Sam Tecle

Sam is an employment and dispute resolution lawyer in Gowling WLG's Vancouver office. As a member of the firm's Employment, Labour and Equalities Group, he advises clients in both transactional and contentious matters, from employment agreements and terminations to wrongful dismissal claims and white-collar fraud investigations.

Sam is also developing a specialization in workers' compensation and occupational health and safety, advising clients on regulatory compliance, workplace incident investigations, WorkSafeBC claims and appeals, and return-to-work obligations. He has successfully represented clients before all levels of court in British Columbia, the Alberta Court of King's Bench, and workers' compensation and human rights tribunals in both provinces. Sam’s clients value his practical, informed, and client-centred approach and regard him as a trusted advocate.

Recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s 40 under 40, Sam is also committed to sharing his knowledge and giving back to the community. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at Capilano University's School of Legal Studies. He also sits on Capilano University's Board of Governors and serves as an adjudicator on the university's Student Appeals Tribunal. Sam also recently concluded his second term on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Sam served as a judicial law clerk for the Honourable Justice Robert L. Barnes of the Federal Court of Canada. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria, after which he lived and worked in South Korea for several years. He subsequently returned to Canada and earned a Juris Doctor from Thompson Rivers University, Faculty of Law, during which time he went on exchange at the National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law.