Brian Thiessen

Brian Thiessen, KC

Calgary Managing Partner

Key Contact: Employment and Labour

Key Contact: Privacy and Data Management

Contact Information

bthiessen@osler.com

tel: 403.260.7018 / 604.692.2764

Office

Calgary, Vancouver

Bar Admission

Alberta, 1998

British Columbia, 2016

Education

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals, CIPP/C
  • University of Calgary, J.D.
  • Queen's University, B.Com (Hons)

Language(s)

English

Brian is the Managing Partner of the Calgary office and his practice focuses on the managerial side of employment and labour issues, including executive employment arrangements, retention arrangements, restrictive covenants, privacy law matters, employment disputes and human rights complaints. He frequently advises corporations on the employment and privacy law ramifications of corporate transactions, including with respect to unionized and non-unionized employees. In addition, he has worked with corporations to facilitate the development and implementation of privacy and employment policies, including the training of employees, managers and privacy officers.

Brian’s privacy practice includes advising clients on drafting policies, complaint procedures, website information packages, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests and assisting clients with Privacy Commissioner complaints.

Brian has appeared as counsel in the Provincial Court of Alberta - Civil Division and before the Alberta Human Rights Commission, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and the Court of Appeal of Alberta. He has represented clients on the interpretation of executive employment contracts, shareholder disputes, wrongful dismissal actions, share purchase agreements, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

  • Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division

    Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation

  • Suncor Energy Inc.

    Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture

  • Clio

    Clio in its record-setting US$250 million Series D equity financing from TCV and JMI

  • Morgan Stanley

    Morgan Stanley in its acquisition of Solium Capital for $1.1 billion

    • Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. in its C$1 billion acquisition of Pelican Lake assets from Cenovus
    • Safeway on its C$5.8 billion sale of Canada Safeway to Sobeys
    • Agrium Inc. in connection with its C$1.8 billion supported funding of Glencore International plc's $6.1-billion acquisition of Viterra Inc, and the subsequent acquisition by Agrium of Viterra's wholesale and retail agri-products division
    • Keller Group on its C$320 million purchase of North American Energy Partners' piling division
    • Agrium Inc. on its C$915 million disposition of Viterra's interest in Canadian Fertilizer Limited's nitrogen production facilities to CF Industries
    • Nexen Inc. on its C$15.1 billion acquisition by CNOOC Limited
    • Pembina Pipeline on its acquisition of Provident Energy in a transaction valued at C$3.2 billion
    • Daylight Energy Ltd. on its C$2.2 billion acquisition by China Petrochemical Corporation, known as Sinopec Group
    • UTS Energy Corporation on its C$1.5 billion plan of arrangement with Total E&P Canada Ltd. whereby Total acquired UTS Energy
    • Suncor Energy Inc. on its C$43.3 billion strategic merger with Petro-Canada
    • KUFPEC Canada Inc. in connection with its proposed acquisition of Chevron Canada Limited's 30 per cent interest in its Duvernay shale play for US$1.5 billion
    • ENMAX Corporation on its purchase from Encana Corporation of the 115 MW, natural-gas-fired, Cavalier electricity generation facility located near Strathmore, Alberta, and of Encana's 50 per cent interest in the 110 MW, natural-gas-fired, Balzac electricity generation facility located near Balzac, Alberta

     

    Other Work:

    • Counsel on the managerial side of employment and labour issues, including executive employment arrangements, retention arrangements, restrictive covenants, privacy law matters, employment disputes and human rights complaints
    • Advises corporations on the employment and privacy law ramifications of corporate transactions, including with respect to unionized and non-unionized employees
    • Works with corporations to facilitate the development and implementation of privacy and employment policies, including the training of employees, managers and privacy officers
    • Practice in privacy includes advising clients on drafting policies, complaint procedures, website information packages, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests and assisting clients with Privacy Commissioner complaints
    • Appears as counsel in the Provincial Court of Alberta - Civil Division and before the Alberta Human Rights Commission, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and the Court of Appeal of Alberta
  • Find More

  • Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Employment & Labour (Alberta) (Band 1)
  • Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Employment & Labour
    • "[Brian is] one of the best attorneys I've worked with in terms of responsiveness."
    • "Commentators confirm he is 'very strong in the area of employment law' and point to his assistance with transactional mandates."
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Employment Law - Employer; Data Protection & Privacy
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Employee Benefits Law; Privacy and Data Security Law; Employment and Labour Law; "Lawyer of the Year", Privacy and Data Security Law (2023)
  • Legal 500: Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer, Employment & Labour Law
  • Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in Canada - Employment & Labour; International - Employment & Labour
  • Thomson Reuters: "Stand-out Lawyer"

  • Calgary Police Foundation, Board Director
  • Calgary Police Commission, Chair
  • Ronald McDonald House Calgary, Board Director
  • Calgary Homeless Foundation Government Relations Committee

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Calgary Bar Association
  • The Law Society of British Columbia
  • Institute of Corporate Directors
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • Human Resources Institute of Alberta