Lorene Novakowski is a partner in the Labour, Employment and Human Rights Group. Her primary practice focuses on providing advice to clients on labour, employment and human rights issues. She assists clients in developing and implementing employment and benefit policies and gives advice on termination issues and administration of collective agreements. She represents employers at the Labour Board, at labour arbitrations, in respect of wrongful dismissal actions and human rights complaints. Lorene has experience in providing advice on drafting harassment policies, conducting harassment investigations, providing training on harassment issues and duty to accommodate issues, appearing as counsel in duty to accommodate cases, representing clients before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
With a keen interest in privacy law, Lorene leads the firm's regional Privacy Practice Group and is a member of the firm's national Practice Group on Privacy and Information Protection. Lorene assists employers and businesses to implement privacy policies and procedures, provides training, assists with access requests and provides timely and strategic advice in the event of a privacy breach. She has acted as counsel in inquiries before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, both in public sector and private sector matters. She has given advice on compliance in cross-border issues involving the B.C. public sector privacy law and assisted clients in negotiating privacy agreements with B.C. public sector bodies. She has given advice in respect of responses to government and law enforcement requests for personal information, and assisted multinational internet service providers in respect of their Canadian privacy obligations.
Lorene also works closely with the firm's Technology Practice Group, providing advice to clients regarding employment contracts, consultant agreements, non-competition clauses, and employment standards compliance.
In the Life Sciences area, Lorene uses her background in microbiology and her understanding of the industry to assist both startup and mature biotechnology companies in various areas, including employment, privacy and protection of intellectual property.
Lorene practices in the area of workers' compensation claims and occupational health and safety and appears before the Review Division and Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal, on behalf of her clients. She has represented clients on claims issues, including wage loss and pension claims, and in hearings related to penalties for Part 3 violations. She has also conducted training sessions on occupational health and safety due diligence requirements.
Lorene is a popular speaker and avid author on all matters related to her practice. Her latest book Personal Information Protection Act - British Columbia and Alberta: Quick Reference - 2010 Edition outlines employer requirements in each province with respect to the collection, disclosure, enforcement rules, process and use of personal information by organizations.
Membership/Affiliations
- Director, B.C. Human Resources Management Association Board of Directors (2002-2008)
- Director, Interlock Board of Directors (2006-2008)
- Former Co-Chair, Human Rights Section of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch (1999-2000)
- Law Clerk, British Columbia Court of Appeal (1991-1992)
- British Columbia Privacy Professionals Networking Forum
- British Columbia Human Resources Management Association
- Privacy, and Labour Law Sections, Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch)