Lawyer Profile
Alison M. L. Adam
Calgary, Alberta
Overview
Alison is a skilled labour and employment lawyer. She advises employers in Alberta and Ontario in a wide range of industries across the public and private sectors, including oil & gas, banking, food and agriculture, aviation, and health care.
Alison works closely with in-house counsel as well as human resources and labour relations professionals providing strategic advice on labour relations, arbitration, collective bargaining, human rights, employment policies and procedures, disability management, employee discipline and dismissal, employment standards, and restrictive covenants.
A strong advocate, Alison regularly conducts hearings before the Alberta Labour Relations Board and grievance arbitrators and represents employers in all forms of employment litigation and before human rights tribunals. She has appeared before the Courts of Alberta and Ontario, the Federal Court, labour relations boards, labour arbitrators, and the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
Alison is an experienced, thorough, and insightful workplace investigator. She is regularly retained by employers and other lawyers to investigate complex allegations of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and violence in the workplace. Alison also conducts workplace assessments, consults on investigations, and conducts training on workplace investigations.
Clients appreciate Alison’s accessibility. She provides responsive client service and dedicates herself to understanding her clients’ business needs. Alison considers her clients problems her own and provides not only legal options but also sound labour relations solutions.
Alison is a frequent presenter on labour and employment law issues.
Related services: Labour & Employment
Labour Relations
Employment Litigation
Employment Advising, Agreements & Policies
Collective Bargaining & Interest Arbitration
Construction Labour Relations
Northern Canada
Workplace Investigations
Class Actions
Human Rights Defence
Constitutional Litigation
Professional Affiliations & Community Involvement
Speaking Engagements & Publications
Award Rankings
2022 - 2026 – Leading Practitioner - Employment Law (Employer), Labour Relations (Management), and Workplace Human Rights (Employer)
( The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory
)
2024 - 2026 – Labour and Employment Law
( Best Lawyers® in Canada
)
2022 –
( Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
)
Education
McGill University, LL.B. & B.C.L.;
(with Distinction)
University of Guelph, B.A.;
(with Distinction)
Call to Bar
Alberta Bar (2013)
Ontario Bar (2009)
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2009 (ON); 2013 (AB)
Professional Details
Associations
Member, Calgary Bar Association
Member, Advocates’ Society
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Articles & Speeches
Award Rankings
2022 - 2026 – Leading Practitioner - Employment Law (Employer), Labour Relations (Management), and Workplace Human Rights (Employer)
( The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory
)
2024 - 2026 – Labour and Employment Law
( Best Lawyers® in Canada
)
2022 –
( Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
)
Education
McGill University, LL.B. & B.C.L.;
(with Distinction)
University of Guelph, B.A.;
(with Distinction)
Call to Bar
Alberta Bar (2013)
Ontario Bar (2009)
Professional Affiliations & Community Involvement
Member, Calgary Bar Association
Member, Advocates’ Society
Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Speaking Engagements & Publications
"Investigations Under the Magnifying Glass: Examining Current Practices and Recent Caselaw ", Lancaster House Annual Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, 2024
"Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2024
“Addressing new developments in accommodation” Canadian Lawyer Employment Law Masterclass , 2023
“2020 Labour Law Year in Review”, McLennan Ross Seminar, 2021
19 Labour & Employment Year in Review”, McLennan Ross Seminar, 2020
"Understanding Union Organizing & Certification", McLennan Ross Webinar, 2018
"2017 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2018
"New Employment Standards Regulations", McLennan Ross Webinar, 2017
"2016 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2017
"Accommodating Mental Illness", McLennan Ross Duty to Accommodate Seminar and Mock Arbitration, 2016
"Decisions and Developments on the Horizon", Closing Panel Human Resources Institute of Alberta HR Law Conference, 2016
"Administration of a Collective Agreement", McLennan Ross Webinar, 2016
"Bill 6: Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act", Presentation to the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, 2016
"2015 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2016
"Labour & Employment Law Update", Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers Alberta Chapter, 2015
"Gender Identity in the Workplace", Presentation to the Canadian Bar Association Labour & Employment Subsection - Alberta South, 2015
"2014 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2015
"Accommodating Family Status", Presentation to the Canadian Bar Association Labour & Employment Subsection – Alberta South, 2014
"Disability Management and the Duty to Accommodate", Merit Contractors Association, 2014
"2013 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2014
"OLRB Lacks Jurisdiction to Monitor Workplace Harassment Investigations", Labour and Employment Law Perspective, CBA National Labour and Employment Law Section Newsletter , 2012
"AODA Update: What’s Next for Ontario Employers", HR Professional Magazine , 2012
“Preventing Overtime Class Actions”, co-authored with Meighan Ferris-Miles, HR Professional Magazine , 2011
McLennan Ross Recognized by Lexpert® in 2026 Directory
McLennan Ross Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2026
McLennan Ross Recognized by Lexpert in 2025 Directory
Legal Counsel Newsletter - Winter 2011 (Nov)
Selected Decisions
Bloom Limited Partnership , 2025 BCLRB 172
Dunphy v WestJet Airlines , 2025 CHRT 33
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local Union No. 496 v Strike Group Limited Partnership , 2025 ALRB 23 (CanLII)