Shaun provides advice and representation to employers on a wide range of employment and labour matters, including advocacy and corporate aspects of employment and labour law. His practice regularly involves employment litigation, employment-compliance, as well as mergers and acquisitions related work.
Shaun has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, the British Columbia Supreme Court, and various administrative tribunals. Shaun has been lead trial counsel on a number of matters, and has been litigation counsel on numerous injunctions (including breach of restrictive covenants and illegal blockade-related matters) as well as Anton Piller applications.
Areas of Expertise
Representative Work
- Chevron Canada Limited
Chevron Canada Limited on the sale of its interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and the Kaybob Duvernay Shale Gas Project to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for US$6.5 billion
- Bird Construction
Bird Construction in its acquisition of Jacob Bros Construction for $135 million
- OneComply
OneComply in its acquisition by GeoComply Inc.
- Nimble Science
Nimble Science in its raising of US$ 2 million in a Series A financing round
- M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp.
M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
- VAALCO Energy
VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
- Canalyst
Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- FreshWorks Studios
FreshWorks Studio in its acquisition by EY
- AcordPay
AcordPay in its acquisition by InsurePay
- Assembly Digital
Assembly Digital in its acquisition by St. Joseph Communications
- Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging in its strategic investment from Thoma Bravo
- Domain7 Solutions
Domain7 Solutions in connection with Civil Space’s acquisition by Zencity
- Spire Global
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
- Variational AI
Variational AI in its US$3.5 million Seed round
- Vendasta and CalendarHero
Vendasta and CalendarHero in the acquisition of CalendarHero
- Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial
Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial in their Series A investment in InvestX Capital
- Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Inc. in connection with the formation of Astisiy Limited Partnership to acquire TC Energy’s interest in the Northern Courier Pipeline Limited Partnership
- Outside Interactive
Outside Interactive in it acquisition of Pinkbike, CyclingTips and Trailforks
- Tantalus Systems Holding
Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. in its $90 million Qualifying Transaction with RiseTech Capital Corp., concurrent financing and graduation to the Toronto Stock Exchange
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
- Echosec Systems
Echosec Systems in its acquisition by The Tusker Fund
- Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture
- Delta Electronics
Delta Electronics in its acquisition of Trihedral Engineering Limited
- SkyHive Technologies Inc.
SkyHive in its US$8 million Series A financing round
- Mobify
Mobify in its acquisition by Salesforce
Select Reported Deals:
- The Carlyle Group with regard to Canadian aspects of its acquisition of Arctic Glacier Group Holdings, Inc. from H.I.G. Capital.
- Procera Networks Inc., an affiliate of Francisco Partners, in the C$562 million acquisition of TSX-listed network policy control solutions company Sandvine Corporation by way of plan of arrangement in Ontario.
- Trican Well Service Ltd. on the sale of its U.S. pressure pumping business to Keane Group Holdings, LLC for US$200 million plus an equity interest in Keane.
- Suncor Energy Inc. on its proposed purchase of all of the shares of Canadian Oil Sands Limited valued at C$6.6 billion.
- Trinidad Drilling Ltd. on its C$505 million acquisition of CanElson Drilling Inc.
- BluEarth Renewables Inc. on its buyout by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
- Jupiter Resources Inc. and Apollo Management Holding LP in connection with the C$2 billion acquisition by Jupiter Resources Inc. of the Bighorn upstream assets from Encana Corporation.
- KUFPEC Canada Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Chevron Canada Limited’s 30 per cent interest in its Duvernay shale play for US$1.5 billion.
- ENMAX Corporation on its purchase from Encana Corporation of the 115 MW, natural-gas-fired, Cavalier electricity generation facility located near Strathmore, Alberta, and of Encana’s 50 per cent interest in the 110 MW, natural-gas-fired, Balzac electricity generation facility located near Balzac, Alberta.
Select Reported Cases:
- Trican Well Service Ltd. obtained summary dismissal for an employer, defeating allegations that its severance clause contracted below employment standards minimums.
- Creditloans Canada Financing Inc. successfully defended a high-growth emerging company in a dispute with a founder over severance, bonuses, and stock options.
- Nexen Energy ULC as counsel at trial and on appeal, successfully defending the client with respect to a US$50 million claim involving allegations of breach of confidence, employment discrimination, and defamation.
- Catalyst Canada Services LP as counsel, obtaining an Anton Piller Order and injunction against former employees that had misappropriated trade secrets, confidential information, and other intellectual property relating to specialized oil and gas drilling technology.
Other Work:
- Acting for a multinational oil and gas company in its defence of claims brought by its former CEO with respect to his performance share units.
- Obtaining an Anton Piller Order for an Alberta pipeline company against a contractor and his operating companies who are suspected of misappropriating at least C$2 million in company funds.
- Obtaining an interim and permanent injunction for a Western Canadian oil and gas producer to prevent a landowner from demolishing a key access road to the company’s facilities.
- Obtaining an injunction for a franchisor to enforce a two year non-competition covenant against a former franchisee, including an award of full solicitor-client costs.
- Successfully litigated a wrongful termination claim through to trial for a senior engineer against his former employer.
- Defeated an application for a confidentiality and sealing order against a client in an asset entitlement dispute, regarding assets exceeding C$10 million in value.
- Representing clients in a number of chambers matters and before administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Labour Relations Board, provincial employment standards commissions, human rights commissions, and privacy commissions.
Chevron Canada Limited on the sale of its interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and the Kaybob Duvernay Shale Gas Project to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for US$6.5 billion
Bird Construction in its acquisition of Jacob Bros Construction for $135 million
OneComply in its acquisition by GeoComply Inc.
Nimble Science in its raising of US$ 2 million in a Series A financing round
M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
- VAALCO Energy
VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
- Canalyst
Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- FreshWorks Studios
FreshWorks Studio in its acquisition by EY
- AcordPay
AcordPay in its acquisition by InsurePay
- Assembly Digital
Assembly Digital in its acquisition by St. Joseph Communications
- Circle Cardiovascular Imaging
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging in its strategic investment from Thoma Bravo
- Domain7 Solutions
Domain7 Solutions in connection with Civil Space’s acquisition by Zencity
- Spire Global
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
- Variational AI
Variational AI in its US$3.5 million Seed round
- Vendasta and CalendarHero
Vendasta and CalendarHero in the acquisition of CalendarHero
- Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial
Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial in their Series A investment in InvestX Capital
- Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Inc. in connection with the formation of Astisiy Limited Partnership to acquire TC Energy’s interest in the Northern Courier Pipeline Limited Partnership
- Outside Interactive
Outside Interactive in it acquisition of Pinkbike, CyclingTips and Trailforks
- Tantalus Systems Holding
Tantalus Systems Holding Inc. in its $90 million Qualifying Transaction with RiseTech Capital Corp., concurrent financing and graduation to the Toronto Stock Exchange
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
- Echosec Systems
Echosec Systems in its acquisition by The Tusker Fund
- Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture
- Delta Electronics
Delta Electronics in its acquisition of Trihedral Engineering Limited
- SkyHive Technologies Inc.
SkyHive in its US$8 million Series A financing round
- Mobify
Mobify in its acquisition by Salesforce
Select Reported Deals:
- The Carlyle Group with regard to Canadian aspects of its acquisition of Arctic Glacier Group Holdings, Inc. from H.I.G. Capital.
- Procera Networks Inc., an affiliate of Francisco Partners, in the C$562 million acquisition of TSX-listed network policy control solutions company Sandvine Corporation by way of plan of arrangement in Ontario.
- Trican Well Service Ltd. on the sale of its U.S. pressure pumping business to Keane Group Holdings, LLC for US$200 million plus an equity interest in Keane.
- Suncor Energy Inc. on its proposed purchase of all of the shares of Canadian Oil Sands Limited valued at C$6.6 billion.
- Trinidad Drilling Ltd. on its C$505 million acquisition of CanElson Drilling Inc.
- BluEarth Renewables Inc. on its buyout by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
- Jupiter Resources Inc. and Apollo Management Holding LP in connection with the C$2 billion acquisition by Jupiter Resources Inc. of the Bighorn upstream assets from Encana Corporation.
- KUFPEC Canada Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Chevron Canada Limited’s 30 per cent interest in its Duvernay shale play for US$1.5 billion.
- ENMAX Corporation on its purchase from Encana Corporation of the 115 MW, natural-gas-fired, Cavalier electricity generation facility located near Strathmore, Alberta, and of Encana’s 50 per cent interest in the 110 MW, natural-gas-fired, Balzac electricity generation facility located near Balzac, Alberta.
Select Reported Cases:
- Trican Well Service Ltd. obtained summary dismissal for an employer, defeating allegations that its severance clause contracted below employment standards minimums.
- Creditloans Canada Financing Inc. successfully defended a high-growth emerging company in a dispute with a founder over severance, bonuses, and stock options.
- Nexen Energy ULC as counsel at trial and on appeal, successfully defending the client with respect to a US$50 million claim involving allegations of breach of confidence, employment discrimination, and defamation.
- Catalyst Canada Services LP as counsel, obtaining an Anton Piller Order and injunction against former employees that had misappropriated trade secrets, confidential information, and other intellectual property relating to specialized oil and gas drilling technology.
Other Work:
- Acting for a multinational oil and gas company in its defence of claims brought by its former CEO with respect to his performance share units.
- Obtaining an Anton Piller Order for an Alberta pipeline company against a contractor and his operating companies who are suspected of misappropriating at least C$2 million in company funds.
- Obtaining an interim and permanent injunction for a Western Canadian oil and gas producer to prevent a landowner from demolishing a key access road to the company’s facilities.
- Obtaining an injunction for a franchisor to enforce a two year non-competition covenant against a former franchisee, including an award of full solicitor-client costs.
- Successfully litigated a wrongful termination claim through to trial for a senior engineer against his former employer.
- Defeated an application for a confidentiality and sealing order against a client in an asset entitlement dispute, regarding assets exceeding C$10 million in value.
- Representing clients in a number of chambers matters and before administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Labour Relations Board, provincial employment standards commissions, human rights commissions, and privacy commissions.
Latest Insights
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Blog Jun 27, 2024
Cannabis in safety sensitive positions: guidance from the Alberta Court of King’s Bench
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench found that employers have the right to enforce drug and alcohol policies, especially in the name of safety.
Read more -
Blog Mar 21, 2024
Driving change: B.C.’s Bill 48 provides clarity to gig economy
British Columbia’s Bill 48 aims to provide some clarity on the legal standards that apply to gig economy workers. The Bill is expected to have...
Read more -
Blog Dec 13, 2023
British Columbia streamlining credential recognition for internationally trained professionals
The B.C. government has introduced new legislation designed to address delays in accreditation by streamlining the international credential...
Read more -
Osler Update Oct 4, 2022
No constructive dismissal of employee who refused vaccination says the B.C. Supreme Court
Osler lawyers provide their analysis of a recent Supreme Court of B.C. decision regarding an employer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Employment & Labour (Alberta)
Media Mentions
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Media Mentions Jan 14, 2022
Scores of unvaccinated workers are filing wrongful dismissal claims against employers, lawyers say – The Globe and Mail
Osler's Shaun Parker told The Globe and Mail in an interview that he is seeing more cases of fired employees who refuse to get vaccinated.
Read more -
Osler News Feb 16, 2021
Osler welcomes 12 new partners and 2 new counsel in 2021
Osler is proud to announce the addition of 12 new partners and two new counsel across five of our offices, effective March 1, 2021.
Read more -
Media Mentions Jan 11, 2021
Employers requiring coronavirus vaccinations must consider human rights, privacy – Benefits Canada
Employers must carefully consider the privacy and human rights implications of requiring vaccinations for their teams before potentially doing so,...
Read more -
Media Mentions Dec 7, 2020
Can workers be mandated to take the COVID vaccine? – Canadian HR Reporter
As Canada starts to roll out COVID-19 vaccine doses, Osler associate Shaun Parker speaks to Canadian HR Reporter about some of the corresponding...
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Foresight Companies Webinar #3: Resources and Discussion on COVID-19
Speaker, April 7, 2020
Coronavirus: Public Health and Canadian Workplace Considerations
Speaker, April 1, 2020
Employment and Labour – A Year in Review and a Look Forward
Speaker, Calgary, February 12, 2020
Webinar – The Need to Know: A look at important legal developments in the areas of board governance, employment stipulations, and talent sourcing
Speaker, September 18, 2019
Webinar – Workplace Harassment and #MeToo: Preventing and Responding to Incidents in the Workplace
Speaker, Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Webinar – Legal Developments in Employment & Labour: Marijuana and Accommodation
Speaker, November 23, 2017
Calgary Breakfast Seminar Series – October
Speaker, Marijuana and Accommodation, Calgary, October 18, 2017
Employment Law 101 for Emerging Companies
Co-Presenter, Employment Law 101 for Emerging Companies, Calgary, May 4, 2017
Cybersecurity: A Primer for Executives, Managers and Counsel
Speaker, Calgary, Thursday, April 27, 2017
Canadian Corporate Counsel Association – Cybersecurity Seminar
Speaker, April 27, 2017
Employment Law 101 for Emerging Companies
Speaker, Vancouver, April 6, 2017
Cybersecurity: A Primer for Executives, Managers and Counsel
Speaker, Calgary, January 31, 2017
Webinar – Employment Law Update: From Compliance to Tech
Speaker, Cybersecurity in the Workplace: Preventative measures, January 25, 2017
Mid-Year Employment Law Update: Are you covering all your bases?
Speaker, Employment & Labour, Webinar, June 1 and June 9, 2016
Calgary Breakfast Seminar Series: Employment Issues During an Economic Downturn
Speaker, Calgary, March 30, 2016
Published Work
Publications:
- Responding to a request for vaccination exemption, Canadian Bar Association, December 2021.
- Employment & Labour Law in British Columbia, Lexology Naviagator, 2018.
- Canadian Employment Law, Legal 500: Country Comparative Guide, 2018.
Events:
- Co-Speaker, Insider Threats: Protecting your Workplace in the Digital Age, Sterling Backcheck Webinar, March 11, 2015.
- Co-Speaker, Renegades and Rogues: Fiduciary Duties and Restrictive Covenant, Blakes Business Class Seminar, November 5, 2014.
- Author, Unconventional Non-Competition Covenants, Employment and Labour Law Reporter, September 2014.
- Co-author, Privacy and Privilege: Authority of the Alberta Privacy Commissioner to Compel Privileged Records, Employment and Labour Law Reporter, September 2014.
- Speaker, Managing Absenteeism in the Workplace, Lorman Education Services, April 15, 2014.
Credentials
Education
- University of Alberta, LL.B. (with Distinction)
- University of Calgary, B.A.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Alberta Bar Association