OUR TEAM
Rick A. Engel, K.C.
B.A. (Hons), J.D., Partner
BACK TO OUR TEAM
Formerly of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Rick Engel obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 1982, and a Juris Doctor’s degree from Queen’s University in 1983. He practiced law in Swift Current, Saskatoon, and Regina before joining the firm in 1989. He became a partner in 1993 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004.
Rick has developed a highly concentrated practice in Labour Law and Human Rights litigation and is current solicitor of record for a number of major unions in Saskatchewan.
Union Counsel
Rick has been union counsel on a number of significant public sector lawsuits and appeals, including a large representative pension action on behalf of Nonpermanent Public Sector Employees, a judicial challenge of the Fair Share Saskatchewan policy and a landmark decision concerning Duty of Fair Representation jurisdictional disputes.
In 2014/2015, he was co-counsel on behalf of the SFL and numerous unions at the Supreme Court of Canada on the first case from the Court to recognize the right to strike under s. 2(d), Freedom of Association, of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
He has served as a Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers, past Chair of the Southern Saskatchewan CBA Labour/Administrative Law Section and has participated in numerous union workshops and seminars.
Rick is recognized as one of the leading union-aligned labour lawyers in Saskatchewan in fashioning new and novel arguments in motions and hearings before the Courts, the Labour Relations Board and numerous Arbitration Boards.
Rick is vigorously committed to a judicial process that recognizes the best interests of working people in Saskatchewan. He is married and has one daughter. He is an avid sailor and active participant in the Lake Diefenbaker Yacht Club.