Practice Expertise

  • Employment and Labor
  • Labor Law
  • Labor Relations
  • Litigation

Areas of Practice

  • Employment and Labor
  • Labor Law
  • Labor Relations
  • Litigation
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Privacy & Freedom of Information
  • View More

Profile

Ritu is a member of our Labour and Employment Law Group. She is a former Vice Chair of the BC Labour Relations Board. As an experienced adjudicator, Ritu offers our clients a unique perspective on labour and employment law matters.

Ritu is also an experienced negotiator, mediator and skilled litigator with a proven track record appearing at arbitration hearings, the BC Labour Relations Board, and in Court proceedings including BC Court of Appeal.

Ritu advises on all aspects of labour and employment matters including harassment investigations, collective bargaining negotiations and mediation, and essential service disputes.

Ritu's experience as a Vice Chair at the BC Labour Relations Board has given her a working knowledge of the intricacies of labour and employment issues in the following industries:

Construction
Forestry
Gaming
Healthcare
Hospitality
Mining
Retail & Food Services
Transportation

In addition to serving as Vice Chair of the BC Labour Relations Board, Ritu previously served as in-house counsel to a union, was a lawyer in private practice, and an instructor at the Capilano College Labour Studies program. Ritu has spoken at a number of labour law conferences and workshops.

Ritu regularly provides commentary to media on a range of labour and employment issues. She has been interviewed on legal topics by several local and national outlets, including CBC (BC and national news), CKNW, CTV National News, Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun and Toronto Star.

Bar Admissions
British Columbia (2002)
Nunavut (2015)

Education
University of Victoria (M.PA., 2001)
University of Victoria (LL.B., 2000)
University of Victoria (B.A., 1996)

Areas of Practice

  • Employment and Labor
  • Labor Law
  • Labor Relations
  • Litigation
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Privacy & Freedom of Information

Professional Career

Professional Associations
*Canadian Bar Association, Member
*Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers

Community Activities
*Board of Directors of West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund (2002 - 2008, President 2006 - 2008)

Seminars/ Presentation
"State of the Union: A Labour Arbitration Update", 52nd Annual BC Human Resources Management Association Conference, Vancouver, BC (April 15, 2014)

"Hot Topics in Labour Relations Law", Canadian Electricity Association Labour Relations Symposium, Toronto, ON (March 24, 2014), Speaker

"A Promise is a Promise, or is it? Estoppel in day-to-day labour relations", Labour Arbitration Conference, Lancaster House (November 20, 2013), Speaker

"Labour Law Update for BC", 10th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Banff, AB (October 3 - 5, 2013)

"Latest Developments in Labour Relations (Unionized Employers)", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 6, 2013), Speaker

"The Role of the Parties in Accommodation: Employer Responsibilities, Union Role and Employee Responsibilities", 8th Annual Western Canada Labour Relations Conference, Insight Information, Vancouver, BC (February 21, 2013), Speaker



Articles

Additional ArticlesSupreme Court of Canada Releases Right to Strike Decision: Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan, 2015 SCC 4 (February 2, 2015)

Landmark Case on the Freedom of Association from the Supreme Court of Canada: Mounted Police Association of Ontario v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 1 (January 19, 2015)

Discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace and what employers can do to ensure proper polices are in place to address allegations, CTV: National News (November 6, 2014)

Teachers ask for binding arbitration; Government wants more details before agreeing, but deal would open schools next week, Vancouver Sun (September 6, 2014)

Discussion of labour relations and the teacher's strike, CBC: The Early Edition (September 3, 2014)

Union's Right to Employees' Home Contact Information from Employer Trumps Privacy Concerns (February 11, 2014), Co-author

"Constructive Dismissal: Should I Stay or Should I Go?", Canadian Employment Law Today (January 22, 2014), Author

Women's Day Brings Legal Rights in Workplace Closer to Home (March 8, 2013), Author

Blogs

Labour & Employment Law Blog

Lawson Lundell's Labour and Employment Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting the Canadian workplace and offers practical tips for employers. We cover a range of topics, including labour relations, employment law, collective bargaining, human rights, employment standards, employment equity, workers' compensation, business immigration, privacy, occupational health and safety and pensions and employee benefits.

Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog

Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.

Privacy & Data Management Blog

This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.

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