Erin Brandt

Cofounder, Lawyer

604-332-6125
erin@portalaw.ca

English

    

Who I Represent + How I Help

Erin (she/her) is an employment and human rights lawyer and co-owner of PortaLaw. Erin enjoys working with both individual employees and small employers.

Business + Nonprofits

Erin advises owner-operated businesses that have a small, outsourced or no HR team. She provides strategic business advice to impact driven companies, particularly to solve complex people issues and during phases of rapid growth. Contact Erin for help with:

  • Creating or updating employment contracts and policies.

  • Navigating maternity, parental and medical leaves, and ongoing requests for accommodation.

  • Managing underperforming employees.

  • Responding to complaints of bullying or sexual harassment including leading an investigation.

  • Preparing for employee dismissals, including advising on potential severance packages and drafting a termination letter and release.

  • Responding to demands and threatened litigation from former employees.

Employees + Contractors

Erin’s employee side practice focuses on advocating for non-unionized workers at all stages of employment/contractor relationships. Contact Erin for help with:

  • Reviewing employment contracts before signing or resigning. Erin will provide advice on concerning terms you may wish to negotiate.

  • Navigating maternity, parental and medical leaves and ongoing requests for accommodation.

  • Understanding and responding to formal performance management or disciplinary letters.

  • Reporting bullying or sexual harassment at work internally or externally.

  • Understanding your legal rights upon dismissal.

  • Negotiating for a better severance package before signing a release.

Erin will also bring or defend legal claims filed in BC Supreme Court, BC Provincial Court (Small Claims), the BC Employment Standards Branch, the federal Labour Program, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and WorkSafeBC (specifically Prohibited Action complaints).

  • Erin has practiced employment law exclusively since graduating law school in 2013. Her mixed practice has taught her to see workplace issues from different perspectives. Understanding the likely motivations and goals of both employers and employees informs how Erin helps people create meaningful employment relationships and assists to resolve conflict where those relationships break down. Erin focuses on finding negotiated solutions to difficult problems, but will push or defend a claim through formal legal proceedings (i.e. to courts and tribunals) where necessary. 

    Erin will frequently ask clients “what are you hoping to achieve”? This helps Erin tailor her legal advice, recommended strategy and associated fees towards the client’s goals or desired outcome. Erin will usually offer her clients 2-3 options at different price points, which may include legal coaching or full representation. 

    Outside of work, Erin is an avid skier, a recreational cyclist, a culinary enthusiast and a parent to two boys. Erin also volunteers with the Canadian Bar Association and leads Access Pro Bono’s Antisemitism Legal Helpline. 

    Erin also posts regularly on Linkedln, sharing legal updates relating to employment law and general workplace musings. 

    • Employer Advice + Litigation

    • Employee Advice + Litigation

    • Dismissals + Severance

    • Non-Competition + Non-Solicitation Agreements

    • Negotiation, Mediation + Dispute Resolution

    • Workplace Relations + Conflict Resolution

    • Legal Compliance for Human Resources

    • Maternity, Parental + Medical Accommodation

    • Disability Management

    • Employment Contracts + Workplace Policies

    • Occupational Health + Safety

    • Bullying + Harassment

    • Innovative + Accessible Legal Services

    • Law Society of BC, 2014

    • University of British Columbia, J.D., 2013

    • McGill University, Bachelor of Arts, 2009

    • Erin and her team were wonderfully professional, understanding and offered a wealth of knowledge. I highly recommend them!

    • Erin and her team did an excellent job working on our legal matters. She was transparent in her assessment of the case and with pricing as well. As someone without a legal background, Erin drafted contracts that were easy to understand and took the time to walk through each process. I highly recommend PortaLaw for any employment related legal advice and would use their services again.

    • Erin was an incredible support to us during a difficult and overwhelming time. She offered thoughtful guidance when we were navigating unfamiliar legal territory and helped us gain clarity on some of the key issues in our case.

Even in a brief exchange, Erin was generous with her time, clear in her communication, and deeply respectful in how she engaged with us. Her insight and professionalism gave us both reassurance and direction at a point when we really needed it.

We’re so grateful for the care she brought to even a short consultation. I would absolutely recommend Erin to anyone looking for a lawyer who combines expertise with compassion and integrity.

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