CPHR CPD: 6.5

Join us for CPHR Nova Scotia's
Cape Breton Law Symposium!

Back by popular demand!
We are so thrilled to welcome you to a full day of fantastic learning and networking opportunities
in Sydney, NS!

Topics include Immigration 101 for HR Professionals, Workplace Investigations, and more!

Keep an eye on this page as we add more speakers & details! 

Speakers

Brad Proctor, Lead Office Partner, McInnes Cooper

Emcee & speaker

Topic: Hiring & Firing: 10 Key Do’s & Don’ts

Brad Proctor is an Office Lead Partner based out of the Halifax, Nova Scotia office.

Brad practices management labour and employment law with an emphasis on the following core areas:

• Occupational Health and Safety;
• Workers’ Compensation;
• Human Rights and Workplace Accommodations;
• Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining;
• Wrongful Dismissal and other Employment-related claims;
• Workplace Privacy Issues.

Brad advises clients to take a proactive approach to management labour and employment relations through the formulation and implementation of employment contracts, workplace policies as well as the creation of training programs for managers and supervisors with respect to performance management, workplace accommodations, harassment prevention and health and safety.

Brad appears regularly before labour arbitrators, human rights tribunals, Labour Boards, Workers’ Compensation Tribunals as well as various levels of court throughout the Atlantic Canadian provinces.

Brad’s dedication to his clients and his practice has earned a number of accomplishments. In 2015, he was named one of Lexpert® Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers under 40. Having gained a national reputation for his experience in occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation counsel, Brad has also been listed in the Best Lawyers® in Canada directory since 2016 and is repeatedly recommended in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. He has also been ranked in the Chambers Canada 2023 Legal Rankings for Employment & Labour. Brad actively volunteers for various community groups, is a past Director of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and a past Director of Safety Services Nova Scotia. Brad has been listed in the 5-Star Safety Law Firms and Lawyers 2022 | Canadian Occupational Safety (thesafetymag.com), being named a 5-star safety lawyer is the key Canadian recognition in occupational health and safety law.

Andrea Rizzato, Sheldon Nathanson Law

Topic: Labour Relations

Andrea Rizzato was born and raised in New Waterford. She attended St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with honours, majoring in English and Political Science.

Andrea completed her Bachelor of Laws at Dalhousie University. She articled with Sheldon Nathanson Law in 2004, and has been practising with the firm ever since.

Andrea has a special interest and experience in the areas of Labour and Employment Law. Andrea also has extensive experience in Family Law, as well as experience in the following areas of practice: Property Law, Civil Litigation, Wills & Estates and Bankruptcy & Insolvency.

Andrea is a current and active member of the YMCA of Cape Breton, a long-standing volunteer with the Parent Information Program (PIP) thorough the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division), a volunteer soccer and basketball coach, the Secretary of the New Waterford Rotary Club, on the executive on the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society and a member of the Cape Breton Pro Bono Society.

Jamie Taylor, Principal Lawyer, Navigate Canada Law

Topic: Immigration 101 for HR Professionals

Jamie is an experienced immigration lawyer. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Canadian Studies, graduating First-Class Honours from Mount Allison University. After working in non-profits with a focus on ethical leadership and peace studies, she returned to school and completed her law degree at the University of Calgary. In Jamie’s early career she gained experience in workplace law (employment, privacy, labour, human rights, and immigration); however, she began to focus exclusively on immigration matters in 2013, which has been the heart of her practice since.

Jamie is a proud Maritimer, with big-city experience. Having lived and worked across Canada, she has advised large transnational corporations in a variety of sectors on their workplace management and immigration issues and has likewise supported small businesses with immigration matters including, on-boarding foreign nationals, compliance audits, and succession planning in rural towns where population decline is a significant issue. She has also supported individuals with assessing their options to come to, or remain in Canada, including many couples through the spousal sponsorship process, students from study permits through to permanent residency, as well as a host of temporary and permanent residency applications. While past success does not indicate future success (and no immigration professional can guarantee positive results!), Jamie has a demonstrated history of guiding her clients through to their immigration goals in Canada. Jamie is a strong advocate for her clients; she attributes much of her grit and diplomacy to growing up in a large family of entrepreneurs. Jamie and her team look forward to guiding you through the complex world of Canadian immigration law.

Julie MacPhee, Patterson Law

Topic: Workplace Investigations

A member of Labour and Employment team where she assists clients who find themselves in a dispute, Julie MacPhee is also a certified workplace investigator and conducts independent workplace investigations and workplace assessments. Whatever the area, Julie listens carefully to understand the client’s needs and develop tailor-made strategies for success. Julie’s background in science speaks to her detail-oriented approach and her analytical skills, both of which are important tools in helping clients identify the sometimes hidden issues driving the dispute.

Julie has represented clients at arbitrations, mediation-arbitrations, mediations, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal, Utility and Review Board, Nova Scotia Assessment Appeal Tribunal, Human Rights Board of Inquiry, and the Labour Board. She has also represented clients before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, Nova Scotia Supreme Court, Provincial Court, Family Court and Small Claims Court. She’s as comfortable getting results for clients in the Courtroom, as out.

Julie earned her law degree in 2004 from Dalhousie Law School, after first obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001. She spent several years practicing litigation in a large Halifax firm before returning home to her Pictou County roots. Julie enjoys being an active member of her community and has a particular passion for supporting the United Way and YMCA.

Sean MacDonald, Portside Law

Topic: Mental Health Accommodations

Although I began my legal practice in Alberta following my graduation from Dalhousie University, my roots in Nova Scotia always called me home. I spent four years articling and practicing at a major law firm in Calgary, with a narrow focus in commercial litigation.

When the opportunity arose to join a well-established, small firm in Halifax, I knew it was not only my chance to broaden my legal experience into other areas of law, but also put down roots with my wife and start a family. In 2014, I made one final move eastward to Cape Breton, where I was born and raised, to join one of the island’s largest law firms. (A year later, our family was completed with the birth of our second daughter).

In my career, I have appeared before every level of court in both Alberta and Nova Scotia, along with a number of administrative bodies. I have litigated claims on behalf of businesses and individuals, ranging in complexity up to and including multi-million dollar disputes.

Since returning to Nova Scotia in 2011, I have been able to incorporate a wider range of areas into my practice, including criminal law, real estate and wills and estates. I welcome the opportunity to help clients at the various stages of estate planning, whether they are buying their first house or trying to determine how to best plan for the future for themselves and their families.

I pride myself on taking an attentive, genuine approach to the practice of law. Whatever my client’s concern, I make it a top priority to ensure they feel they are being heard, and even more importantly, that their concern will be addressed.

Most of all, I consider myself immensely lucky to continue my legal career in Cape Breton, and give back to the community through my volunteer efforts. 

Schedule

Conference schedule subject to change.

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