Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is a reference in the market for complex employment disputes, in addition to advice on the employment and labour aspects of corporate transactions. Toronto-based Andrea York leads the national team, with experience extending to litigation and regulatory advice. Holly Reid is another key member of the team at the Toronto office, with a proven track record advising on executive transitions and harassment allegations. Birch Miller (Calgary), Michael Howcroft (Vancouver) and Natalie Bussière (Montreal) are rated for their work in transactions and reorganizations. At an associate level, Alysha Sharma is of note.
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Profile

Profile

Work Department
Employment & Labour
Position

Birch practises employment, privacy and cybersecurity law. She is the Calgary Office Managing Partner and 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.

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Key clients

  • AstraZeneca Enerplus Omnicom Canada Corp. Ovintiv Inc. Primaris REIT Red Lobster Royal Bank of Canada TC Energy Corporation

Work highlights

Advised TC Energy on the labour and employment aspects of its $14.5bn spin-off into two independent publicly listed companies.
Advised AstraZeneca on the labour and employment aspects of its $2bn acquisition of Fusion Pharmaceutical.
Advised Primaris REIT on the labour and employment aspects of its C$325m acquisition of Les Galeries de la Capitale shopping centre in Quebec City.