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Chris Drinovz is a Partner at KSW Lawyers and the founder and leader of the Employment & Labour Group. His calling is to excellence through the mastery of his craft and tireless dedication to his clients. He is described as hard-working, trustworthy, and genuine. His strong analytical mind (grounded in a mathematics background) and passion for writing and language make him a force to reckon with.
Chris works with business leaders and union and non-union organizations to solve workplace legal problems and achieve long-term solutions that align with his client’s values. He is a dedicated advisor and an experienced courtroom advocate with a track record of success.
There is no workplace issue that Chris will not help with. His expertise covers the entire life cycle of the employer/employee relationship: drafting and advising on employment contracts and workplace policies, conducting investigations, WorkSafeBC and occupational health & safety, dismissal planning advice and severance packages, negotiation and mediation of employment disputes, injunctions to protect confidential information or enforce non-solicits or non-competes, and representation in wrongful dismissal, employment standards, or human rights complaints. Chris also advises employers on staying non-union and helps his union clients with certification, bargaining, labour relations matters under the collective agreement, and grievance arbitrations.
Chris is comfortable navigating the many different arenas of workplace law: all levels of provincial and federal court, the Labour Relations (BC) and Canada Industrial Relations Board and administrative tribunals such as the Human Rights Tribunal, Employment Standards Tribunal, Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT), and Social Security Tribunal. Chris has also successfully challenged administrative decisions through judicial reviews and appeals.
In 2021, Chris was recognized in the prestigious Canadian Legal “Lexpert” Directory as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in employment law for employers and employees. In the 2023 edition, Chris was recognized as a "Repeatedly Recommended" lawyer for Vancouver Leading Practitioners - Employers.
Chris is a strong believer in community and giving back to the profession. He serves as the Vice President of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and on the Policy Review Committee of the BC Chamber. He is also the Vice Chair on the Executive of the Employment Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association BC. He is regularly sought after for speaking engagements and seminars.
In his free time, Chris can be found skiing on the slopes of Whistler, powerlifting in his garage, listening to Miles Davis, or playing the drums for “Lost & Loaded” a cover band of legal professionals that pretend to be rockstars.
University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law
University of British Columbia
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Is your business following HR bests practices when it comes to employee dismissals to prevent any legal challenges from occurring? How familiar are you with the Employment Standards Act (ESA)? What obligations are there at the time of dismissal?
If you're like me, you might only need a lawyer to represent you once in your life. And if you do find yourself needing legal help, I can only hope that you are as well represented and respectfully treated as I was by Chris Drinovz. He negotiated a settlement for me that was clear, fair and timely, and believe me, that wouldn't have happened without him. It's onwards and upwards for me now, and I'm very grateful for that.
Professional, results driven, action oriented, responsive and thorough are words that come to mind when I describe my experience with Christopher Drinovz, Andrew Zacharias and the legal support team at KSW Lawyers. I had been working with another lawyer pertaining to my ICBC personal injury case for close to 4 years before Chris and Andrew agreed to take over my file. I immediately noticed a significant difference in terms of communication and efforts, compared to my previous representation, and with very little time to meet all-important deadlines for submission of evidence pertaining to my injuries. Chris and Andrew were able to quickly arrange a multitude of Independent Medical Examinations that were critical to the success of my claim and subsequent settlement. They were also able to recognize, based on the nature of my injuries, the specialized medical professionals required to provide thorough and relevant assessment and diagnoses. They were also able to accomplish in months, what would typically take several more months and even years. Thanks to them I am pleased with the outcome regarding my settlement and can move on with my life, thanks to the efforts of this dynamic duo! I hope I do not require their services again, but should I need to, I would definitely seek their assistance for my legal needs.
From the first correspondence we had with Christopher Drinovz on an employment matter we knew we were in the right hands. Chris is always professional and his calm, confident demeanor continued to impress us throughout the process. We highly recommend Chris and his team!
I can’t recommend Chris Drinovz of Kane, Shannon and Weiler enough to anyone seeking help with employment matters. Despite being handed a difficult situation, Chris was successful on my behalf. At all times he and his staff were responsive, caring, and professional in their manner and approach. His briefs are concise, articulate, and effective in bringing the key issues into focus for all parties. I’m incredibly grateful for his work on my behalf and recommend him without reservation to anyone needing help in employment law.
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