Background

Brian Portas is a partner in our Calgary office. He is the Regional Practice Group Manager, Labour and Employment, for the Calgary office and is part of the firm's Business Immigration Group. He articled with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2001. Brian received his Bachelor of Commerce, Cooperative Program, with distinction in 1997 from the University of Alberta and his Bachelor of Laws in 2000 from the University of Calgary. Brian is also a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP).

Professional Experience

• As a member of the Labour and Employment Law Practice Group at the firm, Brian has assisted both employers and employees with the negotiation of severance packages, wrongful dismissal lawsuits, Employment Standards Code and Human Rights complaints, progressive discipline and other employment related matters.
• Brian has presented seminars on several employment law topics such as recruitment, hiring, employment contracts and policies, termination, employment records, e-mail and internet usage policies, disability, accommodation and privacy issues.
• As a member of the Business Immigration Group, Brian has assisted clients with obtaining Canadian work permits (including applications that require Labour Market Opinions from Service Canada), preparing permanent residence applications, citizenship applications and dealing with other immigration issues such as temporary entry into Canada as a business visitor.
• Brian also practices general civil litigation in our Commercial Litigation Group and has specifically been involved with contractual disputes, commercial landlord/tenant and collection matters.
• During law school, Brian was very active in the Student Legal Assistance organization, working at the legal clinic both summers and holding positions on the student executive as President and Secretary. Brian was also very active in the mooting and debating program and participated in the Corporate Finance & Securities Moot and the Alberta Court of Appeal Moot.

Professional and Community Activities

• Member, Human Resources Institute of Alberta (HRIA).
• Member, Canadian Bar Association (Employment and Labour Law, and Citizenship and Immigration Law Sections).
• Member, Calgary Bar Association.

Publications

• Recreational Drug Users and Human Rights, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Labour & Employment Newsletter, Fall 2007
• You Can't Fire Me! I'm Sick!, Alberta Venture magazine, November 2006
• The Release of Human Rights Claims, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Labour & Employment Newsletter, Fall 2005
• Practical Tips When Acting for Employers, 'Wrongful Dismissal', Legal Education Society of Alberta, February 24, 2005 (Calgary), co-authored with Fred W. T. Somerville
• New Criminal Code Provisions Provide Whistleblower Protection to Employees, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Labour & Employment Newsletter, Spring 2005
• Mandatory Retirement Policies: A Thing of the Past?, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Labour & Employment Newsletter, Fall 2003
• Some Claims Against Directors Can Never be Compromised by a CCAA Plan, 'Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law', Corporate Liability, Josef G.A. Krüger and Brian D. Portas,, November 2002
• Managing Mental Disability Claims: The Duty to Accommodate Mental Disability under Human Rights Legislation, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Labour & Employment Newsletter, Fall 2002