David Brannen, Founder and Managing LawyerEducation is the first step to better decisions at Resolute. Through books, a YouTube channel, a show, and consultations, the firm helps individuals understand their situation before they commit to legal steps. He believes that clients can avoid costly mistakes early on by knowing how the system works.
“We are one hundred percent dedicated to the employees’ side, representing employees with a focus on employee employment issues and disability law,” says David Brannen, founder and managing lawyer.
The Story Alignment Method
At the core of Resolute’s approach is the Story Alignment Method™, a five-step system Brannen has developed and refined over the past fifteen years. This method is grounded in a principle drawn from U.S. research: Legal cases become more persuasive when cast as narratives that align with decision-makers’ expectations, incentives, and beliefs.
In disability cases, this often means anticipating what adjudicators need to see to approve a claim and structuring the client’s story accordingly. In employment cases, it means reframing disputes, from wrongful dismissal to workplace accommodation. Decision-makers see the complete human context rather than just contractual details.
This approach grew from an early case that left a lasting mark. A woman who had lost a CPP disability claim was given a rare chance for a second hearing due to changes in the tribunal system. When she came to Brannen, it was immediately apparent that her story had not been fully told. Key details were missing, including her decade-long struggle as a teacher, the medical evidence supporting her condition, and the ways she had tried to adapt to keep working.
The difference was immediate when the case was restructured with all the necessary context and evidence. After reviewing the stronger presentation, Service Canada offered to approve the claim in advance. Nothing in her circumstances had changed; only the story had. That moment was eye-opening for the client and Brannen, who helped her reclaim dignity and support.
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We are one hundred percent dedicated to the employees’ side, representing employees with a focus on employee employment issues and disability law
Resolute also concentrates on cases that combine employment and long-term disability issues, a zone where overlap and nuance are common. Its services range from one-off legal advice to complete settlement negotiation, appeals, or litigation against insurers or employers. The firm uses contingency fees for litigated cases and offers fixed-fee structures for non-litigation work, providing clients with greater predictability.
Personal Motivation and Firm Culture
Brannen’s motivation for this work is deeply personal. As a child, he witnessed his grandfather lose a lawsuit after a larger boat destroyed his anchored fishing boat. Although his grandfather was not at fault, the case was still unsuccessful.
He did not understand the process, could not hold his lawyers accountable, and lacked the information to make informed decisions. The experience shaped Brannen’s decision to pursue a career in law and instilled in him the conviction that the legal system doesn’t reward truth, but rather what can be proven and how well it is presented.
That perspective shapes the firm’s culture. Before becoming a lawyer, Brannen worked as an occupational therapist, learning to meet people where they are and to focus on their individual needs. He carried that client-centred philosophy into his practice, building a team that shares the same empathy and often comes from “underdog” experiences.
The result is a firm where clients feel understood and respected during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. For those who have felt outmatched by the system, Resolute is a partner who knows what it feels like to be on the losing side of justice and is dedicated to ensuring others do not face the same outcome.
