Gerhard is a partner in McLennan Ross's Commercial Litigation and Labour & Employment Practice Groups. He has been involved in all facets of construction litigation, workers' compensation claims and appeals, employment law and occupational health and safety (OHS) matters. Gerhard also works extensively in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut on labour and employment matters.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Gerhard worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of History at the University of Alberta from 1978 to 1982. From 1983 to 1997, he was a history and labour arbitration tutor for Athabasca University. Gerhard articled with McLennan Ross and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1986.
Awards and Recognitions
· BV Distinguished peer review rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations and Affiliations
· Chairman, Labour Committee and Workforce Development Taskforce, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Community and Volunteer Activities
· Member, Dean of Arts Advisory Council, Grant MacEwan University
· Former director, Alberta Recording Industry Association
· Community affiliations include: Club Austria, Edmonton SPCA and Alberta Cultural Heritage Council
Representative Experience
· Collective bargaining for various private and public sector employers in Alberta, NWT and Nunavut.
· Employer counsel on numerous arbitrations, labour board hearings at provincial and Federal levels.
· Assisted employers in developing strategies and operational practices, as well as making court and Labour Board applications during certification applications and strikes and lockouts.
· Counsel to shareholders in corporate Shareholder disputes.
· Counsel to employers in OHS and Safety Act charges involving fatalities and serious injuries.
Publications
· "The Walls Have Ears: When is it Legal to Record Private Conversations", Gerhard Seifner & Jon Pleckatis, McLennan Ross Legal Counsel
Speaking Engagements
2011
· "Occupational Health & Safety Law for School Boards"
2010
· "Progressive Discipline Training for Supervisors"
· "Disabilities and the Duty to Accommodate"
2009
· "How to Utilize Alternative Dispute Resolution to Successfully Resolve Conflicts", 2nd Conference on Negotiating Construction Contracts
· "Aftermath of a Workplace Accident"
· "Occupational Health & Safety Law for School Boards"