Gavin is well known in the legal community and is widely considered one of the country’s leading employment and labour law practitioners. He is consistently included in various legal directories, rankings, and award publications. Throughout his 50-year career, Gavin has established himself as a practitioner who acts at the highest level of integrity and professional conduct. He served on the Law Society of British Columbia’s Ethics Committee and was past chair of the Federation of Law Societies Standing Committee on the Model Code of Conduct.
Gavin provides clients with tactical legal advice and long-term planning strategies for their workplace issues. He has acted for a wide array of companies, including those in the resource sector. Gavin has represented clients before the Labour Relations Board, arbitration boards, and both the Provincial Court of BC and the Supreme Court of BC.
In addition to an extensive collection of awards and accolades for his legal prowess, Gavin is a steadfast volunteer who has been recognized for his numerous contributions to the YMCA, the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, and the Canadian Bar Association.
Recognition
- Gavin Hume Spirit of Giving Award, YMCA of Greater Vancouver
- Lawyer of the Year, Labour and Employment Law – Vancouver, Best Lawyers in Canada, 2012
- Recognized Lawyer, Labour and Employment Law, Best Lawyers in Canada, 2006 – present
- Recommended Lawyer, Employment Law (Employer), Workplace Human Rights (Employer), Labour Relations (Management), Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2012 – present
- Senior Statesmen, Employment & Labour – British Columbia and Nationwide, Chambers Canada, 2017 – present
- Ranked Lawyer, Employment & Labour – British Columbia and Nationwide, Chambers Canada, 2016
- Ranked Lawyer, Employment & Labour – Canada, Chambers Global, 2009 – present
- Leading Lawyer, Labour and Employment, Legal 500 Canada, 2014 – present
- Recommended, Who’s Who Legal: Global, Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2013 – present
- Recommended, Who’s Who Legal: Canada, Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2013 – present
- Ranked, Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leader: Labour and Employment, 2022 – present
- Preeminent Rating – Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, Martindale-Hubbell
- YMCA Fellowship of Honour, 2009
- Community Service Award, Canadian Bar Association, 2003
Speaking Engagements
- “Judicial Ethics Seminar – Judicial Retirement”, (panelist), National Judicial Institute, May 2016
- “The Judge After Judging: Regulating Judicial Activities After Retirement From The Bench”, (panelist), Canadian Bar Association and Federation of Law Societies of Canada Ethics Forum, March 2016
- “Ethics Panel”, (co-chair), Annual Conference, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, September 2015
- “BC Code Of Conduct Rule 5.1-2(E): “Knowingly” Deceiving A Tribunal With False Evidence”, Employment Law Conference 2015, The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, May 2015
- Panelist, Commonwealth Law Conference, April 2015
- “Professionalism And Self-Regulation”, (guest lecturer), University of British Columbia, January and October 2015
Publications
- “Some Reflections On The BC Code of Conduct”, Employment Law Conference, The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, May 2015
- “Current Client Conflicts: Finally Resolved – Canadian National Railway Co. v. McKercher LLP”, The Advocate, Vol. 72, Issue 3, May 2014
- “Parting Ways: How To Ethically Handle A Lawyer Leaving The Firm”, The Advocate, Vol. 71, Issue 3, May 2013
Professional & Community Involvement
- Adjunct Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
- Honorary Life Member and Past President, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia and Yukon
- Director, YMCA of Greater Vancouver Property Foundation
- Director and Past President, YMCA of Greater Vancouver
- Director and Past Chair, YMCA of Greater Vancouver Foundation
- Founding Member and Past President, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
- Past Chair, Standing Committee on the Model Code of Conduct, Federation of Law Societies of Canada
- Past BC Representative, Federation of Law Societies of Canada
- Past President, Law Society of British Columbia
- Past Chair, Ethics Committee, Law Society of British Columbia
- Member and Past Chair, Labour Law section, Canadian Bar Association, BC branch
*Law Corporation
Practice Areas
Year of Call
- King’s Counsel, 1992
- British Columbia, 1968
Education
- LLB, University of British Columbia, 1967
- BA, University of British Columbia, 1964