Carman Overholt represents clients in connection with employment, labour relations and human rights issues that arise in the union and non-union workplace. Since his call to the Bar in 1986, he has appeared on behalf of employers, before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, the Employment Standards Tribunal, the B.C. Labour Relations Board, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board and the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal.
Carman has represented employers in numerous labour arbitration proceedings and in connection with collective bargaining. He also works with his clients to assist in the development of policies and strategies that minimize the risk of litigation and disruption to their operations. Carman has significant experience in advising employers in various sectors of the economy including financial services, technology, retail, service, hospitality, construction, mining, forestry and manufacturing.
Carman is a frequent lecturer on a wide range of employment and labour relations subjects for various groups including the Certified Professionals in Human Resources, the Canadian Institute, Insight, Lancaster House, Queen’s Industrial Relations Centre, Vancouver Board of Trade, the Canadian Bar Association and the Continuing Legal Education Society in British Columbia.
Carman is a Past President of the Advocates Club and the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch). He served on the Board of the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club for approximately 10 years including 4 years as President. He is a certified Hockey Coach and Health & Safety Official with the West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association. Carman is a current member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
His leadership, legal work and community service were recognized by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 2002. Carman subsequently received the Harry Rankin, QC Pro-Bono Award and the Queen’s University Kathleen Beaumont-Hill Award for outstanding service to the community.
