Nicole practises in all areas of labour and employment law and general civil litigation.

Nicole has represented and co-represented clients in matters involving labour arbitrations, the Labour Relations Board, the Employment Standards Branch, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. Nicole also provides strategic advice to clients on drafting employment contracts and the labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions.

Bar Admissions
British Columbia (2006)
Northwest Territories (2008)
Yukon (2010)

Education
University of Victoria (B.Comm (with Distinction), 1999)
University of Toronto (J.D., 2005)

Significant Accomplishments
Representing employers in both the provincial and federal sector in a diverse range of industries including: financial services, mining, transportation, construction, retail, First Nations organizations

Providing strategic labour relations advise to employers on matters such as collective agreement interpretation, discipline, grievance resolution, strikes and lockouts, including appearing at arbitrations and labour relations board hearings

Acting as counsel on labour board appeals, wrongful dismissal and general civil litigation trials including appearing before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada

Providing employment advice including wrongful dismissal, employment standards and drafting employment contracts

Providing advice on human rights matters including the duty to accommodate, the permissible scope of drug and alcohol testing, responding to human rights complaints and developing harassment policies

Providing labour and employment advice to clients on corporate transactions, reorganizations, downsizing and closures; and

Representing employers in responding to privacy complaints and requests for information pursuant to provincial and federal privacy legislation


Professional Associations
*Canadian Bar Association, Member
*BC Human Resources Management Association, Member

Recognition and Ranking
*In 2004, Nicole placed first in the Jessup International Law Moot and represented Canada at the international rounds of the Jessup Moot.

Community Activities
*Western Canada Society to Access Justice, pro bono clinic volunteer

Seminars/ Presentation
"Human Rights & Privacy Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 11, 2014), Speaker

"Employment Law Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (May 31, 2012), Speaker

"Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 14, 2011), Speaker

"Accommodating Disabilities", Burnaby Roundtable, BC Human Resources Management Association (February 17, 2011), Speaker

"Dismissing", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 2, 2010), Speaker

"Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (October 30, 2008), Speaker

"Duty to Accommodate", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 21, 2007), Speaker

"Drug and Alcohol Testing", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (June 21, 2006), Speaker

• Coming January 1, 2021 New Federal Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations

  By Nicole Skuggedal |November 2020

Additional ArticlesFederal Private Sector Privacy Legislation Amendments (July 9, 2015), Co-author

Suspension held to Constitute Constructive Dismissal: Potter v. New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission, 2015 SCC 10 (March 10, 2015)

Labour & Employment Law Bulletin: Privacy Commissioner’s Report on Police Information Checks Released (April 2014)

Nicole Skuggedal quoted in BC Business (March 4, 2014)

"The Importance of Responding to Privacy Complaints" (January 17, 2014), Author

Nicole Skuggedal quoted in Business in Vancouver article "Do You Know Where Your Mobile Workers Are?" (January 13, 2014)

Labour & Employment Law Bulletin: Viewing Employee’s Personal Email Violates Privacy Legislation (December 20, 2013), Author

Labour & Employment Law Bulletin: Pension benefits will not be deducted from damages for wrongful dismissal (December 17, 2013), Author

Labour & Employment Bulletin (October 9, 2012), Co-Author

"How to craft computer policies on personal emails and surfing" (December 8, 2011), Author

Labour & Employment Law Bulletin (November 8, 2011), Co-Author

Labour & Employment Bulletin: Federal Elections – Employee Voting Time Entitlement and Company Computers and the Employee’s Expectation of Privacy (April 29, 2011)

Labour & Employment Bulletin: Minimum Wage Increase and Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Regulations (March 18, 2011)

Labour & Employment Law Bulletin: Court of Appeal finds Attendance Management Program Discriminatory (October 20, 2010)

Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Duty to Accommodate (July 18, 2008)

Supreme Court of Canada Issues Landmark Employment Law Decision in Keays v. Honda Canada Inc. (June 27, 2008)

“What if you Suspect the Disability Claim to be False? A Guide to Fair and Proper Investigations”, Insight Information Co., Duty to Accommodate (2005), Co-author

Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lawson Lundell's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog follows new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.

Labour & Employment Law Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lawson Lundell's Labour and Employment Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting the Canadian workplace and offers practical tips for employers. We cover a range of topics, including labour relations, employment law, collective bargaining, human rights, employment standards, employment equity, workers' compensation, business immigration, privacy, occupational health and safety and pensions and employee benefits.

Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.