Preston Parsons

Preston is a Partner at Overholt Law LLP with over 11 years of practice experience in the firm’s core areas of labour relations law, employment law, civil litigation, privacy law, and human rights law. Preston takes great care in advising all clients, including both employers and employees, with an emphasis on taking proactive steps to avoid problems and disputes from arising wherever possible. Preston also advises and represents various professionals regarding investigations and disciplinary proceedings before their professional associations or regulatory bodies.

During his career, Preston has appeared at the BC Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Provincial Court for litigation and advocacy, mediations, and more. He has also appeared at the BC Labour Relations Board, BC Human Rights Tribunal, Social Security Tribunal (General and Appeal Divisions), various professional regulatory bodies; domestic and international commercial arbitration proceedings and federal labour arbitration proceedings. He has summered, articled, and practiced in downtown Vancouver since 2009, first at a large regional firm and later at a boutique class action and aviation litigation firm. Preston joined Carman Overholt, K.C. and Jennifer Kwok at Overholt Law LLP’s predecessor firm, in January 2013.

Outside of the courtroom, Preston assists clients with a broad range of workplace law matters including privacy and pension inquiries, workplace investigations, drafting employment contracts and policies, and advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants including non-competition clauses.

Away from the office, Preston is a professional figure skating coach and an avid film buff. He enjoys the arts, charities, skiing, travelling, and giving back to the profession through volunteerism and by mentoring many law students and junior lawyers over the years.

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Mediation Certification

BC Provincial Court Mediation Practicum Certificate, 2009

Bar Admissions

British Columbia, 2011

Education

University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Juris Doctor – 2010
- Honours: Class Valedictorian
  - Provincial Court Judicial Externship – Winter 2010
  - Provincial Crown, Criminal Clinic – Winter 2009
  - Small Claims Mediation Certificate in Fall 2009
  - Competed in the 2008 UBC Peter Burns Mock Trial Moot
  - Summer Student, Law Students’ Legal Advice Program – Summer 2008
Athabasca University Faculty of Business, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
- B.Comm – 2007
- Honours: with Great Distinction

Published Works

Recent Published Works
- Regular columnist in BCLMA Topics Newsletter Magazine from 2013 to Present, writing on a wide variety of topics including Bullying and Harassment policies, Workplace Investigations, Model Policies for Law Firms, Law Wellness, Bring Your Own Device Policies, Terminating Key Employees, COVID-19 compliance, the Duty to Accommodate in a Pandemic, and more. For the current and back issues, see: https://bclma.org/newsletter/

Representative Cases

Advised and represented nursing, counselling, and engineering professionals regarding investigations and proceedings before their associations and regulatory bodies
Successfully appealed disciplinary findings made against a nurse to the BC Supreme Court: Whieldon v. British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, 2021 BCSC 1648
Represented employers in employment insurance proceedings before the Social Security Tribunal (General and Appeal Divisions)
Represented employers and employees in the resolution of wrongful dismissal matters in BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal and at mediations: see for example Smith v. Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd., 2016 BCSC 1876, aff’d on appeal 2017 BCCA 197; Ostrow v. Abacus Management Corporation Mergers and Acquisitions, 2014 BCSC 938
Represented employers and employees in disputes over alleged breaches of restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation clauses: see for example WJ Packaging Solutions Corp. v Park, 2021 BCSC 316
Represented employees and employers in hearings before the BC Human Rights Tribunal regarding allegations of sexual harassment/assault and failure in the duty to accommodate a mental disability
Successfully represented a franchisor in a Canadian territorial competency and forum non conveniens dispute: JM Food Services Ltd. v Canada Businet Co. Ltd., 2012 BCSC 862

Honours and Awards

CBA National Edward K. Rowan-Legg Award, 2011
UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program Pozer Award, 2008
Elected Valedictorian, UBC Law Class of 2010

Professional Associations and Memberships

Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Canadian Bar Association
Vancouver Bar Association
Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia and Yukon (CPHR BC & Yukon)
Law Society of British Columbia
Skate Canada

Pro Bono Activities and Volunteer Contributions

- - CLEBC Employment Law Conference Committee Member – 2021 – Present
  - TRU Law Student Mentor, 2016 – Present
  - UBC Law Student Mentor, 2011 – Present

Past:

- Lancaster House Labour Conference Committee Member – 2022
- CPHR Conference Legal Track Committee Member – 2020 – 2022
- CBABC Elected Vancouver Country Representative, 2015 – 2021
- Start Proud Vancouver Region Executive
  - Vice-President, 2016 – 2019
- CBA National Young Lawyers Executive
  - Past Chair, 2018 – 2020
  - Chair, 2017 – 2018
  - Vice-Chair, 2016 – 2017
  - Secretary-Treasurer, 2015 – 2016
  - Member-at-Large, 2014 – 2015
- CBA National Finance Committee
  - Member, 2016 – 2017
- CBA National Membership Committee
  - Member, 2015 – 2016
- CBA National Sections and Conferences Committee
  - Member, 2014 – 2015
- CBABC SOGIC Forum Executive
  - Co-Chair, 2011 – 2015
  - Membership and Outreach Coordinator, 2009 – 2011
- CBABC Young Lawyers – Lower Mainland Forum Executive
  - Member-at-Large, 2013 – 2015
- Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)
  - Clinician and/or Clinic Head, Richmond and LGBT Legal Centres, 2007-2010

Practice Areas

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