most respected employment and labour law firms in Western Canada, we continue to pursue our strategy of growth from within our own ranks and beyond. “Keri brings the combination of credentials, experience, and commitment to client service for which our firm is known,” says Thomas A. Roper, QC, Roper Greyell’s Chair. “2017 has been a very good year for us with respect to our team members being recognized for excellence among their peers and the addition of Keri to the firm. Her experience and expertise is perfectly aligned with our vision of being the go-to firm for employers seeking engaged partners in dealing with the complexities of the modern workplace.”

A Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) graduate from the University of Toronto, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Regina, Keri is a labour, employment and privacy lawyer who assists both public bodies and private organizations. Providing counsel to unionized and non-union employers, she also litigates labour, employment, human rights and privacy matters.  She prides herself on negotiating cost- effective settlements and vigorously defending client’s interests before courts, tribunals, labour arbitrators, and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

“I see myself as a problem solver,” she says.  “If, in our increasingly complex world, I can help clients navigate tricky privacy matters, and the issues that arise at any stage of the employment relationship, then I’m doing my job.  I could not be happier than to do it with the team of honoured and respected professionals at Roper Greyell, and I am greatly looking forward to learning from them and contributing my own expertise.”

Click here to learn more about workplace privacy services at Roper Greyell.

Danny Bernstein Becomes Roper Greyell’s Newest Partner

January 2018

We are pleased to welcome Danny Bernstein to the partnership.

Having practised law first in Western Australia and then Ontario, Danny moved to British Columbia and joined Roper Greyell in 2015. He acts in all areas of labour, employment, and human rights law in both provincial and federal jurisdictions, regularly helping clients respond to wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, human rights complaints, and statutory entitlement claims.

Roper Greyell founding partner Tom Roper, QC, says, “Danny’s practical, thoughtful, and detail-oriented approach to client issues has made him an invaluable asset to our firm and we’re delighted to recognize his contributions by welcoming him as a partner.”

In addition to his client work, Danny speaks and writes on a broad range of workplace law topics, and conducts seminars and client training on workplace issues. Clients often seek his advice around terminations and layoffs, hiring new employees, and in dealing with complex human rights and performance management challenges.  “It’s important to me to get to know and understand my clients and their businesses so that I can play a meaningful role in helping them to achieve their short and long term objectives,” Danny says.

Danny’s move into a partnership role comes on the heels of Roper Greyell having been named by Canadian Lawyer magazine,  as one of the country’s Top Ten Labour and Employment Boutique firms. The firm has also been cited by the 2018 edition of Chambers Canada as a leading firm in its field and several of its lawyers have been ranked individually by Chambers as top legal practitioners.  “It has been an amazing opportunity for me to learn from some of this country’s best labour and employment lawyers, “ says Danny, “and it’s a huge honour to be asked to take a place among them.”

Roper Greyell Named One of the Top 10 Labour & Employment Boutiques in Canada

January 2018

Roper Greyell has once again been named by the prestigious Canadian Lawyer magazine as one of the Top Ten Labour and Employment Boutique law firms in Canada. Considered one of the country’s leading evaluators of performance in the legal sector, Canadian Lawyer biannually compiles a list of Canada’s most notable firms specializing in specific disciplines and asks in-house counsel and senior lawyers from larger firms to rank a shortlist generated by the magazine’s editorial team.

“Our firm was built on a vision of excellence in all we do. This kind of peer recognition is a very gratifying affirmation that we’re achieving the quality of professional service and client satisfaction that every member of our team aspires to deliver every single day”, says Tom Roper, QC, Roper Greyell’s Chair.

Over the past decade, Roper Greyell has grown from a core group of nine employment and labour lawyers to a complement of more than 31 lawyers who are nationally and internationally recognized in the field of workplace law. Today, the firm is one of the most respected and recognized workplace law practices in Western Canada, known for a client-focused approach that has made it a trusted resource for top-tier employers in British Columbia and across the country.

“We’re proud to have some of the country’s best and most innovative practitioners in this particular area of the law. It’s a great boost to all of us to know that our efforts have earned us a national reputation for excellence”, says Tom Roper, QC.

Click here for more information

About Canadian Lawyer

Canadian Lawyer, a Thompson Reuters business that provides objective reporting and analysis of the legal landscape from coast to coast, defines “boutique firms” as collections of lawyers specializing in niche areas of the law as opposed to general practice firms that house of variety of practice areas under one roof.

Roper Greyell ranked in the 2018 Edition of Legal 500 Canada

December 2017

Roper Greyell is proud to once again be recognized as a leading firm in the area of Labour and Employment Law by Legal 500 Canada. In addition, Thomas A. Roper, Q.C. continues to be ranked individually in the “Leading Lawyers” category. The 2018 edition of the publication noted that Tom ‘has rightly earned the highest respect in the profession.’ Special recognition goes to Jennifer Devins who was featured in the “Next Generation Lawyers” category for the first time.

Click here for complete rankings.

Legal 500

One of the world’s largest legal referral guides, The Legal 500 series has been analyzing and ranking the capabilities of law firms across the world for 27 years. Its comprehensive research program is based on feedback from 250,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Roper Greyell Recognized in Chambers Canada 2018

September 2017

We are pleased to announce that Roper Greyell has once again been ranked as a leading employment and labour law firm in the 2018 edition of Chambers Canada. Thomas A. Roper Q.C., Delayne Sartison Q.C., Gregory J. Heywood and J. Najeeb Hassan were also ranked individually.

Meet the Roper Greyell lawyers who have been recognized for their expertise:

Thomas A. Roper Q.C. was first ranked by Chambers and Partners in 2009 and is known for his ‘long-standing practice’. One client praised him as “highly responsive” with another adding that he is “imbued with wisdom.”

One client described Delayne Sartison Q.C. as “one of the best lawyers I’ve dealt with – she’s highly organised, highly responsive and very well prepared.”

Gregory J. Heywood is described by one source as “one of the most tenacious lawyers I’ve worked with.”

J. Najeeb Hassan  is known for his experience with the certification and decertification of unions, collective agreements and managing strikes. One client commented that they relied on his “knowledge and experience to help guide us through complex and contentious labour issues.”

All quotes are from Chambers Canada 2018.

Click here to view the 2018 Chambers Canada Guide.

About Chambers Canada

Chambers Canada 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 Welcomes New Associate, Julia Bell

September 2017

We are pleased to welcome Julia Bell to the firm.

Julia graduated from the Juris Doctor program at the University of Victoria in May 2015. While at the University of Victoria, Julia received numerous awards, including course prizes in labour law, administrative law, and contracts law. She also worked as a peer tutor for first-year law students.

Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Julia articled at a national law firm and clerked for seven justices at the British Columbia Supreme Court.

New edition of Human Capital Law and Policy – Business Council of British Columbia

September 2017
Legal update by: Thomas A. Roper Q.C.

In the latest edition of Human Capital Law and Policy Jock Finlayson, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Business Council of British Columbia and Thomas A. Roper discuss the expected changes to the province’s labour and employment laws and regulations.

Here are the highlights:

  • There has been a renewed interest, on the part of the federal and some provincial governments, in employment standards and labour law reform. In part, this reflects greater public concern over inequality, the growth of “precarious” employment, and the impact of technological innovation on the job market.
  • Since 2014, Ontario and Alberta have modified aspects of their employment standards and labour relations legislation, including by instituting a significantly higher minimum wage. At the same time, the Trudeau government has altered the rules for collective bargaining and employment standards in federally-regulated industry sectors.
  • As documented in this article, in some respects the policy and legal changes adopted in Ontario and Alberta bring these two provinces into alignment with where BC already sits today. Even so, with an NDP government in place in BC, new labour and employment standards legislation is likely to be under consideration here.
  • Recently, the BC government signalled that the province will move to a $15.00 an hour minimum wage over the next few years. The government will seek advice from a soon-to-be-established Fair Wage Commission on the specific pathway for getting to $15 an hour.
  • When considering changes to labour and employment standards legislation, BC policy-makers need to be mindful of the cost impact on employers, pay attention to developments in other jurisdictions, and avoid taking actions that could jeopardize the strong economic growth and robust job creation the province has enjoyed in recent years.

Click here to read the complete article.

Delayne Sartison Q.C. Named 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment and Labour Law

August 2017

We are pleased to announce that six of the firm’s lawyers have been listed in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.  In addition, Delayne Sartison Q.C. was named the 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment and Labour Law in Vancouver. Lawyers were selected based on feedback from peers within their region and legal practice areas.

Join us in congratulating the following lawyers who are listed in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers:

Click here to view the Best Lawyers website.

About Best Lawyers

Since 1983, Best Lawyers has become a definitive guide to legal excellence. The peer-review publication is based on a confidential survey in which thousands of leading lawyers rank the legal abilities of other lawyers in specific practice areas.

Roper Greyell Welcomes New Associate, Jacqueline D. Gant

August 2017

We are pleased to welcome Jacqueline Gant to the firm.

Jacqueline received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, where she was the captain of the varsity soccer team, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria.

Since her call to the bar in 2015, Jacqueline has been advising employers concerning the management of workplace issues in both union and non-union environments, including discipline and discharge cases, collective agreement interpretation, accommodation issues and policy grievances. She has acted for clients in various industries, including mining, technology, post-secondary institutions and municipalities.

Prior to joining Roper Greyell, Jacqueline articled and practised at a large national firm in Vancouver.

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