Mark Asbell, Q.C. is an Arbitrator, Mediator, and Adjudicator.  With 17 years of experience as Chair of the Alberta Labour Relations Board, Mark is a nationally recognized leader in labour law and labour dispute adjudication.  He is a prolific writer generating over 700 decisions during his career with the Alberta Labour Relations Board and as an adjudicator and arbitrator, including decisions tested and affirmed at both the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Over his adjudicative career, Mark has developed a reputation as a courteous, efficient adjudicator with superior hearing management skills who is able to quickly hone the essence of the dispute while providing a forum where the parties feel heard and respected.

While adjudication may be the necessary end-point, Mark’s true passion is facilitating party-driven settlement, and trust and respect for ongoing relationships.  As Chair of the Alberta Labour Relations Board, Mark developed and implemented the first-of-its-kind settlement conferences and processes by utilizing various alternative dispute resolution models responsive to the circumstances of the dispute followed, where necessary, by adjudication.  Through the use of these ADR initiatives, the Alberta Labour Relations Board’s settlement rate improved from an average of 35% annually to as high as 80% per annum.  This model has since been adopted by several adjudicative boards across Canada and has been studied and discussed at national and international academic conferences.  Mark personally assisted in mediating or helping resolve over 200 disputes under these processes.

Mark’s varied experience includes addressing issues within broad-based disputes in the public, education, health, construction, transportation, retail, and manufacturing sectors as well as individual matters involving First Nations’ interests under the Canada Labour Code, complaints against lawyers, and disciplinary actions involving amateur and Olympic athletes.  In addition to past experience as both a Chair and Vice-Chair with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, a member of the Law Society of Alberta Discipline Committee, and a former arbitrator for the Canadian Centre for Sport and Law, Mark’s current roles include:

* External Adjudicator for the Canadian Industrial Relations Board;
* Approved Arbitrator and Mediator on the Province of Alberta Mediation Services Lists;
* Adjudicator and Arbitrator for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services;
* Referee with the Board of Referees for Department of Education in Alberta.

Mark is a regular speaker and presenter at universities, colleges, conferences, seminars, and workshops. Click here to see the list of Mark’s engagements by category.

Mark is an active community volunteer, having served or continuing to serve on many local, provincial, and national charity and athletic boards.  In addition to coaching youth hockey and basketball, he holds or has held the highest certification levels as a nationally certified referee and coach in lacrosse.  He continues to coach Junior Lacrosse and serves on the Board of Directors for the Sherwood Park Titans Major Lacrosse Association.  In recognition of his contributions to the community, Mark was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Medal in 2004, the Queen’s Centennial Medal in 2005, and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008.