Biography
Spotlight
"Nicole is so intelligent, she's really counselled us well and she's very strategic. She always thinks several steps ahead and is readily available."
- Chambers Canada, 2022 Guide
Nicole practises in all areas of labour and employment law, including advising clients on wrongful dismissal, labour relations, human rights and privacy issues.
Nicole has represented clients in matters involving labour arbitrations, labour relations boards, employment standards tribunals, human rights tribunals, privacy commissioners, and has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. Nicole frequently negotiates collective agreements and provides strategic and tactical advice to clients on drafting employment contracts and the labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions.
Professional Activities
- Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, President
- Canadian Bar Association, Member
- BC Human Resources Management Association, Member
Community Activities
- Western Canada Society to Access Justice, pro bono clinic volunteer
Recognitions & Rankings
Recognitions & Rankings
- Chambers Canada: Employment & Labour - British Columbia (Band 3), 2024-2025
- Best Lawyers in Canada: Labour and Employment Law, 2020-2025
- Benchmark Litigation:
- Canada’s Top 100 Women in Litigation, 2022-2024
- 40 and Under Hotlist, 2018
- Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys - Litigation Star, 2022-2024
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory:
- Workplace Human Rights (Leading Practitioner), 2023-2024
- Employment Law - Employer (Leading Practitioner), 2023
- The Legal 500 Canada: Labour & Employment (Next Generation Partner), 2023-2025
- Acritas Stars: 2019-2021
- Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada: Employment Law, 2017
- Lexpert Rising Star Award: Canada's Leading Lawyers Under 40, 2016
- Jessup International Law Moot (First Place) and represented Canada at the international rounds of the Jessup Moot, 2004
- Canadian HR Award Finalist
Experience
Experience
- Representing employers in both the provincial and federal sector in a diverse range of industries including: financial services, mining, transportation, construction, retail, First Nations organizations
- Acting as chief spokesperson for first and subsequent collective agreements for clients in both the federal and provincial sector
- Providing strategic labour relations advise to employers on matters such as collective agreement interpretation, discipline, grievance resolution, strikes and lockouts, including appearing at arbitrations and labour relations board hearings
- Acting as counsel on labour board appeals, wrongful dismissal and general civil litigation trials including appearing before the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada
- Providing employment advice including wrongful dismissal, employment standards and drafting employment contracts
- Providing advice on human rights matters including the duty to accommodate, the permissible scope of drug and alcohol testing, responding to human rights complaints and developing harassment policies
- Providing labour and employment advice to clients on corporate transactions, reorganizations, downsizing and closures
- Representing employers in responding to privacy complaints and requests for information pursuant to provincial and federal privacy legislation
News & Publications
News & Publications
- 48 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 16 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2025, Chambers Canada, September 26, 2024
- 83 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognised Across 35 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025, Best Lawyers in Canada, August 29, 2024
- Benchmark Litigation Recognises Six Lawson Lundell Lawyers as Canada’s 'Top 100 Women in Litigation', Benchmark Litigation, August 14, 2024
- Benchmark Litigation Canada Recognises 29 Lawson Lundell Litigators in 2024 Guide, Benchmark Litigation Canada, May 1, 2024
- 46 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 26 Practice Areas in 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, March 5, 2024
- Lawson Lundell Recommended in 12 Practice Areas in The Legal 500 Canada 2024 , The Legal 500, November 15, 2023
- 43 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 16 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2024, Chambers Canada, September 27, 2023
- 75 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognised Across 34 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024, Best Lawyers in Canada, August 24, 2023
- 41 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 24 Practice Areas in 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, March 1, 2023
- Nicole Skuggedal Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter Article on New Paid Sick Leave Legislation , Canadian HR Reporter, November 15, 2022
- Lawson Lundell Recommended in 12 Practice Areas in The Legal 500 Canada 2023 , The Legal 500, November 9, 2022
- 43 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 17 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2023, Chambers Canada, September 29, 2022
- 70 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 37 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2023 , Best Lawyers in Canada, August 25, 2022
- 36 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 15 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2022, Chambers Canada, September 9, 2021
- 66 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 36 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada® 2022 , Best Lawyers in Canada, August 26, 2021
- 58 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 34 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada® 2021 , Best Lawyers in Canada® 2021 Edition, August 27, 2020
- I have a medical condition and can’t wear a mask at work. Will I be fired?, The Globe and Mail, June 1, 2020
- I Live with People Especially Vulnerable to COVID-19. If I Choose to Stay Home from Work to Protect Them, What are my Options?, The Globe and Mail, March 30, 2020
- Lawson Lundell Privacy & Data Management Organizational Risk Analysis Checklist, November 7, 2019, Co-Author
- 34 Lawson Lundell Lawyers recognized across 17 practice areas in Chambers Canada 2020, Chambers Canada, 2020 Edition, September 19, 2019
- 53 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 32 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2020, The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2020 Edition, August 21, 2019
- Benchmark Canada Recognizes 27 Lawson Lundell Litigators in 2019 Guide, Benchmark Canada 2019 , March 26, 2019
- 31 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked in Chambers Canada 2019, Chambers Canada , 2019 Edition, September 21, 2018
- Nicole Skuggedal and Lauren Cook featured in Benchmark 40 & Under Hot List , Benchmark Litigation, July 3, 2018
- Nicole Skuggedal and Katy Allen's article featured in Canadian Employment Law Today, Canadian Employment Law Today, newsletter in Canadian HR Reporter, May 15, 2018, Co-Author
- Benchmark Canada® recognizes 19 of our lawyers in its 2018 Editorial , April 12, 2018
- CRTC Releases CASL Decision Clarifying the Limits of Implied Consent, November 3, 2016
- Off-duty tracking offside, says legal experts, Canadian HR Reporter, June 15, 2015, Interview
- IKEA slapped with labour violation in B.C. strike dispute, Canadian Labour Reporter, August 11, 2014, Interview
- Nicole Skuggedal quoted in BC Business, March 4, 2014
- Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Duty to Accommodate, July 18, 2008
- “What if you Suspect the Disability Claim to be False? A Guide to Fair and Proper Investigations”, Insight Information Co., Duty to Accommodate, 2005, Co-author
Blog Posts
- Supreme Court of Canada Decides that Exclusion of Managers from the Quebec Labour Code is not a Breach of the Charter, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 24, 2024
- Employer Beware: Fixed-Term Contracts and For Cause Dismissals, Labour and Employment Law Blog, January 29, 2024
- A Statement on Replacement: Federal Bill Introduced to Ban Replacement Workers, Labour and Employment Law Blog, November 9, 2023
- Pay Transparency in British Columbia: New Regulation Contains Requirements for Pay Transparency Reports, Labour and Employment Law Blog, October 27, 2023
- New Termination Requirements for Federally Regulated Employers Are Coming Soon, Labour and Employment Law Blog, August 2, 2023
- B.C. Court of Appeal Clarifies Test for Prima Facie Family Status Discrimination, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 24, 2023
- B.C.’s Minimum Wage Increasing 6.9% to Become 2nd Highest in Canada at $16.75 Per Hour, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 5, 2023
- BC Supreme Court Affirms High Threshold When Dismissing an Employee for Just Cause, Labour and Employment Law Blog, February 27, 2023
- Update: New Federal Paid Medical Leave Will Apply to All Federal Employers, Labour and Employment Law Blog, November 10, 2022
- BC Supreme Court Says Unpaid Leave for Unvaccinated Employee not a Constructive Dismissal, Labour and Employment Law Blog, October 27, 2022
- The Federal Government Unveils the Proposed Regulations for Paid Sick Leave, Labour and Employment Law Blog, July 21, 2022
- There Is No “Minor” Sexual Harassment: Evolving View of the Courts on the Seriousness of Sexual Harassment, Labour and Employment Law Blog, May 2, 2022
- Significant Changes Coming to the BC Labour Relations Code: Card Based Certification and Yearly Raids in the Construction Industry, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 13, 2022
- Coming Soon: 10 Days Paid Sick Leave for Federally Regulated Employees, Labour and Employment Law Blog, January 18, 2022
- Government of British Columbia Announces Five Paid Sick Days for Employees Beginning January 1, 2022, Labour and Employment Law Blog, November 25, 2021
- Amending Employment Agreements: Don’t Forget Consideration, Labour and Employment Law Blog, September 29, 2021
- Federal Employers – Are Your Workplace Harassment & Violence Policies and Training Programs Ready for January 1, 2022?, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 28, 2021
- Coming January 1, 2021 – New Federal Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations, Labour and Employment Law Blog, November 19, 2020
- REMINDER: COVID-19 Temporary Layoff Extension Period Expires on August 30th, Labour and Employment Law Blog, August 20, 2020
- When Does an Enforceable Termination of Employment Provision Become Unenforceable?, Labour and Employment Law Blog, July 6, 2020
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Helping Employers Keep Employees, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 21, 2020
- Eligibility Criteria for The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 9, 2020
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Helping Employers Keep Employees, Business Law Blog, April 3, 2020
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy: Helping Employers Keep Employees, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 2, 2020
- University Professor Professing “I am Crazy About You” – Not Considered Sexual Harassment, Labour and Employment Law Blog, February 25, 2020
- Legal Gifts for the Holidays: Breaches of the Employment Standards Act Cannot Be Pursued in BC Courts, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 12, 2019
- BC Government Introduces Bill to Amend Employment Standards Act, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 30, 2019
- BC Government Introduces Bill 30 to Amend Labour Relations Code, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 30, 2019
- Privacy in Public: Supreme Court Says Individuals May Have a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in Public Spaces, Privacy & Data Management Blog, March 6, 2019
- Top 5 Tips for Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Labour and Employment Law Blog, February 5, 2019
- It's Not Humbug: Recognizing the Principle of Mutual Trust and Confidence in the Workplace, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 18, 2018
- A Refresher on Vacation Entitlement Under the Employment Standards Act, Labour and Employment Law Blog, November 29, 2018
- Scope of Personal Information Disclosable to Job Applicants Broadened, Labour and Employment Law Blog, July 5, 2018
- BC Corporations and Societies May Be Required to Comply with Europe's New Privacy Law, Labour and Employment Law Blog, May 28, 2018
- Class Action for Workplace Sexual Harassment Allowed to Proceed, Labour and Employment Law Blog, May 10, 2018
- Privacy Breach Reporting for Federal Employers Effective November 1, 2018, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 23, 2018
- British Columbia Government Announces Increases to Minimum Wage, Labour and Employment Law Blog, February 8, 2018
- Weinstein, #TimesUp, #MeToo, #WhyWeWearBlack: a Top-Down Approach to Promoting Respectful Workplace Culture, Labour and Employment Law Blog, January 8, 2018
- Labour & Employment Update - Canada Labour Code Amendments, Labour and Employment Law Blog, July 31, 2017
- Video Surveillance and Individual Privacy Rights: BC Privacy Commissioner Issues First Ever Audit and Compliance Report, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 13, 2016
- Suspension held to Constitute Constructive Dismissal: Potter v. New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission, 2015 SCC 10, Labour and Employment Law Blog, March 10, 2015
- Privacy Commissioner’s Report on Police Information Checks Released, Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 17, 2014
- Viewing Employee’s Personal Email Violates Privacy Legislation, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 20, 2013
- Pension Benefits will Not be Deducted from Damages for Wrongful Dismissal, Labour and Employment Law Blog, December 17, 2013
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
- 2022 Labour and Employment Updates, Webinar On-Demand
- Workplace 2021: Updates in employment, human rights, labour and privacy law, Webinar On-Demand, Presenter
- Public Sector Privacy: Trends and Updates, Webinar On-Demand
- The Intersection Between Covid-19 and Workplace Privacy Rights, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, August 18, 2020, Panelist
- Privacy & Data Security Seminar: How Are You Managing Your Risk?, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver | Vancouver, BC, November 6, 2019, Co-Presenter
- Business Law: Employment and Privacy Seminar, The Innovation Centre | Kelowna, BC, July 11, 2019, Co-speaker
- "Global Implications of Privacy in a Digital Age," 15th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), Charlottetown, PEI, September 2018, Chair
- 2018 Labour and Employment Client Seminar, May 29, 2018
- "Major Caselaw and Legislative Update: Undue hardship, family status, damage awards, and more", Lancaster House Vancouver Human Rights and Accommodation Conference, April 2018, Speaker
- "Employment Law Update", 2017 Labour & Employment Law Seminar, May 31, 2017, Co-speaker
- “Cause and Effect: Proof and Perils of a Just Cause Allegation”, 55th Annual HR Conference & Tradeshow, Vancouver Convention Centre West (May 2, 2017), Speaker
- "Hot Privacy Topics, Coast-To-Coast: Hiring, Health and Hacks", 13th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Winnipeg, MB, September 22-24, 2016, Speaker
- “Human Rights and Privacy Law Update”, 2016 Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, Co-speaker
- "Human Rights & Privacy Update", June 11, 2014, Speaker
- "Employment Law Update", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar (May 31, 2012), Speaker
- "Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 14, 2011, Speaker
- "Accommodating Disabilities", Burnaby Roundtable, BC Human Resources Management Association, February 17, 2011, Speaker
- "Dismissing", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, June 2, 2010, Speaker
- "Managing the Sick Employee", Lawson Lundell Labour & Employment Law Seminar, October 30, 2008, Speaker
- "Duty to Accommodate", June 21, 2007, Speaker
- "Drug and Alcohol Testing", June 21, 2006, Speaker

Assistant Contact
- Brittany Dimitrijevic
- Legal Assistant
- T: 604.408.5480
- BDimitrijevic@lawsonlundell.com
Bar Admissions
- British Columbia (2006)
- Northwest Territories (2008)
- Yukon (2010)
Education
University of Victoria (B.Comm. (with Distinction) 1999)
University of Toronto (J.D. 2005)