Course Instructors
Sandra I. Banister, QC — Banister & Company, Vancouver
Barry Y.F. Dong — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
About the Course Instructors
Sandra Banister has practiced trade union law and civil litigation (primarily personal injury and wrongful dismissal) since 1982 when she was called to the BC bar. She acted as Special Counsel to the BC Transit Board on issues of successorship and contracting out, and represented the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture as Special Advisor on the Status of the Artist. Sandra has been a frequent speaker at a variety of conferences and seminars for the Trial Lawyers Association, CLEBC, the Labour Law Section of the CBA (BC), Lancaster House, Insight, the Centre for Labour Management, and the BC Federation of Labour. She has taught numerous labour related courses for trade unions and has organized and instructed the provincial labour law course for the annual Canadian Labour Congress Harrison Winter School since 1985. Sandra is named in Best Lawyers, and in 2011, her ability and achievements in the legal profession were recognized when she was designated Queen's Counsel.
In 2018, Sandra was appointed by the Minister of Labour to a panel of expert advisors to review and recommend changes to the Labour Code. Their report, which was submitted to the Minister August 31, was released on October 25, 2018.
Barry Dong received his LLB from UBC in 1979, and was called to the BC bar in 1980.
Before joining Harris & Company, he was a partner in the Vancouver office of a large national law firm. He practises exclusively in the areas of labour, employment, human rights and administrative law, representing clients before federal and provincial labour and administrative tribunals, arbitration boards and panels, in court, and in collective bargaining and negotiations.
An active part of Barry's practice is acting as counsel in the film and television industry, representing major US and Canadian production companies across Canada. He also represents clients in a number of sectors, including the transportation, technology, construction, and service industries. He is often consulted by trade groups, employer organizations, and governmental agencies.
In addition to his advocacy practice, Barry's representation of clients includes providing practical labour and employment business advice and presenting seminars and training workshops.
He is recognized as a leading practitioner, frequently recommended, by L'Expert, and listed in the inaugural US Directory of The Best Lawyers in Canada.
In 2018, Barry was appointed by the Minister of Labour to a panel of expert advisors to review and recommend changes to the Labour Code. Their report, which was submitted to the Minister August 31, was released on October 25, 2018.