Colin Gibson has practiced labour, employment, human rights, and post-secondary education law since his call to the British Columbia bar in 1986. Colin is ranked by his peers as one of the leading management-side labour and employment lawyers in British Columbia.
The majority of Colin’s practice involves acting for universities, colleges, and institutes in British Columbia’s post-secondary and university sectors. In addition to providing advice and representation on employment, labour relations, human rights, and student issues, Colin provides strategic guidance to higher education clients on a variety of complex matters such as governance, policy development, executive compensation, and statutory compliance.
Colin also advises and represents employers in a wide range of private sector industries. He builds long relationships with his clients by understanding their goals and priorities, and by being diligent, strategic, and responsive. He is highly regarded not only by his employer clients, but also by board members, union representatives, and other key stakeholders.
Colin was our firm’s Managing Partner from 2015 though 2019.
Recognition
- Recommended, Who’s Who Legal: Global, Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2023
- Recommended, Who’s Who Legal: Canada, Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2016 – present
- Recognized Lawyer, Labour and Employment Law, Best Lawyers in Canada, 2006 – present
- Recommended, Employment Law – Employer, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2012 – present
- Recommended, Labour Relations – Management, Workplace Human Rights, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2013 – present
- Distinguished, Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement, Martindale-Hubbell
Recent Speaking Engagements
- “Returning to In-Person Instruction: Statutory and Collective Agreement Considerations”, (Various Presentations for University and College Senior Leaders), 2021
- “Employment Contracts”, (Public University), April 2021
- “The Respectful Workplace: Legal and Practical Guidelines”, (Private University), March 2021
- “Academic Freedom in a Respectful Workplace, (Public University), January 2021
- “Effective Employee Engagement”, (Professional Association), October 2020
- “Managing Employee Performance And Conduct”, (Public College) , October 2020
- “Academic Freedom”, (Public University), April 2020
- “Guidelines for Conducting Investigations”, (Public College), January 2019
- “Exclusions from Union Bargaining Units”, (Public College), February 2018
- “Excluded and Executive Compensation: The Legal Framework”, (Public Institute), December 2016
- “Workplace Investigation Training”, (Public University), January 2016
- “Managing Employee Performance and Conduct”, (Public Institute), April 2015
- “Contracts and Indemnities”, Enterprise Risk Management Conference, October 2015
Recent Publications
- “Ask An Expert” column, Canadian Employment Law Today, 2005 – present
- Bridge: Employment Law column, (co-author), British Columbia Dental Organization Newsletter, 2007 – present
Professional & Community Involvement
- Member, Canadian Association of University Solicitors
- Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
- Former Chair and current Member, Labour Law section, Canadian Bar Association, BC branch
- Member, Employment Law section, Canadian Bar Association, BC branch
- Member, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia & Yukon
*Law Corporation
Practice Areas
Year of Call
- British Columbia, 1986
Education
- LLB, University of Toronto, 1984
- BSSc, University of Ottawa, 1980