Employment Lawyer and Partner
Joel Fairbrother is a partner and co-founder of Bow River Law LLP. His key practice areas are employment law, labour law and human rights, but he does some general civil litigation as well. Joel has experience litigating at all levels of court in Alberta and has made successful submissions to the Supreme Court of Canada. Joel also has experience in front of many different tribunals in Alberta. Joel has litigated against many other lawyers, firms and companies, and remains confident and capable counsel regardless of his opponent.
Joel obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at University of Alberta. He did not know what he wanted to do with his degree, but Law School was not an interest of his at that time. Joel had always liked building things and working with his hands however, so he became an apprentice Electrician and then Instrumentation Technician for a few years in Alberta’s oil sands, where he developed a real connection to the workforce.
Joel had never met a lawyer prior to applying for Law School, but something drew him to this field. Joel graduated from University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2011, articled at a national firm, cut his teeth in the employment group at Fieldlaw (a major regional firm) for a few years, and then worked at a specialized employment law firm for a further 5 years prior to founding Bow River Law LLP with his partner and co-founder Sarah Coderre. Joel was fortunate to find the job he was obviously meant to do, and he looks forward to helping you.
Employment Lawyer & Partner
Legal Assistant: Baraa
Baraa’s Phone: 587.391.0809
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Saskatchewan (2011)
- B.A. (Political Science), University of Alberta (2006)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Treasurer (past), Labour & Employment Section (Alberta South)
- Chair, Labour & Employment Section (Alberta South)
- Member, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
- Guest Lecturer, University of Calgary Faculty of Law
- Employment Law 561 Guest Lecturer (2025)
- Labour Law Guest Lecturer (2024)
Awards
Joel Fairbrother was included in the 2026, 2025, 2024 and 2023 Editions of Best Lawyers in Canada for his work in labour and employment law.
Joel was included in the Chambers.com Canada Guide 2026 Awards for work in Employment & Labour: Labour for Unions.
Joel has received the 2025 Lexpert award for Employment Law and Workplace Human Rights.
Joel has been honored with the exclusive Mondaq Thought Leader Award for Autumn 2025, awarded to a small number of legal authors.
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