Ashton Butler

Ashton provides employers with guidance and assistance on all matters relating to labour and employment law. She regularly advises employers on matters including hiring, the drafting and implementation of employment contracts, independent consulting contracts and workplace policies, disciplinary matters, employment standards, terminations and layoff strategy, wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, navigating human rights, harassment and accommodation situations, and defending employers facing litigation. Ashton also conducts harassment and other workplace investigations.

• Counsel to Federated Co-operatives Limited on the $72-million sale of oil and gas assets in Saskatchewan and Alberta to ROK Resources Inc.

• Chair, Administrative and Labour and Employment Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan, present)
• Coach, Canadian National Negotiation Competition Moot Team, College of Law (Saskatchewan, present)
• Chair, Administrative and Labour and Employment Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (South Saskatchewan, 2021-2023)
• Vice-chair, Administrative and Labour and Employment Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (South Saskatchewan, 2020-2021)
• Member, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (2020-present)
• Member, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (Saskatchewan, 2020-present)
• Member, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, 2020-present)
• Director, Association of Women Lawyers (Calgary, 2018-2019)
• Civil Claims Duty Counsel and Amicus Volunteer, Pro Bono Law Alberta (Alberta, 2017-2019)
• Member, Canadian Bar Association (2017-present)
• Valedictorian, College of Law (Saskatchewan, 2017)
• Member, Editorial Board, Saskatchewan Law Review (Saskatchewan, 2016-2017)
• Participant, International Chamber of Commerce Mediation Competition (2016-2017)
• Participant, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (2015-2016)
• Volunteer, Legal Advice Clinic, CLASSIC (2014-2015)
• Member, Law Society of Alberta (2017-present) (inactive)

• Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2024) of the Best Lawyers in Canada (One to Watch – Labour and Employment Law)
• Saskatchewan Law Review Honour (2017)
• Marj Benson Leadership Scholarship (2017)
• Canadian National Negotiation Competition with 3^rd Place Team (2017)
• Upper-Year Juris Doctor Academic Achievement Scholarship (2016)
• Save on Foods Award, Community Involvement and Volunteerism (2016)
• Nasser Scholarship (2016)
• University of Saskatchewan Scholarship (2015)
• David C. Kyle Memorial Scholarship (2015)
• Dentons Negotiation Competition with 2^nd place team (2015)

• Panellist, “Supporting Complainants, Addressing Root Causes: Trauma-informed approaches to workplace violence, harassment and bullying,” Lancaster House (March 2025)
• Panellist, “Disabilities that Elude Diagnosis: Accommodating employees with poorly understood conditions” workshop, 42^nd Annual Calgary Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, Lancaster House (Calgary, June 2024)
• Presenter, “Accommodation considerations for an aging workforce,” Labour Update, MLT Aikins LLP (Saskatoon & Regina, May 2024)
• Presenter, “Managing Disabilities and the Duty to Accommodate: A Guide for HR Professionals,” CPHR Lunch and Learn Series (2023-2024)
• Moderator, “Class is in: Class Actions and Employment Law,” National Administrative and Labour and Employment Law Conference, Canadian Bar Association (Ottawa, November 2023)
• Presenter, “Alcohol and Drugs in the Workplace,” HR Professionals Seminar, MLT Aikins/CPHR (Regina, October 2023)
• Presenter, “Saskatchewan Labour Law Update,” Centre for Labour-Management Development (Saskatoon, October 2023)
• Presenter, “Case Law and Legislation Update,” Labour Update, MLT Aikins (May 2023)
• Presenter, “Conducting Workplace Investigations; Progressive Discipline,” Labour Update, MLT Aikins (January 2023)
• Presenter, “Drafting Enforceable Employment Contracts,” Labour Update, MLT Aikins (May 2022)
• Author, “Techniques for Engaging the Progressive Discipline Process,” HR Saskatchewan Magazine
• Guest Speaker, “Labour Arbitrations,” Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining Course (Regina)
• Moderator, “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations,” MLT Aikins (February 2022)
• Author, “BC’s Civil Resolution Tribunal: A Case for Expanding Online Dispute Resolution in Canada,” Saskatchewan Law Review (May 2017)