Steven has built a reputation for offering sound and strategic advice to clients, ensuring they fully understand each step of the litigation process and the broader legal implications of their decisions.
In his labour and employment practice, Steven primarily advises employers with respect to issues that arise in the workplace including human rights, privacy, dismissals, performance management, policy development, occupational health and safety, and labour relations issues. As an active participant in the political arena, he understands the importance of establishing clear goals, developing a concise narrative, and executing on a strategy to achieve results.

Steven is recognized for his expertise in the area of political and elections law.  His practice includes advising political participants of all types about how to navigate elections legislation, electoral financing rules, and all other aspects of the political process.  His clients include candidates in elections at various levels of government, first nations, and third parties.  When necessary, Steven’s practice includes litigating disputes that arise in that context, such as defamation claims and election challenges.  Steven also provides governance advice to entitles looking to strengthen their internal processes and procedures.

In his indigenous law practice, Steven advises first nations with respect to how to structure their operations in an accountable and efficient fashion that takes into account the unique customs and realities faced by each nation.  He provides advice and representation with respect to operational policies and procedures, labour and employment issues, economic development structures, band council governance, and elections.

Steven’s administrative law practice includes representing clients before various administrative tribunals and, when necessary, reviewing tribunal decisions before the courts.  In particular, Steven has extensive expertise with respect to tax assessment appeals.  He has represented institutional and individual property owners before assessment review boards and at the Court of Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal.

In the constitutional law arena, Steven has represented clients in a range of matters that relate to the division of powers between governments.  This includes representing an intervenor in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act references before the Saskatchewan and Ontario Court of Appeals as well as a number of matters arising from his labour and employment practice.

Steven is heavily involved in the Edmonton community and believes strongly in community service. He supports a wide range of causes that help make the city a better place to live, work, and play.

Education:

• J.D., University of Alberta
• B.Sc., University of Alberta

Awards and Recognition:

• Schoctor Award in Law
• Tom Lancaster Award for Leadership
• Lou Hyndman Edmonton Glenora Award For Leadership
• Merv Leitch, Q.C. Scholarship in Law

Professional Associations, Affiliations and Community Activities:

• Former Executive Member, University of Alberta Alumni Council
• Member, Rotary Club of Edmonton
• Former Member, University of Alberta Board of Governors
• Former Member, University of Alberta Senate
• Member, various political boards and committees

Steven’s labour and employment practice covers a wide range of issues faced by employers and employees. He counsels a number of large organizations with respect to labour relations, HR policies, privacy issues, terminations, grievances, human rights complaints, employment standards claims and occupational health and safety issues. He also regularly acts for employers and senior level employees with respect to contractual reviews, severance analysis, and wrongful or constructive dismissal claims.

Some examples of Steven's experience in labour and employment include:

• Provided labour relations advice and representation to organizations with respect to revocation applications, certification applications, common employer designations, employee associations, and other related issues.
• Provided strategic advice to several Alberta corporations with respect to long term labour relations plans, including the development and protection of relationships with specific unions.
• Provided employment advice to various Alberta first nations and band corporations, including navigating jurisdictional issues.
• Assisted numerous Alberta employers with respect to Employment Standards Code and human rights complaints.
• Advised several Alberta corporations on workplace health and safety issues, including workplace fatalities.
• Reviewed and drafted a wide range of executive employment agreements including restrictive covenants and non-disclosure agreements.
• Acted as a nominee in various grievance arbitrations.

Steven is recognized for his expertise in the area of political and elections law.  He advises a range of clients from political parties and candidates to third party advertisers and advocacy organizations.  Steven helps these clients navigate the complex regulatory environment that governs the political process.  He works with clients to manage both the economic and political realities of compliance issues.

Some examples of Steven’s experience in political and elections law include:

• Represented registered political parties with respect to internal governance and compliance issues.
• Provided compliance advice and representation to political entities during election campaigns including recounts and controverted election challenges.
• Assisted and advised organizations seeking to participate in the political process at either the federal or provincial level as third parties or third party advertisers.
• Represented political participants with respect to investigations and proceedings commenced by Elections Alberta, Elections Canada, the Alberta Office of the Election Commissioner, and the Alberta Office of the Ethics Commissioner.
• Developed custom election codes and related procedures for first nations.
• Provided advice to individuals with respect to lobbyist registration and compliance.
• Represented individuals and organizations with respect to defamation claims.

Steven understands that the challenges facing first nations’ administration and leadership are rarely the same.  While there are common themes and best practices, each specific situation must be addressed with the unique customs and traditions in mind.  His aboriginal law experience has included a range of elements – from complex and contentious litigation to pro-active policy development and governance advise.  His clients include small developing nations and those that are large with well-established processes and structures.

Some examples of Steven’s experience in indigenous law include:

• Counsel for first nations and for indigenous political participants in election appeals and judicial reviews.
• Provided operational policy development advice.
• Counsel for several first nations-owned corporations in a large and complex dispute with former executives and directors with issues relating to fraud, misappropriation of assets and conspiracy.
• Assisted with matters relating to specific land claim entitlements.
• Advised first nation’s on best practices and corporate structures for economic development initiatives.
• Represented a number of first nations and first nations-related entities with respect to labour and employment issues of all kinds.

Steven has represented clients before administrative tribunals and in applications for judicial review and on appeal.

Some examples of Steven’s experience in administrative law includes:

• Counsel for property owners challenging their property tax assessments in appearances before the Local Assessment Review Board and Composite Assessment Review Board.
• Advised property owners who have judicially reviewed assessment review board decisions to the Court of Queen’s Bench.
• Counsel to the successful candidate in a judicial recount of an election result.
• Represented a first nation in judicial review proceedings following a first nation election.

Steven has experience dealing with constitutional law issues and has acted for clients in a variety of applications and actions engaging constitutional questions.

Some examples of Steven’s experience in constitutional law include:

• Acted for various entities, primarily those associated with first nations, in applications raising jurisdictional questions that engage the division of powers.
• Represented an intervenor in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act references before the Saskatchewan and Ontario Court of Appeals.

Publications:

• "The Hiring Process is Not Finished Until the Paperwork is Done", Glenn Tait and Steven Dollansky, McLennan Ross Legal Counsel Newsletter, 2016
• "What Does the Alberta Election Mean for Employers?", Tom Ross and Steven Dollansky, McLennan Ross E-Mail Alert, 2015
• "Go Directly To Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Pay $250,000.", McLennan Ross E-Mail Alert, 2015

Presentations:

• "Occupational Health and Safety Amendments" and "Privacy Policy – Is it time for an update" – CHRPA Alberta, Fort McMurray Chapter, 2018
• "Lawyers in Political Office - The Numbers and the Implications", Event Chair, The Canadian Bar Association Savvy Lawyers Series, 2018
• "2017 Labour & Employment Year in Review", McLennan Ross Seminar, 2018
• "New Employment Standards Regulations", McLennan Ross Webinar, 2017
• "Managing Termination Risks", McLennan Ross Webinar, 2017
• "The Essentials for Navigating the New Essential Services Regime", McLennan Ross, 2016
• "2015 Labour & Employment Year in Review Seminar", McLennan Ross, 2016
• "Bill 6: Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act", Presentation to Alberta Cattle Feeders Association, 2016
• "Mock Arbitration", McLennan Ross Duty to Accommodate Seminar & Mock Arbitration, 2015
• "2014 Labour & Employment Year-in-Review", McLennan Ross, 2015
• "2013 Labour & Employment Year in Review Seminar", McLennan Ross, 2014
• "Attendance Management Programs", McLennan Ross Labour & Employment Full-Day Seminar, 2013