Toronto (Canada) – Fasken Counsel, Brian Burkett, is the recipient of a Chambers & Partners Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating his career and contributions to the legal profession and to the practice of law across Canada. The award was presented at the Chambers Canada Awards 2021 virtual awards ceremony and Chambers Canada 2022 guide launch webinar, held today.
Brian Burkett has practiced exclusively in the area of management labour relations and employment law throughout his career. His law practice on behalf of employers and employer associations has focused on strategic advice, advocacy and good counsel in connection with a wide range of workplace issues at the provincial, federal and, increasingly so during the last decade, at the international level.
“Our congratulations to Brian Burkett for this well-deserved honour celebrating his distinguished career and his remarkable contributions to labour law and human rights, both nationally and internationally, and to the legal profession,” said Peter Feldberg, Firm Managing Partner.
Brian has held the top ranking of Band 1 in the Chambers Canada Rankings for a number of consecutive years. In 2020, Brian was recognized as a Senior Statesperson in the Chambers Nationwide and Ontario rankings for Employment and Labour Law. He is also recognized as a leading practitioner in the Annual Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, The Best Lawyers in Canada, and The International Who’s Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers. Brian is a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in the United States. He is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer review rating awarded to a lawyer for his legal skills and sense of ethics.
Brian is counsel to the Canadian Employers Council (CEC). The CEC is the official “voice” of Canadian business, on the international stage, including at the International Labour Organization (ILO), in respect of the world of work and global workplaces. He is also counsel to the Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications (FETCO). FETCO is the principal organization representing the interests of federally regulated employers, including its interactions with the Canadian government.
Brian is a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Labour Law Association (CLLA), as well as an associate editor of the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal and a member of the International Association of Labour Law Journals. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR) at the University of Toronto, where he co-teaches the “Developments in International Labour and Human Resource Policy” course.
Finally, Brian is an active member of various Boards and Committees including, but not limited to: the Advisory Committee at the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR) at the University of Toronto; the Advisory Committee at the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace at the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University; the Advisory Board to the Center for Human Rights at the American Bar Association (ABA); and a member of the Consultation Group created by the Canadian government to advise on the social aspect of various free trade negotiations including the recently concluded Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) free trade agreement.
About Fasken
Fasken is a leading international law firm with more than 800 lawyers and ten offices on four continents. Clients rely on us for practical and innovative legal services. We solve the most complex business and litigation challenges, providing exceptional value. For additional information, please visit our website at fasken.com.
