Suzanne M. Porteous
Partner
Experience
Suzanne has extensive experience in employment and business law, and regularly advises clients from a variety of industries on workplace matters, including in the context of mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and day-to-day operations. She drafts employment and consultant agreements, advises on termination strategies, and provides guidance on incentive plans, restrictive covenants, and workplace policies and investigations. Suzanne is also a skillful advocate and regularly represents clients in employment related litigation and human rights claims. Her commercial experience and business-minded approach allow her to deliver strategic advice aligned with her clients’ broader objectives.
Community Involvement
- Past Judge of 4H public speaking competitions
- Past Instructor, Legal Education Society CPLED Chambers Advocacy Course
Professional involvement
Professional Associations
- Member, Law Society of Alberta
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Calgary Bar Association
Representative work
Drafting Employment Agreements
Drafting employee agreements and employee policies and procedures for management.
Employment Counsel to Midstream Energy Company
Employment counsel to a midstream energy company, providing advice and assistance related to various employment matters, including executive employment agreements, terminations, workplace policies and human rights issues
Legal Advisor on Workforce Integration
Legal advisor to employers in the private and public sectors, providing strategic advice on workforce combinations and integrations following mergers and acquisitions, including collaborating with union and non-union workers to facilitate consolidation.
Providing legal counsel to employers in the private and public sectors
Counsel to employers in the private and public sectors in relation to employee disability claims, performance management issues, workplace investigations, and terminations and severance negotiations.
Legal Advisor to Employers on Employment Matters
Legal advisor to employers in the private and public sectors in the context of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including conducting all requisite due diligence and drafting and negotiating termination, employment, restrictive covenant, incentive plan, retention and change of control agreements.
OHS workplace investigation
Advising on and successfully resolving OHS workplace investigations, including fatality incidents.
Conducting and Resolving Workplace Investigations
Conducting and successfully resolving workplace investigations related to harassment, workplace safety and fulfilling OHS requirements.
Providing Strategic Employment Guidance to Management
Acting as a strategic advisor to management in mergers and acquisitions in respect of employment related issues and outcomes.
Litigation of Employment and Human Rights Claims
Defending and prosecuting claims related to wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, and human rights complaints, at all levels of courts and tribunals.
Wrongful Termination of Services Agreement
Representing a private company in multi-million dollar action against municipality for wrongful termination of services agreement founded in the law of duty of honest performance and good faith obligations in the context of commercial relationships.
Advising Management on Comprehensive Employment Law Matters
Representing management on all employment issues including employment standards, human rights, employment agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality agreements, independent contractor agreements, workplace investigations, workplace policies and procedures, disciplinary matters and terminations.
Defence of Investment Advisers in Misconduct and Discretionary Trading Claims
Acting for and defending investment advisers for significant financial institutions before all levels of Court in Alberta and before IIROC with respect to allegations made by current and former clients as to misconduct, breaches of the terms of service agreements, and discretionary trading.
Enforcement of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants for REIT
Prosecuting a claim on behalf of a REIT with respect to significant breaches of a non-competition and non-solicitation covenant by an entity which sold its business to the REIT.
Illegal Takeover Action for Alberta Oil Producer
Prosecuting a multi-million dollar illegal take-over action commenced by an Alberta oil producer before the Alberta Court of King's Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Alberta Securities Commission.
Injunctive Relief for Coalbed Methane Producer
Representing a major coalbed methane producer in obtaining injunctive relief to remove a protester road block interfering with its large coalbed methane project
Product Liability Claims Against Major Agricultural Equipment Manufacturer
Prosecuting product liability claims against a significant agricultural machinery and implement manufacturer on behalf of a significant farming operation.
Breach of Confidence Claim in Competitive Dispute
Defending a large environmental waste management company against a multi-million dollar breach of confidence and misuse of confidential information claim brought by one of its competitors.
Awards
Recent Honours and Recognition
Named as Benchmark Litigation Star annually since 2007