Carman Overholt

Carman is the Principal of Overholt Law. He works with senior management and HR professionals to ensure compliance with labour, employment and human rights legislation, and to develop policies that minimize litigation risk and disruption. He has appeared on behalf of employers before the Supreme Court of BC and the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. He has also represented employers in labour arbitration proceedings and collective bargaining.

Carman is a senior litigation lawyer with extensive experience in all aspects of employment law, labour relations and commercial litigation. He works closely with senior management and human resources professionals to help employers stay in compliance with the legislation that governs the workplace. Carman provides clients with advice, strategies and policies that reduce the risk of employment disputes and claims.

In the course of his career, Carman has appeared as counsel in a wide range of matters before the Supreme Court of BC, the Court of Appeal of BC, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Employment Standards Tribunal, the BC Labour Relations Board, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, and the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal. Carman has also represented employers in labour arbitration proceedings and in collective bargaining. He has successfully defended employees accused of breaching their contractual and fiduciary duties. Carman’s litigation experience includes the successful defence of a class action brought by 400 employees against the employer. Those proceedings ended successfully with the dismissal of the application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Given his extensive experience, Carman is able to efficiently advise employees on contractual matters including severance and continuing post-employment obligations. His practice includes drafting and negotiating terms of employment and independent contracts.

Carman is a frequent lecturer and routinely presents on the most recent developments in the law including the duty to accommodate, social media issues, privacy obligations and the protection of an employer’s business interests. He is a Co-Author of the Employment Litigation Manual published by Butterworths/LexisNexis since 2007. His lecturing includes annual courses for the Sauder School of Business and CPHR (formerly BCHRMA).

Carman is a Past President of the Advocates Club and the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch). He served on the Board of the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club for approximately 10 years including 4 years as President and Certified Professionals in Human Resources.

Carman is a current member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

His leadership, legal work and community service were recognized by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 2002. Carman subsequently received the Harry Rankin, QC Pro-Bono Award and the Queen’s University Kathleen Beaumont-Hill Award for outstanding service to the community.