Nicole Byres, KC | Associate Counsel, Barrister & Solicitor

Workplace InvestigatorMediatorArbitratorAssessorOrganization SupportTrainerFederally Regulated InvestigatorFinance & Corporate Commercial Investigator

Nov 1

Written By Southern Law LLP

Investigator · Federally Regulated Employers Investigator · Commercial Investigator · Mediator · Arbitrator · Assessor · Governance & Organization Support · Trainer

**Called to the Bar**
British Columbia Bar: 1983
**Noteworthy**
Listed in the 2024 *Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®* for Employment Law
Recognized by ***Best Lawyers in Canada*** in the practice areas of Labour & Employment Law and Corporate Governance from 2016 to 2022
Appointed to the **Law Society of British Columbia**’s **Tribunal** in January 2022

Nicole Byres, KC joined Southern Law’s team of neutral third-party investigators, mediators, and arbitrators in 2022 following a successful 38-year career practising law both as in-house counsel and in private practice.
Nicole graduated from the University of British Columbia Law School in 1982 and has been a member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 1983. Her education also includes Mediating Disputes, Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School (2020), and the Executive Program at the Ivey School of Business (1995).
Nicole’s community involvement includes the following:
- The Minerva Foundation for BC Women, Board of Directors and Vice Chair (2017 to 2023)
- Law Society of British Columbia’s Justicia Project (2013 to 2019)
- Canadian Law Firm Diversity & Inclusion Network (2014 to 2019)
- Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Women Lawyers Forum Executive (2009 to 2016) and Chair (2012 to 2014)
- Metro Vancouver Board of Trade, Women Leadership Circle Advisory Council (2012 to 2014) and Co-Vice Chair (2013 to 2014)
- British Columbia Transmission Corporation, Board of Directors (2003 to 2010)
- University of British Columbia Investment Management Trust Inc., Board of Directors (2005 to 2009)
- University of British Columbia Board of Governors (2002 to 2008)
Nicole spent nearly 14 years as in-house counsel with Canada’s largest diversified mining company, where she also obtained management experience and training. After returning to private practice, Nicole acted for public-sector clients in transportation, higher education, health, and municipal government. Her private-sector clients were engaged in mining, forestry, manufacturing, construction, food production, and retail, and she also acted for a number of not-for-profit organizations. Throughout Nicole’s career, she has had extensive experience assisting clients to resolve complaints and disputes through investigations, mediations, and arbitrations.
Nicole also has many years of experience sitting on or advising boards, and she has direct involvement regarding difficult issues relating to corporate governance, board and senior leadership renewal, and fiduciary obligations of officers and directors. Nicole spent 12 years with a national law firm where she was a member and first chair of its Inclusion & Diversity Committee, and she held various leadership roles, including managing partner of its Vancouver office and member of the National Executive Committee.
Mediator
Nicole has practiced law for over 38 years both as in-house and external counsel. During that time, she has participated in countless mediations of commercial, construction, and personal injury disputes; wrongful dismissal claims; labour grievances; collective bargaining agreements; and claims made pursuant to WorkSafeBC, BC employment standards, and BC human rights tribunals. She is also a member of Mediate BC’s Associate Roster. Nicole is known for her collaborative, thoughtful, and fair approach to resolving disputes. Her diverse experience, including in leadership, board, and management positions, gives her the confidence to have difficult conversations and navigate complex issues.
Arbitrator
Nicole has experience arbitrating a number of complex labour arbitrations and has been a member of the BC Law Society Tribunal since 2022. Nicole’s arbitration practice is informed by her many years of experience working with unionized public and private sector clients in BC and Alberta, where she earned the reputation of being pragmatic and even-handed with both employer-side and union-side counsel and representatives.
Nicole was appointed King’s Counsel in 2013, and has been a member of the Law Society of British Columbia’s Tribunal since 2022. Prior to joining Southern Law, Nicole was recognized by her peers as a labour & employment lawyer and advisor on governance when she was listed in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading employment law practitioner, and in the 2016 to 2022 editions of Best Lawyers in Canada in the practice areas of Labour & Employment Law and Corporate Governance.