Jim Casey, KC acts as a labour arbitrator and as legal counsel to professional regulatory organizations. Jim began his career working in labour relations and then went to University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law with the goal of becoming a labour lawyer. After graduating, Jim joined Field Law and acted in a multi-faceted role as legal counsel to employers, unions, and employees. He also served as the leader of the Firm’s Edmonton Labour and Employment Group. Jim’s career transitioned to focusing on a neutral, adjudicative role. He served as a part-time Vice-Chair of the Alberta Labour Relations Board for 14 years adjudicating disputes under the Labour Relations Code and the Public Service Employee Relations Act.

Jim also developed a very active practice serving as a labour arbitrator which is now the focus of his labour law career. Jim was appointed to Alberta Labour’s Grievance Arbitration Roster and was appointed by the Minister to serve on a "Disputes Inquiry Board" under the Labour Relations Code. He is a sought-after speaker and author on labour and employment law topics and has been a sessional lecturer at University of Alberta. Jim is the author of many labour and employment publications and is the editor of Remedies in Labour, Employment, and Human Rights which has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada. Jim has served on the Conference Advisory Committee of Lancaster’s Annual Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference.

With respect to his professional regulatory practice, Jim serves as counsel to numerous professional regulatory organizations seeking experience and solution-focused advice in all areas of professional regulation including discipline, legislation, registration, mobility, policy and governance. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, all levels of Courts in Alberta and acts as independent legal counsel to numerous administrative tribunals. Jim is the author of The Regulation of Professions in Canada, which is considered one of the leading textbooks on the subject and has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada and many other Courts. Organizations across Canada invite Jim to conduct training seminars on professional regulation issues.

Jim’s clients rely on his broad strategic perspective gained from decades of representing professional regulatory clients and from his senior-level management and governance experience. Jim served for many years as the Practice Group Leader for the Labour and Employment Group in Edmonton. He also founded the Firm’s Professional Regulatory Group and acted as the Practice Group Leader. From 2008 to 2016 Jim served as Field Law’s Firm Managing Partner leading the Firm’s Executive Committee and managing the Firm’s 125 lawyers and 150 staff in Edmonton, Calgary, and Yellowknife. Jim makes an active contribution to the profession and the community having served in senior leadership volunteer roles on the Boards of many not-for-profit organizations.

Outside the Office

Jim is an avid boater who enjoys the pleasures of the sea… while staying client-focused. He tells a story of sailing once in the Gulf Islands when a client reached him on his cell phone regarding an urgent legislative matter. After battling spotty cell service, Jim was finally able to talk with his client, sail to a marina and receive, mark-up and fax back a 75-page Bill that same night.