Mark is recognized as a leading practitioner in the areas of labour and employment law. He assists clients with such matters as collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, employment agreements, workplace investigations, purchase and sale agreements (in relation to employment issues), human rights, arbitrations, litigation involving non-solicitation and non-competition agreements and occupational health and safety matters. His clients are both international and local, and range across many sectors, including IT, retail, health care, not-for-profit organizations, safety services, engineering services, auto sales, manufacturing, transportation, education, mining, and energy. He is a litigator and has extensive experience dealing with different workplace situations and successfully representing clients before all types (and levels) of court, arbitrators, boards and tribunals. Mark is listed as a leader in the areas of labour and employment law by a number of legal publications, and is consulted by the media to speak on various workplace related issues.
Some of the ways Mark has helped his clients are by:
Successfully defending against claims of wrongful and constructive dismissal
Providing strategic advice to unionized employers regarding the interpretation of collective agreements, unionization, grievances and arbitration
Successfully defending against human rights complaints
Regularly representing employers in defending against various OHS charges, including charges relating to fatal injuries, under both federal and provincial occupational health and safety legislation
Being counsel on the leading Nova Scotia case in which the claim of “negligent infliction of emotional harm” was struck against an employer
Appearing before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal on one of the leading Canadian cases concerning mitigation in wrongful dismissal cases
Conducting workplace investigations and providing strategic advice in relation to such investigations
Providing strategic advice on issues such as employment agreements, labour standards, workplace misconduct, and sick leave
Providing strategic advice in relation to employment and labour law issues in the purchase and sale of businesses, including some of the largest deals that have taken place in the Atlantic Provinces
Litigating non-solicitation and non-competition agreements
University of New Brunswick, LLB, 2001 (Employment Law Prize)
Mount Allison University, BA, 1997 (Academic All Canadian)
Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan (1995 – 1996)
Activities
Board member, Prescott Group
Former executive member, National Labour and Employment Section, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Member, Advocates’ Society
Risk manager and board member, CISV Canada, Halifax chapter
Accolades
Best Lawyers: Labour and Employment Law, 2018 – 2025
Lexpert rating: Occupational Health and Safety, 2021 – 2025
Lexpert rating: Employment Law, 2020 – 2021, 2023, 2025
Presenter, Occupational Health and Safety, Atlantic Home Warranty Webinar
Presenter, Insight Labour & Employee Relations conference and workshop, “Workplace Health and Safety Update”, October 2013
Presenter, RFANS Conference Session, “What to do when the OHS Officers are at your door”
Presenter IPM Halifax Conference: ROSTER and Final Logistics review
Presenter, Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education, “Occupational Health & Safety Law & Regulations”
Presenter, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Mock Trial, with respect to Occupational Health and Safety in Nova Scotia
Presenter, Occupational Health & Safety Law & Regulations, “Defending the Accused”, March 2012
Presenter, HRANS Annual HR Law Seminar, “Family Status Issues and Obligations”, March 2012
Presenter, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (Western Nova Scotia Chapter), “Update on Occupational Health and Safety Fines,”, November 2011
Presenter, Stewart McKelvey Seminar, “Workplace Investigations, Information that Hits the Mark!”, April 2011
Presenter, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (Nova Scotia Chapter), “Update on Occupational Health and Safety Penalties and Prosecutions”, April 2011