Brett has a solicitor’s practice that compliments his background in business, education at four Universities and years living abroad, focusing on employer-side immigration, education, corporate and commercial and international business transaction practice areas. His corporate immigration practice is national in scope and focuses on advising companies and educational institutions on international employee, executive and management recruitment, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and International Mobility Program exemptions, Provincial Nominee Programs in Saskatchewan (SINP) and around the country, Express Entry applications, intra-company transferees from foreign affiliates and subsidiaries, CUSMA, CETA and other international treaties. Brett is chair of McKercher’s immigration practice group and one of the foremost experts on post-secondary immigration in the country. He is experienced in drafting and negotiating exchange and cooperation agreements with post-secondary institutions abroad, planning and implementing company-wide immigration strategies, managing compliance for large workforces of foreign nationals at post-secondary institutions and billion-dollar companies, training internal workforces and student advisory teams on immigration compliance, standardized contracts and MOUs, and guiding employers through high-stakes immigration audits.
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Brett obtained a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan, a double major in Finance and Marketing and was elected Class Valedictorian. At 21, he co-founded a Saskatoon marketing firm that would enjoy a 10-year history. He attained a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Victoria where he graduated early and was chosen for student government and the board of the law journal. A commendation from the University of Victoria led to Brett being named a Japanese Government Scholar and he received his Master of Laws in International Economic and Business Law and a Graduate Diploma in European Union Studies at Kyushu University among a cohort of lawyers and judges from around the world. Brett then articled with McKercher LLP, was called to the Bar in 2012 and joined the partnership early in 2019.
Brett volunteers regularly for the Employment Law Alliance, the world’s largest group of labour, employment, and immigration lawyers. Through the ELA, Brett services an international suite of clients, and can provide timely advice to McKercher clients in jurisdictions around the world. Brett is past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Immigration Section for Saskatchewan and is on the Saskatoon Bar Association Executive. He has been a member of the national CBA immigration executive and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Human Resources Committee focused on immigration, labour and youth entrepreneurship issues. Brett has volunteered for Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan’s Northern Initiative Free Legal Clinics and the Open Door Society assisting spouses fleeing domestic violence in avoiding negative immigration consequences. Brett conducts speaking engagements, produces podcasts, publications and webinars regularly on employer-side immigration and post-secondary international business transactions, for clients and organizations including the ELA, Canadian Association of University Solicitors, Canadian Bar Association, Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Administrators, Global Ventures Magazine and the Chamber of Commerce.
Brett’s love for travel has taken him and his beautiful wife Kirsten to 48 countries and counting, including adventures like running with the bulls and trekking for gorillas in the Congo. Their daughters Rayna and Kinley are their greatest adventure yet. They hope to instill in them the same explorer’s spirit and global outlook.
