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 workplace 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.
Chris was recently recognized as 5-Star Employment Lawyers, "Best Employment Lawyer and Law Firm" across Canada in 2023 by the prestigious Canadian HR Reporter. He was also a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer for Vancouver Leading Practitioners - Employers in the 2021 and 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and in 2022, he was a BusinessPerson of the Year Finalist at the Business Excellence Awards by Surrey Board of Trade.
Chris is a strong believer in community and giving back to the profession. He serves as the President of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and on the Policy Review Committee of the BC Chamber. He is also the 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
Juris Doctor – 2010
Honours: Law Foundation Award
University of British Columbia
B.Sc., Bachelor of Science – 2007
Honours: Undergraduate Scholar Program Award
Honours: Dean’s Honour List
Major: Mathematics
Minors: English Literature, Spanish
Professional And Community Involvement:
Canadian Bar Association BC, Chair for Employment Law Section
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, President on the Board of Directors
BC Chamber of Commerce, Policy Review Committee Member
Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
Trusted Advisors Group for TEC Canada
“Workforce Reset: A Playbook for Worker and Employer Resilience”, Employer Panel
WorkSafeBC Policy Development Task Force
Surrey Cares Foundation, Past Board of Directors
Law Society of British Columbia
Friendly Drifter Society, Board of Directors
Coastal Jazz & Blues Society
Pro Bono Activities:
Volunteer on various Boards of Directors
Member of Access Pro Bono’s Lawyer Referral Service
Law Students Legal Advice Program, Peter Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
Bar Admission:
British Columbia, 2011
Honours And Awards:
Recognized as 5-Star Employment Lawyers, "Best Employment Lawyer and Law Firm" across Canada in 2023 by the prestigious Canadian HR Reporter
Business Person of the Year Finalist, 2022 Business Excellence Awards by Surrey Board of Trade
Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in the practice area of employment law for employers and employees.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Langley, Surrey and Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2020 - 2023.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Langley, Surrey and Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2020 - 2023.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2019.
Georgia Strait, Best of Vancouver Awards, Best criminal lawyer in Vancouver, 2014.
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 workplace 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.
Chris was recently recognized as 5-Star Employment Lawyers, "Best Employment Lawyer and Law Firm" across Canada in 2023 by the prestigious Canadian HR Reporter. He was also a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer for Vancouver Leading Practitioners - Employers in the 2021 and 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and in 2022, he was a BusinessPerson of the Year Finalist at the Business Excellence Awards by Surrey Board of Trade.
Chris is a strong believer in community and giving back to the profession. He serves as the President of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and on the Policy Review Committee of the BC Chamber. He is also the 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.
Education
University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law
Juris Doctor – 2010
Honours: Law Foundation Award
University of British Columbia
B.Sc., Bachelor of Science – 2007
Honours: Undergraduate Scholar Program Award
Honours: Dean’s Honour List
Major: Mathematics
Minors: English Literature, Spanish
Community
Professional And Community Involvement:
Canadian Bar Association BC, Chair for Employment Law Section
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, President on the Board of Directors
BC Chamber of Commerce, Policy Review Committee Member
Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
Trusted Advisors Group for TEC Canada
“Workforce Reset: A Playbook for Worker and Employer Resilience”, Employer Panel
WorkSafeBC Policy Development Task Force
Surrey Cares Foundation, Past Board of Directors
Law Society of British Columbia
Friendly Drifter Society, Board of Directors
Coastal Jazz & Blues Society
Pro Bono Activities:
Volunteer on various Boards of Directors
Member of Access Pro Bono’s Lawyer Referral Service
Law Students Legal Advice Program, Peter Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
Honours & Admissions
Bar Admission:
British Columbia, 2011
Honours And Awards:
Recognized as 5-Star Employment Lawyers, "Best Employment Lawyer and Law Firm" across Canada in 2023 by the prestigious Canadian HR Reporter
Business Person of the Year Finalist, 2022 Business Excellence Awards by Surrey Board of Trade
Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in the practice area of employment law for employers and employees.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Langley, Surrey and Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2020 - 2023.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Langley, Surrey and Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2020 - 2023.
Rated Top 3 Best Employment Lawyers in Abbotsford by ThreeBestRated, under Best Business of 2019.
Georgia Strait, Best of Vancouver Awards, Best criminal lawyer in Vancouver, 2014.
Testimonials
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.
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M Mac
2.16.2023
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.
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Melodee G
4.15.2021
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!
The "Art" of Accommodation Business Breakfast Seminar - Human Rights & Avoiding Discrimination
Is your business following HR best practices when it comes to employee accommodation & human rights to prevent legal challenges? Do you want to learn more about Discrimination, Duty to Accommodate, Duty to Maintain Employment, Family Status Discrimination & Disability? The Art of Accommodation - As the employment & human rights law landscape continually evolves, staying informed about new rules and requirements is crucial for employers. Given the upcoming changes in WorkSafeBC and the rising instances of discrimination, harassment, and other human rights claims, we are tailoring our annual seminar to address these pressing topics. Our Employment & Labour Group is delighted to announce The "Art" of Accommodation - Human Rights & Avoiding Discrimination seminar this winter, dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of employee accommodations.
Chris was co-counsel in defending a large Abbotsford farming operation in an action brought by the Royal Bank for $800,000. We third-partied several other businesses involved in the transaction in question. One of the third parties was in bankruptcy and applied for an absolute discharge, which would have prevented our client from continuing the third party claim. We argued against the application and it was dismissed. The case was settled soon after this.
Have questions? Need insight? Our team can assist you in examining your options and determining which path best suits your needs.
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