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Biography

Stephen is a partner and co-chair of the employment practice group. He provides trusted advice to clients on a wide range of labour and employment issues. His practice covers all aspects of the employment relations from hiring to firing. He prides himself on providing practical answers to complicated questions.

Stephen has advised clients on a range of human resource matters including employment contracts, workplace policies, grievances and arbitrations, employee discipline, and terminations. He has provided strategic advice to vendors and purchasers of businesses in Alberta in order to manage transactional employee issues. He has acted as counsel in litigation concerning wrongful dismissal, human rights, employment standards, and labour arbitrations. He has represented individuals, small business, large national corporations and everything in between.

He also has a broad range of experience in other areas of practice including health law, creditor’s rights, and commercial litigation. He has appeared in all levels of court in Alberta and the Federal Court of Canada. He also frequently appears at the Alberta Labour Relations Board.

Stephen enjoys writing about legal developments. He also likes public speaking and snaps up every opportunity to talk at client seminars, lunch n learns, podcasts, webinars, etc.

Stephen graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA (Honours) in Psychology in 2004. He graduated from the University of Calgary with an LLB in 2006 and was called to the Bar in Alberta in 2007.

During his studies at the U of C, he worked summers and part-time for Citizenship and Immigration Canada at the border crossings of Coutts, Alberta and the Calgary International Airport. He also worked for the Federal Department of Justice assisting prosecutors with large drug prosecutions.

Education

  • University of Calgary (BA Psychology, 2004)
  • University of Calgary (LLB, 2006)

Professional Memberships

  • Law Society of Alberta (2007)
  • Canadian Bar Association

Presentations

Media

Articles in Specialized Publications

News Interviews 

  • “Maybe it’s a reckoning”: the reasons behind Canada’s increasing labour action,” CTV News Calgary at 5 and 6 pm, Timm Bruch (September 11, 2024). Stephen provided insights on recent trends in labour disputes in Canada. Watch Stephen’s commentary from minute 17:29 to 18:36 on CTV Calgary News at 5, and from 34:27 to 36:23 on CTV Calgary News at 6.
  • Lead story interview with host Rob Brown, CBC Calgary News at 6 pm, (August 23, 2024). Stephen provided insights on the railway labour dispute involving the Teamsters, CN, and CPKC. Watch Stephen’s commentary from minute 00:00 to 08:41.
  • “From the bargaining table to the street: Alberta employees push for better,” CTV News, Timm Bruch (April 21, 2023). Stephen discussed the seemingly increasing number of labour disputes in Alberta. Watch Stephen’s commentary from minute 1:30 to 1:42.