Halifax, NS – Employment and labour lawyers, Michael Murphy and Melissa Pike, have joined Atlantic Canada’s Pink Larkin.
Michael Murphy is a partner who advises and represents provincially- and federally-regulated clients in the private and public sectors on workplace and human resources issues. These include advising on compliance with occupational health and safety legislation; performance management, discipline and terminations; workplace accommodations; negotiation and drafting of contracts and collective agreements; pension and benefits plan design and administration; and, workplace policy development and training.
Melissa Pike is an associate with a zeal for labour law. She primarily represents and advises public and private sector provincially- and federally-regulated unions. She also advises clients in non-unionized workplaces on a variety of employment law issues.
“Michael and Melissa are terrific additions to our team,” says Ronald A. Pink, Q.C., co-founder and managing partner of Pink Larkin. “Both have solid strengths in employment, occupational health and safety, and labour, and will enhance our legacy and build out our practice serving the needs of our growing clientele.”
“Daring to speak for both Melissa and myself, we couldn’t be happier to join the team,” says Michael Murphy. “Pink Larkin is well-known and well-respected on a local and national level for its nimbleness, and its top tier labour and employment lawyers and litigators. I’m especially excited to put my experience to work for the firm’s growing list of management-side clients. For me, it’s really about quality of service, which naturally attracts high quality clientele, and Pink Larkin has that in abundance. We look forward to contributing in a meaningful way to this firm, and most importantly to the success of current and prospective clients.”
About Michael Murphy
Michael is well-known for appearances before courts, arbitrators, and administrative tribunals concerning various workplace-related disputes, including employment standards complaints, occupational health and safety matters, wrongful dismissal actions, labour arbitrations, human rights complaints, and more. He also provides employment-related due diligence advice in the context of commercial transactions.
A fierce advocate for his client’s best interests, he gives practical advice with an emphasis on risk management and finding strategic, cost-effective solutions.
Michael received his JD from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in 2012, and is called to the bar in Nova Scotia (2013) and Ontario (2020). He has spoken at numerous conferences on various labour and employment topics over the years. Michael was recently recognized in the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada (2022) in the field of Labour and Employment Law, and is currently Vice Chair of the CBA – NS Labour and Employment Law section.
What may not be quite as well known is that Michael is a published novelist and musician.
About Melissa Pike
As an advocate, Melissa has a knack for breaking down complex legal issues and distilling key facts into clear, persuasive arguments. She has appeared before the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Labour Boards, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, as well as in arbitrations and before boards of inquiry.
In her collective bargaining work, she has acted as chief negotiator, drafted collective agreement language, participated in conciliation and mediation, and prepared interest arbitration submissions.
Melissa received her JD from Dalhousie University in 2018 and was called to the bar in 2019. While in law school, she completed a placement at the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service and advocated for clients in the areas of family, youth criminal, and administrative law.
She currently sits on the Advocates’ Society’s Atlantic Regional Advisory Committee and the national Young Advocates’ Standing Committee.
About Pink Larkin
Pink Larkin is a Canadian employment, labour and dispute resolution law firm based in Atlantic Canada with offices in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Fredericton, and Saint John, New Brunswick.
From a “work law” heritage, Pink Lark has honed its unique negotiation skills to creatively and thoughtfully assist people in resolving a range of problems that span complex and intricate cases to every day business issues.
For further information, contact:
Ronald Pink
902.423.7777 or 1.800.565.4529