Lou Poskitt

Contact

778-357-3001
lou@cooperwilliamslaw.com

Qualifications

  • Bar of British Columbia, 2010
  • JD, University of Victoria, 2009
  • BA (Honours), Religious Studies, University of Waterloo, 2006
  • French Culinary Diploma, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, 2000
  • Member Human Rights Law, Employment Law, and Workplace Investigations section, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch

Representative Cases

Investigated
  • Complex allegations of sexual misconduct against a regulated professional
  • Cross allegations of bullying and harassment in a unionized workforce
  • Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in various post-secondary institutions
  • Various allegations of discrimination
  • Various allegations of serious policy breaches in various unionized workforces
  • General concerns about workplace culture and employee retention
  • Allegations of egregious off-duty conduct
Defended
  • Various human rights claims in the context of employment or provision of service
  • Grievance arbitration involving dozens of allegations of breach of policy spanning several years
  • Human rights complaint on behalf of a private post-secondary institution
  • Certification applications at the Labour Relations Board
  • Human rights complaint on behalf of a private post-secondary institution
  • Certification applications at the Labour Relations Board
  • Wrongful dismissal claims against various BC First Nations
Negotiated
  • Severance packages on behalf of employers exiting employees of varying levels of seniority
  • Resolution of various labour grievances including termination grievances and policy grievances
  • Settlements of wrongful dismissal claims on behalf of employers across multiple industries
Advised
  • Large national employers as well as small business on drafting and implementing various policies including bullying/harassment policies, conflict of interest policies, social media and consent to use of image policies
  • High tech employers in drafting employment contracts for remote employees across multiple jurisdictions
  • High tech employers in drafting employment contracts for remote employees across multiple jurisdictions
  • Small and large employers dealing with workplace harassment complaints and provided guidance on the implementation of recommendations flowing from investigation reports
  • A professional service employer in the investigation of various allegations of impropriety against a senior employee
  • Various restaurant industry clients in structuring contracts, policies, and benefits
  • Various clients across industries on performance management and workplace accommodations
  • Several Modern Treaty Nations on jurisdictional issues relating to their employees

Recent Presentations

  • “Workplace Scans”, Regional Employers Symposium, October 2023
  • “Environmental Scans, Workplace Assessments, Cultural Scans – What on Earth are we Talking About” CLEBC, May 2023
  • “Employment Law 101”, Bread and Butter Collective, April 2022
  • “Reimagining the Wheel: A Student-Centred Articling/Summer Experience”, CBAB, February 2022
  • “Accommodation in the Workplace”, CPHRT BC & Yukon, September 2021
  • “Employment Law 101”, AFOA Canada, September 2021
  • “Creating a Culture of Mental Health as a Small/Medium Employer”, CLEBC, September 2021
  • “Implications of the Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.”, CLEBC May, 2017

Publications

  • “Human Rights Issues in Post-Secondary Education”, The Handbook of Canadian Higher Education