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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP's practice regularly advises clients in the telecoms, banking, oil and gas and retail segments on labour and employment aspects of M&A and corporate reorganizations, in addition to handling cross-border employment issues and related litigation. Practice head Andrea York leads from Toronto, where key partner Holly Reid (harassment and misconduct allegations) is also based. In Calgary, Birch Miller supports oil and gas clients with advisory work and civil and administrative litigation.

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Key clients

  • Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
  • IGM Financial
  • Nestlé Canada
  • Omnicom Canada
  • Pembina Pipeline Corporation
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • Spence Diamonds
  • Strathcona Resources
  • Sycamore Partners Management
  • Suncor Energy

Work highlights

  • Advised the Royal Bank of Canada on the employment and labour aspects relating to its acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada.
  • Advised Omnicom Canada on workplace law matters including employment-related claims, applications and complaints.
  • Advised Pembina Pipeline Corporation on the employment and labour aspects of its joint venture with KKR & Co.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Birch Miller

Birch Miller

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Birch practises employment, privacy and cybersecurity law. She is the Practice Group Leader of the Blakes Employment and Labour group in Calgary, Alberta. Birch has established a known and respected profile among clients and peers through her extensive transactional experience; practical advisory work; civil and administrative (human rights, privacy and labour) litigation; executive positions with the Canadian Bar Association, including a four-year term as Chair of the Privacy and Access Law section; mentorship of junior lawyers in the employment, labour and privacy law sphere; involvement in the mentorship and support of women in private practice; and pro bono work with women's shelters and related organizations. Birch provides advice to clients in respect of all laws relating to workplace issues, including recruiting, hiring, discipline, terminations, employment and labour standards, human rights, disability and benefits, and alcohol and drug testing. She also advises on the collection, use and disclosure of personal, health, sensitive, technological and other types of information. Birch is a member of Blakes’ cybersecurity group and has extensive experience advising clients with respect to cybersecurity privacy guidelines. Birch has extensive transactional experience, regularly advising on the privacy, labour and employment aspects of high-profile transactions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andrea York