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Melissa Boyles

BEx 2025 Breakout Session

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Melissa Boyles

How to Avoid Making Your Lawyer Rich! 

As an employer, making the right decisions from day one can save you from costly legal battles down the road. In this hands-on session, we’ll guide you through the most common mistakes employers make and provide you with the tools you need to avoid them. 

What to Expect: 

  • Practical Advice: Learn the benefits of limiting your liability by drafting clear, effective employment contracts. 
  • Real-World Scenarios: We’ll walk through an actual demand letter from a terminated employee to explain what to do if you receive one, and, more importantly, how to minimize the chances of receiving one in the first place. 
  • Know Your Rights: Gain insights into managing employee leaves and reducing the risk of potential discrimination claims. 

This workshop is packed with actionable advice tailored specifically for leaders of mid-sized businesses. You’ll leave with practical tips you can implement immediately to protect your company and reduce the risk of expensive litigation. 

Bonus: Ample time for Q&A to discuss your specific challenges. 

Melissa is a litigation partner at Prowse Barrette LLP with a focus on disputes regarding privacy, civil sexual assaults, employment, expropriation, administrative matters, and corporate and commercial issues. She believes in taking a realistic approach to assist her clients with litigation matters through risk analysis and strategy, with a mindset towards the best possible outcome. 

Melissa assisted lead counsel Philip Prowse on the groundbreaking decision in ES v Shillington, which established a new privacy tort in Alberta: the public disclosure of private facts. In a follow up to the decision she was lead counsel in obtaining substantial damages for a victim of revenge-porn in Grummett v Warholik. Melissa was also lead counsel in a decision where she successfully defended against the recognition of an independent tort of family violence in Alberta: Colenutt v Colenutt. 

Melissa serves on the executive of the Alberta Expropriation Association as VP North. She also volunteers as chair of the Prowse Barrette LLP social committee. Outside of the office, Melissa enjoys spending time with her Airedale Terrier Juno and attending the annual Edmonton Folk Music Festival.