With leadership experience, strategic acumen and a nuanced appreciation of his clients’ industries, John delivers an outstanding level of service on sophisticated labour and employment matters
John R. Gilmore is a partner in our Labour & Employment Group in Calgary. As a seasoned labour lawyer with over 30 years of experience advising employers and large unionized clients, John has built a reputation for creativity, excellence and value generation. With deep industry expertise in Canada’s dynamic energy sector, he delivers strategic insights and critical dispute resolution counsel, earning a Chambers Canada Band 1 ranking for Employment & Labour – Alberta that makes him a sought after advisor in labour relations, employment contract negotiations, commercial transactions and dispute resolution.
" John Gilmore is an excellent litigator. He is exceptional in presenting a case in a clear, compelling manner. "
As a former Co-Head of the Employment Services Practice for a major Canadian law firm, John’s experience goes well into the business and strategic side of labour and employment law. He provides employers with advice on executive compensation and incentive entitlements, wrongful dismissal, human rights and pay equity. His expertise with complex commercial transactions includes executive restructuring and employee down-sizing, often in the context of challenging international employment strategies.
" John is somebody I can go to for difficult issues and for practical guidance and advice that we need. He is a really good sounding board and somebody you can go to, knowing he will have a solution. "
In addition to representing clients in litigation matters affecting the above areas, John’s extensive trial and appellate experience includes restrictive covenant enforcement, disability claims, complex executive termination and cases involving fiduciary and confidentiality obligations. He takes this experience with challenging disputes before arbitration boards, labour relations boards and in judicial review proceedings. John has particular expertise with representing federally regulated employers before the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeals and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
John’s recent representative work includes:
- Anthem Properties Group, in its acquisition of The Cedarglen Group Inc. and the formation of Anthem Cedarglen Developments Limited Partnership.
- Bow River Capital, a Denver-based alternative asset manager, in a majority recapitalization of Vitruvi, a geospatial-based Construction Management software platform.
- TriWest Capital Partners, in connection with its partnership in Supreme International Limited, in conjunction with senior management and Export Development Canada.
- DenCorp Online Services Inc., in its sale to RecallMax Acquisition Ltd., an affiliate of TriWest Capital Partners V (2015) Inc.
- Cenovus Energy Inc., in its $17.7-billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Deep Basin conventional assets in Alberta and British Columbia and 50% interest in the FCCL Partnership.
- Repsol S.A., in the proposed $15.1-billion acquisition of Talisman Energy Inc.
- CST Canada Coal Limited, in its acquisition of coal assets of Grande Cache Coal LP and Grande Cache Coal Corporation for aggregate consideration of approximately US$433.9 million.
- Canadian counsel to TMX Group Limited, in its acquisition of London-based Trayport Holdings Limited, and its US-based affiliate, Trayport Inc.
" John Gilmore has repeatedly demonstrated his expertise in labour and employment matters and his ability to deliver effective results efficiently. I trust his guidance inherently. "
John is author of the 2023 Annotated Alberta Employment Standards Code, the Human Resources Guide to Health Issues in the workplace and was a co-editor of and contributor to Illness and Disability in the Workplace.
John obtained his LLB and B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and was admitted to both the Alberta and Ontario bars in 1994.
Awards & Rankings
Chambers Global
Ranked: Employment & Labour: Canada
Chambers Canada
Band 1: Employment & Labour – Alberta
The Legal 500
Recommended: Labour and Employment; Pensions
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Repeatedly Recommended: Employment Law – Employer
Best Lawyers in Canada
Recognized: Labour and Employment Law