Ryley Mennie

I am a seasoned employment, human rights and litigation lawyer. Having practiced as a labour and employment law associate at a large national firm, and then principal and lead of the Workplace Law Group at a respected Indigenous, business and litigation boutique firm in Vancouver, I now work with macushlaw in a priority consultant role as Senior Counsel for employment, human rights and litigation matters.

One of the main components of my practice is helping clients anticipate and negotiate the various challenges that arise in the workplace, including compliance with employment standards, human rights and privacy laws, contract and policy drafting and application, sensitive investigations, disciplinary matters and complex terminations.  When negotiations fail, I help clients achieve results through effective litigation in court and other forums, like the BC Human Rights Tribunal and the BC Employment Standards Tribunal. I also have deep experience helping clients navigate the employment and human rights-related issues that arise in commercial transactions and corporate restructuring and help clients with union organization drives and with collective bargaining and interpretation of collective agreements.

I have worked with clients of all kinds, including individuals, multinational organizations, startups and medium sized businesses, partnerships, community enterprises, societies, not-for-profit groups and Indigenous Nations and their related entities.  In every client relationship, I focus on understanding my client’s business, values, culture and operations and offer practical insights from experience to complement my legal advice in order to help them make the best decisions for their unique circumstances.  I know from experience that the “devil is in the details” but help my clients see the forest for the trees.

I am an experienced presenter at various BC Continuing Legal Education conferences, was the co-chair of the CBABC Employment Law Subsection and an instructor for Human Resources Management in the Continuing Studies Department at Simon Fraser University and in the School of Legal Studies at Capilano University.

I have strong personal and professional alignment with macushlaw’s vision and structure as a contemporary, forward-thinking and inclusive law firm. I volunteer my time with Big Brothers and Big Sisters Canada and dedicate a portion of my practice every year to pro bono legal services for various public interest groups and individuals.

In my time outside of legal practice, I enjoy the outdoors and being active, exploring the mountains of BC, hiking, biking and homesteading in the beautiful Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, with my family, and running a small business climbing trees and running chainsaws as a relaxing balance to the practice of law.