Mathews Dinsdale is pleased to announce that Laura Dunnigan has joined the Firm’s partnership. Laura works out of the Firm's office in Calgary, AB.
Laura Dunnigan
She/Her
Partner Calgary, T: 587.319.6377 F: 403.538.5049 ldunnigan@mathewsdinsdale.com
vCard
Brittany Wall Assistant 403.538.5044 x359 bwall@mathewsdinsdale.com
Biography
Bar admission
Law Society of Alberta
Education
Dalhousie University, Schulich School of Law, J.D.
Queen’s University, B.A. (Hons.) with Distinction
Membership and affiliations
Calgary Bar Association
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE)
Canadian Bar Association
The Advocates’ Society
Profile
Laura is a trusted advisor to many employers including in the energy, manufacturing, hospitality, natural resource, private equity, transportation and technology sectors. Before joining the firm, Laura spent eight years practicing employment and labour law at a large national law firm where she became go-to employment counsel for clients.
Laura provides practical, and strategic, advice to clients in respect of all issues related to the employment relationship including hiring and firing, human rights, contractual disputes, wrongful and constructive dismissal, employment and labour standards, privacy, labour relations, workplace health and safety, disability and benefits and alcohol and drug testing.
Laura conducts workplace investigations and is well versed in litigation, including wrongful dismissal and human rights claims. She has appeared before the Provincial Court of Alberta, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, Alberta Court of Appeal and represents clients at numerous administrative tribunals, including provincial and federal employment standards commissions, human rights commissions, and privacy commissions.
Laura’s practice regularly involves reviewing and drafting employment related documentation, including employment and independent contractor agreements, severance packages and confidentiality agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, workplace policies and handbooks and advising on corporate aspects of labour and employment law, including mergers and acquisitions and reorganizations.
In addition, Laura maintains an active privacy practice, advising employers on matters such as access to information requests, data breach response protocols and the impact of anti-spam legislation.
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Representative experience
Co-leading an emergency injunction application for a large public company against its former chief executive officer.
Co-leading the defense of contested wrongful dismissal litigation for a large financial services firm against a former director of investment banking.
Successfully obtaining summary dismissal of claims at the Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal levels on multiple matters.
Successfully obtaining and defending injunction applications to enforce non-competition and other restrictive covenants.
Managing executive wrongful dismissal litigation involving a wide array of issues including theft, fraud, incompetence, insubordination and performance issues.
Assisting employers with workplace safety matters including occupational health and safety investigations and prosecutions associated with workplace fatalities and serious injuries.
Successfully representing employers and employees in human rights complaints.
Conducting workplace investigations relating to numerous forms of workplace misconduct and policy breaches, including bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, violence and substance abuse.
Pursuing remedies for employers relating to employee theft and fraud.
Assisting companies with cybersecurity breaches including notifications to affected individuals and regulators.
Providing key employment, labour and privacy-related advice on multiple merger/acquisition transactions.
Industry recognition
Chambers and Partners CanadaEmployment & Labour – Alberta – Up and Coming (2024)
Chambers and Partners CanadaEmployment & Labour – Alberta – Associates to watch (2023)
Best Lawyers® in Canada 2022 – Ones to Watch
Labour and Employment Law
Acritas Stars 2019-2021
Independently Rated Lawyer (Nominated as a stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel)
Presentations
June 2023
Lancaster House’s Calgary Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, Plenary
Laura spoke as a panel member at the Plenary of the Lancaster House Calgary Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference.
November 2020
Employment Law West Masterclass
Laura presented as part of a panel for Canadian Lawyer
September 2020
Beyond COVID-19: Returning to the Workplace Virtual Event
Laura presented as part of a panel for the RBC Group Advantage
June 2019
Recent Developments in Labour and Employment Law
Laura presented as part of a panel for the, Business Class Seminar, Toronto, ON
February 2019
10 Prominent and Commonly Misunderstood Aspects of Written Employment Agreements
Laura was a Co-speaker for the CPHR HR Law Conference, Calgary, AB
June 2017
Recent Developments in Employment and Labour Law
Laura was a Co-speaker for the Labour & Employment Client Seminar. Toronto, ON
April 2017
The Employment Agreement: 15 Under 15
Laura was a Co-speaker for the Business Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, Calgary, AB
November 2014
Renegades and Rogues: Fiduciary Duties and Restrictive Covenants of Employees in the Digital Age
Laura was a Co-speaker for the, Business Class Seminar, Calgary, AB
News
Mathews Dinsdale has once again been recognized as a leading law firm in the Chambers Canada 2023 Guide for Employment & Labour - Nationwide, Ontario and British Columbia. Congratulations to our lawyers in BC, AB, ON and Atlantic Canada, who have been ranked and recognized this year.
Mathews Dinsdale is pleased to announce that Laura Dunnigan has joined our Calgary office as Counsel. Welcome to the team!
Articles and papers
November 25, 2021Co-author, Upcoming Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Laws, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
August 10, 2020Co-author, Noteworthy Changes to Alberta Employment and Labour Standards Legislation, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
April 8, 2020Co-author, Alberta Government Implements Temporary Changes to Employment Standards, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
March 20, 2020Co-author, Update: Alberta Government Confirms COVID-19 Unpaid Leave, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
March 16, 2020Co-author, Alberta Government Announces Paid Leave in Light of COVID-19, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
May 29, 2019Co-author, Open for Business Act: What It Means for Alberta Employers, Blakes Bulletin on Employment & Labour
Webinars
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