Mike is a partner* at Roper Greyell and practises in all areas of employment and labour law, including disputes with unions, workplace safety, human rights and employment litigation.
Mike helps employers plan workplaces that minimize legal conflict and maximize productivity, efficiency and profit. When employees or unions create conflict, Mike is a relentless, strategic, and practical advocate. He helps his clients pick and win the fights that matter in the big picture while avoiding getting dragged into those that don’t.
Mike is a well known fixture in labour arbitrations and at labour boards for both federally and provincially regulated employers. He is a popular (and occasionally funny) lecturer and presenter. Mike assists employers with collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, human rights claims, workplace safety (including serious incident and fatality investigations), picketing injunctions, and strike planning.
Mike is at his best working in close partnerships with his clients, to help employers and industry associations read the tea leaves in their workplace, their industry, and from government. He helps to put those pieces of information together to find meaning and develop strategy.
Mike has a focus on employers in the construction industry, which can be a wonderfully unique and complex workplace. The history of the construction industry in British Columbia is the history of British Columbia: from railroads to highways, and through to digital infrastructure. Mike has deep roots in the industry. He grew up around marine construction projects and worked as a carpenter during university. In Mike’s view, confusing cement and concrete is a cardinal (but forgivable) sin.
Before joining Roper Greyell, Mike was a judicial law clerk to the Supreme Court of British Columbia and practiced as an employment and labour lawyer at the Vancouver office of a large international law firm. Mike has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University and got his law degree at the University of Toronto.
Mike enjoys volunteering, including as a volunteer Board Member at AIDS Vancouver, and assisting refugee claimants. Away from work, he is an avid backcountry skier and mountain biker. Mike also plays guitar in a band, although he’d prefer to be the singer.
*Law corporation
Education
J.D., University of Toronto, 2011
B.Comm. (Honours), Queen’s University, 2007
Year of call
British Columbia, 2012
Publications
Lessons from Selling Sunset, Part Three: Workplace Relationships
Expiry of Maximum Layoff Period Without Cause Termination: CERB Deducted from Damages
Oppression Remedy, Wrongful Dismissal, Corporate Reorganisations
Calculating Damages for Unjustly Dismissed Federally Regulated Employee
Major Apprenticeship Initiative Funded by Federal Government May Help Recruit and Employ New Workers
Lessons From Selling Sunset, Part Two: Workplace Gossip
Lessons from Selling Sunset, Part One: Work Parties
Unexpected Costs of Employee Relocation
Labour Law in the Time of Cholera
Through the Looking Glass: 2022 BC Labour Law Forecast
Can I Quit and Start Competing: Dispute Born of Competing Fertility Clinics
Challenges With Removing a Matter From Fast Track Litigation
Tribunal Decision Underscores Flexible, Common Sense Approach to Accommodation
Saucy Tweet Results in For Cause Termination of Employee
Statutory Changes to Collective Bargaining Framework in British Columbia
B.C. Labour Code Review 2018: A Summary of Recommended Changes and Next Steps
Post-Incident Drug Testing Policies in the Age of Cannabis
On “Ambushes” and the Rules of Engagement for Statutorily Protected Leaves of Absence
Human Rights Tribunal Confirms Employers Continue to Drive the Bus
COVID-19 Update – Recap for Week of May 25, 2020
COVID-19 Update – Expansion to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
COVID-19 Update – Bill C-14 Passes, Enacting the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Membership / Affiliations
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, CBABC Sections (Labour, Employment, and Litigation)
Member, Coquitlam Search and Rescue, 2014-2016
Club Executive, British Columbia Mountaineering Club, 2016
Vancouver Executive Committee, Special Olympics BC, 2011-2012
Shift Leader, Downtown Legal Services, 2009-2011
Research Student, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, 2009-2010
Listings / Rankings
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2024, leading lawyer to watch for “Labour Relations – Management”
Legal Assistant
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