
Preston Parsons
877-296-1161
Preston is a lawyer at Overholt Law and practices in the firm's core areas of labour relations law, employment law, and human rights law. Preston takes great care in advising both employers and employees with an emphasis on taking proactive steps to avoid problems and disputes from arising wherever possible.
Preston has experienced a wide breadth of legal practice and procedure and has appeared at the BC Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Provincial Court for employment litigation and advocacy, mediations, and more. He has also appeared at the BC Labour Relations Board, BC Human Rights Tribunal and in federal labour arbitration proceedings. He has summered, articled, and practiced in downtown Vancouver since 2009, first at a large regional firm and later at a boutique class action litigation firm. During his time on class action files he worked on some of the largest and most complex legal cases in Canada, an experience which makes him well suited to the management of his clients' files.
Outside of the courtroom, Preston assists clients with workplace investigations, drafting employment contracts, and advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants including non-competition clauses. Preston also routinely advises clients on privacy law.
Away from the office, Preston is a professional figure skating coach and enjoys the arts, charities, travelling and giving back to the profession through his work with the Canadian Bar Association.
Mediation Certification
- BC Provincial Court Mediation Practicum Certificate, 2009
Bar Admissions
- British Columbia, 2011
Education
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University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Juris Doctor - 2010
- Honours: Class Valedictorian
- Provincial Court Judicial Externship - Winter 2010
- Provincial Crown, Criminal Clinic - Winter 2009
- Small Claims Mediation Certificate in Fall 2009
- Completed in the 2008 UBC Peter Burns Mock Trial Moot
- Summer Student, Law Students' Legal Advice Program - Summer 2008
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Athabasca University Faculty of Business, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
- B.Comm - 2007
- Honours: with Great Distinction
Published Works
- “Does your law firm have a bullying and harassment policy?” , BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Spring 2014 Edition
- “He Said, She Said: Why your firm should have written employment contracts” , BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Summer 2014 Edition
- “Parting ways - Departing Employees, Firm Property and Personal Information” , Autumn 2014 Edition
- “Loose Lips Sink Settlements”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Winter 2015
- “Pronoun Usage – Introducing You to They”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Spring 2015
- “Workplace Investigations in Difficult Situations”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Summer 2015
- “Model Policies for Your Firm c/o The Law Society”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Autumn 2015
- “Lawyer Wellness and Mental Health”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Winter 2016
- “Tips & Guidance for Navigating Employment Terminations”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Spring 2016
- “Bring Your Own Device: Word from the OIPC”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Summer 2016
- “Laying Down The Law: Dealing With Difficult Rainmakers”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, August 2016
- “Demystifying Unwritten Expectations”, BCLMA Topics Newsletter, Winter 2017
Representative Cases
- Represented employers and employees in the resolution of wrongful termination matters in BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal and at mediations
- Successfully represented a franchisor in a Canadian territorial competency and forum non conveniens dispute: JM Food Services Ltd. v Canada Businet Co. Ltd., 2012 BCSC 862
Classes/Seminars
- Disability Management and Employee Absenteeism, October 5, 2016
- Current Legal Issues and Trends in Human Resources Management, April 20, 2016
- 12th Edition Western Labour and Employee Relations Forum: Updates on Disclosure Laws: Latest on Drug Testing and Other Laws that Deal with Personal and Medical Information, January 28 - 29, 2016
Honours and Awards
- CBA National Edward K. Rowan-Legg Award, 2011
- UBC Law Students' Legal Advice Program Pozer Award, 2008
- Elected Valedictorian, UBC Law Class of 2010
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Vancouver Bar Association
- Human Resources Management Association
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Skate Canada
Pro Bono Activities and Volunteer Contributions
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Current:
- Past Chair, CBABC National Young Lawyers Executive
- Vice-President, Start Proud Vancouver Region, 2016 – Present
- CBABC Elected Vancouver Country Representative, 2015 – Present
- TRU Law Student Mentor, 2016 – Present
- UBC Law Student Mentor, 2011 – Present Past:
- CBA National Young Lawyers Executive
- Chair, 2017-2018
- Vice-Chair, 2016 – 2017
- Secretary-Treasurer, 2015 – 2016
- Member-at-Large, 2014 – 2015
- CBA National Finance Committee
- Member, 2016 – 2017
- CBA National Membership Committee
- Member, 2015 – 2016
- CBA National Sections and Conferences Committee
- Member, 2014 – 2015
- CBABC SOGIC Forum Executive
- Co-Chair, 2011 – 2015
- Membership and Outreach Coordinator, 2009 – 2011
- CBABC Young Lawyers - Lower Mainland Forum Executive
- Member-at-Large, 2013 - 2015
- Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)
- Clinician and/or Clinic Head, Richmond and LGBT Legal Centres, 2007-2010