Brian Johnston, Q.C.

Partner

“Higher; faster.”

The big picture.

When it comes to employment and labour issues, most problems do not get better with time. Brian approaches his work with a sense of urgency, providing creative solutions with a practical road map to get there. Brian is known for getting the job done – and getting the results his clients want.

Representative matters

Brian works with virtually every type of employer in Canada in a wide variety of industries, including transportation, manufacturing, construction, mining, financial services, universities, healthcare, telecommunications, retail and utilities. His work has included:
  • Acting for a Nova Scotia university before the Court of Appeal in successfully enforcing a confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement.
  • Successfully concluding collective agreement settlements at less than mandate.
  • Developing union avoidance plans for national employers.
  • Discreetly dealing with executive level employment terminations.
  • Developing labour relations strategies for clients with operations outside Canada.

Areas of practice

  • Labour and Employment
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • Workplace Human Rights
  • Pensions & Employee Benefits
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Employment Law
  • Labour Relations

BAR ADMISSION(S)

Nova Scotia, 1981

LAW SOCIETY(IES)

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

EDUCATION

Dalhousie University, LL.B., 1980
Mount Allison University, B.Comm. (honours with distinction), 1977

QUEEN'S COUNSEL

1998

ACTIVITIES

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Practice group leader, Labour & Employment, Stewart McKelvey, 2008-2011
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia
  • Member, Canadian Industrial Relations Association
  • Chair, Board of Regents, Mount Allison University, 2005-2006

LANGUAGE(S)

English

LEXPERT RATINGS

Employment Law
Labour Relations

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL RATINGS

BV

EXTERNAL RATINGS

  • Best Lawyers' 2012 Halifax Labour and Employment Law Lawyer of the Year
  • Best Lawyers: Labour and Employment Law, 2008-2012
  • Who’s Who Legal:  Canada 2011 – Leading Business Lawyers
  • Legal Media Group “Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers

Publications

  • Regular contributor, Canadian Employment Law Today

Presentations

  • Osgoode Certificate in Law, January 2012
  • Lancaster House, Labour Arbitration Conference, “Public Criticism of the Employers” and day long workshop on “Winning at Arbitration”, December 2010
  • Lancaster House Audio Conference, The Top Ten Court Decisions on Arbitration, “A Focus on Foundational Cases”, January 2010
  • Lancaster House Workshop, Canadian Labour Board Law Conference, “Ensuring an Effective Hearing”, October 2009
  • Insight Conference, Employee Terminations & Restructuring, “Beyond Reasonable Notice: Terminating Correctly in Light of Wallace and the New Damages Regime”, September 2009
  • Canadian Bar Association National Administrative Law and Labour and Employment Law Conference, “Noteworthy Cases & Emerging Trends in the Atlantic Canadian Labour & Employment Landscape”, November 2008
  • Canadian Institute’s 7th Annual Advanced Forum on Employment Law, “Employee Rights When an Enterprise Changes Hands”, October 2007
  • Conference co-chair, Canadian Institute’s 5th Annual Advanced Forum on the Duty to Accommodate for Unionized and Non-Unionized Workplaces, May 2007 

Suite 900
Purdy's Wharf Tower One
1959 Upper Water Street
Halifax, NS, Canada
B3J 3N2

P 902.420.3374
F 902.420.1417

Email Brian

Download V-Card View LinkedIn profile

Providing legal services through a professional corporation.

LEGAL ASSISTANT(S)

Joy Sawh

+ Quick Guide