Overview

Brian is a partner of the Calgary office, and his practice focuses on the managerial side of employment and labour issues, including executive employment arrangements, retention arrangements, restrictive covenants, privacy law matters, employment disputes and human rights complaints.
He frequently advises corporations on the employment and privacy law ramifications of corporate transactions, including with respect to unionized and non-unionized employees. In addition, he has worked with corporations to facilitate the development and implementation of privacy and employment policies, including the training of employees, managers and privacy officers.
Brian’s privacy practice includes advising clients on drafting policies, complaint procedures, website information packages, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests and assisting clients with Privacy Commissioner complaints.
Brian has appeared as counsel in the Provincial Court of Alberta – Civil Division and before the Alberta Human Rights Commission, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Court of Appeal of Alberta. He has represented clients on the interpretation of executive employment contracts, shareholder disputes, wrongful dismissal actions, share purchase agreements, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture
Clio in its record-setting US$250 million Series D equity financing from TCV and JMI
Morgan Stanley in its acquisition of Solium Capital for $1.1 billion
Symmetrics Business Intelligence Solutions Inc. in its acquisition by Calabrio, Inc.
Constellation Brands, Inc. in the sale of its Canadian wine business to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for approximately $1.03 billion
Supreme Court of Canada confirms the jurisdiction of labour arbitrators in human rights issues where collective bargaining agreements designate...
The definition of common law privacy torts in the province of Alberta has been expanded as a result of the recent decision in ES v Shillington...
The British Columbia government has introduced amendments to the Employment Standards Act, RSBC 1996, c 113., which require employers to provide...
Lexpert Editor-in-Chief Tim Wilbur recently sat down with Brian Thiessen, QC for a virtual interview for the Lexpert TV Legal Leaders Series.
Congratulations to 29 of our lawyers for their inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health 2023.
Congratulations to 170 of our lawyers who have been ranked across multiple practice areas and 13 who earned recognition as “Lawyer of the Year”.
The recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in Matthews vs. Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited, 2020 SCC 26, will have a significant effect on employers...
“Properly implemented” temperature checks will be required for some employees as companies return to the office, Osler partner Brian Thiessen...

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Immigration Law
• Employment Law
• Labour Law
• Health Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1998 (AB)