Paul Heisler

Paul Heisler has practiced employment law for nearly two decades, representing both employers and employees and is peer-recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for Labour and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and has previously been recognized in the areas of Administrative and Public Law. Paul was named a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation in 2024.

Paul has appeared as counsel before all levels of courts in British Columbia, administrative tribunals, and arbitral panels. He regularly represents clients in wrongful dismissal cases, human rights matters, labour relations matters, privacy law matters, shareholder disputes, disputes about post-employment competition, commercial disputes, and constitutional claims.

In addition to his litigation practice, Paul regularly provides legal and strategic advice to both employers and senior employees in the public and private sector with respect to all aspects of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of executive employment and termination agreements, employment policies, freedom of information requests, collective agreement interpretation, investigations, and the accommodation of employees in the workplace.

Prior to joining the firm in 2009, Paul articled and then practiced for three years in the labour and employment group at a leading national firm

Notable Cases

Commercial arbitration of shareholder dispute, 2021: Successfully obtained a stay of a notice of sale under a shotgun clause of a shareholder agreement in an arbitration of a shareholder dispute under the Arbitration Act, S.B.C. 2020, c.2.

British Columbia (Attorney General) v. BridgeMark Financial, 2020 BCSC 1704 (with Randy Kaardal and Caitlin Ehman): Successfully defended the constitutionality of the BC Securities Commission’s freeze order power in the first Section 8 Charter challenge to a security commission’s freeze order power in the country.

Cid de la Torre v. Legal Services Society, 2020 BCHRT 30 (with Susan Humphrey): counsel for the Legal Services Society in a successful application to dismiss a complaint made to the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Marion Family Ventures Inc. v. Lam, 2020 BCSC: Defended a senior employee who was deceived into making approximately $1 million in wire transfers to offshore accounts in an action against her and a bank brought by her former employer.

Arbitration of wrongful dismissal claim (with Randy Kaardal): Successfully represented a physician in defeating an application to strike a claim against a hospital and health authority for breach of contract in an arbitration under the Arbitration Act, S.B.C. 2020, c.2.

Quanta Services, Inc. v. Rokstad Power Corp., 2017 BCSC 1858: Defended the president of a leading North American distribution and transmission company in a dispute with a U.S. competitor concerning allegations of breach of confidence.

Wittworth v. ARO Inc., 2016 BCHRT 76: Successfully defeated application to dismiss and obtained rare costs award against debt collection agency in a human rights complaint based on mental and physical disability.

Ogden v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 2015 BCCA 175 (with Randy Kaardal): Successfully represented a bank in appealing a trial judgment that had attracted national media coverage in which the trial judge had found that the appellant had wrongfully terminated the employment of the respondent for cause.

Ero v. Earl’s Restaurants Ltd., 2012 BCHRT 428: Successfully represented a class of persons with albinism in British Columbia in a human rights complaint attracting national media coverage and resulting in one of the province’s largest chain of restaurants removing the word “albino” from its menu.

Stewart v. Interoute Construction, 2012 BCHRT 337: Successfully represented construction company in obtaining dismissal of human rights complaint by former employee based on physical disability.

Avanti Mining Inc. v. Kitsault Resort Ltd., 2010 BCSC 1181 (with Randy Kaardal): Successfully represented mining company in obtaining declaratory relief and permanent injunction for a mining company in a dispute over the proper interpretation of a statutory right of way across townsite.

Callahan v. Capilano Suspension Bridge Ltd., 2009 BCHRT 127: Successfully represented operator of Capilano Suspension Bridge in obtaining dismissal of human rights complaint by an employee terminated for failing to adhere to dress code.

Grandison v. NovaGold Resources Inc., 2007 BCSC 1780 (with Joe McArthur): Successfully represented mining company in a leading case on the determination of fair value in dissent proceedings under the B.C. Business Corporations Act.

News

August 2024

We are pleased to announce that Paul Heisler has been recognized once again in The Best Lawyers in Canada (2025 Edition), a distinction he has proudly held since 2021.

Paul Heisler is acknowledged for his distinguished work in Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits Law, and Labour and Employment Law. This recognition highlights Paul’s comprehensive legal acumen and his ability to deliver exceptional results across these diverse practice areas. We congratulate Paul on this well-deserved honor and look forward to his continued contributions to our firm and the broader legal community.

May 2024

HLC is delighted to announce its continued recognition as "Highly Recommended" in Benchmark Canada 2024. This acknowledgment highlights the exceptional expertise and dedication of our legal professionals. Congratulations to Paul Heisler for his well-deserved recognition as a "Future Star" by Benchmark.

August 2023

Paul Heisler is recognized by Best Lawyers® in Canada (2024 Edition) for his work in Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits Law, Labour and Employment Law.

August 2022

Best Lawyers in Canada has released the 2023 edition of its publication and Paul Heisler is recognized for his work in Labour and Employment Law.

August 2021

Best Lawyers in Canada has released the 2022 edition of its publication and Paul Heisler is recognized for his work in Labour and Employment Law, and Administrative and Public Law.

Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Paul Heisler, and Caitlin Ehman successfully represented the Executive Director of the Securities Commission in a stated case referred to the Supreme Court by the Attorney General of British Columbia, in which Madam Justice Jackson upheld the constitutionality of the Security Commission’s power to freeze assets. A copy of that decision is here.

February 2020

Paul Heisler and Susan Humphrey were successful in an application to dismiss a complaint made to the BC Human Rights Tribunal against their client, the Legal Services Society. The decision can be found here.

June 2018

Paul Heisler and Alexander Bjornson published an article in the Canadian Bar Association June 2018 publication “BarTalk” on the impact of the upcoming Cannabis Act on employers and employees.