Maxwell J. Brunette

Max Brunette is the practice group leader of the Employment & Labour Law Department in Gowling WLG's Vancouver and Calgary offices. Max represents employers from all sectors of the economy in labour and employment law. He regularly defends employers in wrongful dismissal litigation, labour relations matters, employment standards disputes, human rights complaints, and workplace investigation matters.

Max also represents employers in collective bargaining negotiations for unionized employees (including those within federal labour guidelines). He provides pragmatic and effective advice on the design, interpretation and enforcement of employment and consulting contracts, termination agreements, workplace policies and handbooks, and workplace safety issues and workplace investigations. Max is very familiar with the implications and enforcement of post-employment duties arising from non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and arising as a result of an employee’s fiduciary duties.

Max has earned recognition in a host of leading legal publications including Chambers Canada, Lexpert, Legal 500 Canada and Acritas, including being named an Up and Coming Lawyer to watch in Chambers Canada and a 2019 Next Generation Leading Lawyer in Legal 500.

In his immigration law practice, Max counsels corporate clients seeking to hire foreign workers. He also assists foreign individuals seeking temporary employment authorizations in Canada and is able to provide advice with regard to various immigration applications for work and study permits, temporary resident visas, permanent residence and Canadian citizenship.

His experience includes:

• Labour relations and dispute resolution before labour relations boards, arbitrations, and the courts of various jurisdictions across Canada
• Collective bargaining
• Litigation involving the interpretation of executive employment contracts, shareholder disputes, wrongful dismissal actions, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and workplace investigations
• Negotiating, drafting and advising on the employment, labour and privacy aspects of corporate transactions
• Advising and troubleshooting for corporate clients on all aspects of labour, employment, occupational health and safety and privacy compliance, including training of employees, managers and privacy officers within organizations
• Preparing and drafting employment policies, guidelines, executive employment contracts and restrictive covenants for corporate clients
• Advising clients with respect to workplace investigations