Background

Laurie Robson is a partner in our Labour & Employment Group in our Calgary office. Ms. Robson articled to a Vancouver firm specializing in Intellectual Property and was called to the B.C. Bar in 1995. She returned to Alberta in 1995 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1996.

Ms. Robson received her Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree from Brandon University, Manitoba in 1988, majoring in Mathematics and Chemistry, and was awarded the Silver Medal in Chemistry. She graduated from the University of Alberta Law School in 1994.

Areas of Practice

• Labour and Employment: Board Hearings, Arbitrations, Negotiations and Litigation concerning both provincially and federally regulated employers and employees, Labour Matters representing management, Human Rights, Workers' Compensation, Occupational Health & Safety, Employment Contract Drafting, Disability and Benefits, Executive Employment and Compensation, Hiring, Terminations, Workforce Reductions & Reorganizations, Performance Management, HR Policy Drafting and Privacy.
• Ms. Robson began her career as a general litigation lawyer. Her main areas of focus in her litigation practice have included labour and employment matters, construction and builders' liens, intellectual property and oil and gas.

Professional Experience

• Represents employers and employees in labour and employment law matters under both federal and provincial jurisdiction, including: labour board hearings, arbitrations, negotiations, litigation and investigations on discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful dismissal, occupational health & safety, workers' compensation, disability and benefits, hiring negotiations, terminations, executive contracts and compensation, and employment contract and HR policy drafting.
• Experienced in Federal Court of Canada and Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta matters.
• Experienced in Canadian Human Rights and Alberta Human Rights Complaints.
• Arbitrator for Canada Labour Code unjust dismissal and wage recovery complaints.
• Experienced in Workers' Compensation Board, Canada Labour Code, Canada Industrial Relations Board, Alberta Labour Relations Board, Employment Standards Code and Occupational Health & Safety matters.
• Has represented clients in respect of protecting information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta).
• Experienced with HR policy drafting, including: drug and alcohol testing, privacy, confidential information, computer and technology use.

Professional and Community Activities

• Regularly presents seminars on employment and human resources issues.
• Member, Canadian Bar Association, Labour & Employment
• Member, Calgary Bar Association
• Associate Member, American Bar Association

Recent Conferences

• Reductions in Force Across Borders, at the National Foreign Trade Council 2010 Annual International Human Resources Management Forum, March 10-11, 2010, Houston, Texas ;
• Terminating for Performance, at the Western Canada Employee Terminations & Restructuring Conference, September 28-29, 2009, Calgary, AB.

Publications

• Co-author of the BLG employment law publication: Employment Law: Solutions for the Canadian Workplace (Provincial Employment Law Chapter) published by Specialty Technical Publishers;
• Editorial Board member, Executive Employment quarterly journal, published by Federated Press.