Our aim is to resolve your workplace issues, and deliver solutions and outcomes you can rely upon. Our touchstones are fairness and diligence.
About US
Together, Gillian and Jan have over 35 years of combined legal experience. This experience includes work at some of Ontario’s most prestigious law firms, as well as roles as in-house counsel working for large and well-known institutional clients. Over our years of working with a variety of organizations and individuals, we have gained a depth of experience in workplace investigations, mediation, workplace assessment and restoration.
Shearer Parnega's strength is that we understand first-hand the day-to-day challenges that face organizations and the individuals working within them. Our value comes in striving to provide high quality services in a way that ultimately supports the health of the work environment.
In the end, no matter the outcome, we are committed to ensuring that those engaged in the process feel respected, through a just and thorough process.
Our Services
Thorough, Efficient & Reliable
Workplace Investigations
Conducting workplace investigations is our firm’s mainstay. We have many years of investigating a wide variety of employee misconduct in both unionized and non-unionized environments. We are retained by clients across a wide spectrum of industries, and have experience working with both private and public sector organizations.
Through our cases we have dealt with allegations of the following:
- Harassment
- Sexual harassment
- Poisoned work environment
- Discrimination
- Theft
- Fraud
- Conflict of interest
- E-mail and internet abuse
- Workplace violence
- Retaliation
Given the depth of our experience, we recognize the impact of workplace investigations. We pride ourselves on delivering our services in a manner that is respectful and professional. We understand that investigations can impact organizational productivity and workplace health in a variety of ways. As such, we manage the investigation and limit the potentially negative impact on labour relations, productivity and employee engagement. We get to the bottom of things in an efficient manner, seeking to identify the root cause of the workplace issue(s), such that there is a fair, effective and legally defensible outcome.
In the end, we pride ourselves on being neutral, fair and objective in every case.
Mediation
Our firm provides mediation services to assist clients in dealing with workplace conflict. Our experience ranges from mediating single issue disputes to multi-party workplace conflicts at the senior executive level. Effective mediation can resolve workplace disputes in a cost-effective manner, while having a beneficial effect on the relationship between the parties.
Workplace Restoration & Coaching
As neutral workplace investigators, we are often called upon to provide post-investigation restoration or coaching services. As such, we have developed an expertise in resolving workplace conflict and restoring workplace health.
Training and Education
We provide training and education to large and small organizations on a broad range of workplace issues. Our services include education on employment related legislated changes, human rights, workplace violence and harassment and bullying prevention.
We also provide workplace investigation training to human resource professionals, union representatives and front line managers. By acting proactively and ensuring that staff and management are educated about workplace issues, organizations reduce the risk of workplace conflict and ensure that they have the tools to effectively address challenging situations when they arise.
Gillian Shearer
Experience
A founding partner of Shearer Parnega, LLP, Gillian Shearer is an experienced workplace investigator, mediator and human rights and employment lawyer.
After practicing as an Associate at a prestigious boutique labour and employment firm and a global law firm, Gillian moved to in-house roles. Most recently, Gillian was Ethics and Privacy Officer for one of the world’s largest nuclear facilities. In this role, she was responsible for implementation of the Code of Conduct program and for neutrally conducting and overseeing all Code of Conduct investigations in a highly regulated and heavily unionized environment.
Having conducted over a 1000 workplace investigations, Gillian has expertise in dealing with a myriad of misconduct allegations including workplace theft, fraud, harassment, sexual harassment, poisoned work environment, breach of contract, conflict of interest, workplace violence, safety violations, email and internet abuse and retaliation.
Gillian has a reputation for being a fair and thorough workplace investigator. She has also trained Human Resources professionals and Front Line Managers on how to conduct proper workplace investigations.
Gillian recently authored a book entitled, “The Law and Practice of Workplace Investigations” (Emond Publishing, November 2016). In addition, Gillian has written several articles on the effective conduct of workplace investigations, and has been engaged by LexisNexis as a key expert contributor to “Practice Advisor” in the area of workplace investigations. Gillian has also presented on key issues pertaining to workplace investigations, including “Bill 132: Ensuring a Safe Workplace Free of Harassment” (Ontario Bar Association: February 8, 2017).
In addition to her expertise as a workplace investigator, Gillian has experience mediating workplace conflict and in assisting clients with improving workplace culture through both workplace culture assessments and workplace restoration.
Gillian is best known for her tenacity and thoroughness. While getting to the bottom of the issues is central to her approach, her philosophy is to ensure that through this process she maintains the dignity of those involved and upholds existing relationships, particularly with union representatives. And, where appropriate, Gillian uses good old-fashioned humour to alleviate the stress typically involved in workplace conflict situations.
Education and Certifications
Admitted to practice law in Ontario, February 2002
LL.B, Queen’s University, 2000
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Queen’s University, 1995
Investigation Certification, John E. Reid & Associates
Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional
Professional Associations
Association of Workplace Investigators
Ontario Bar Association
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
Jan Parnega
Experience
A founding partner of Shearer Parnega LLP, Jan brings years of litigation and prosecution experience to the practice of workplace investigation and conflict resolution.
Jan commenced her career at a national law firm in Toronto. A civil litigator for close to a decade, she acted on corporate/commercial disputes, insurance litigation, professional liability, and intellectual property matters.
Jan then spent ten years as a prosecutor at the Law Society of Upper Canada, the largest regulatory body in Canada to govern lawyers and paralegals. At the Law Society, she dealt with a wide variety of prosecutions regarding professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming, capacity, competence and related matters. Working in a collaborative framework with investigators, Jan helped direct investigations to ensure sound, evidence-based prosecutions. Well versed in the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice, she is ever sensitive to the various issues and concerns that can arise in a workplace setting, including the need to protect the interests of the engaged parties. She is respected for her sound judgment, thorough preparation, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
In addition to investigations, Jan has experience assisting clients ensure a safe and productive workplace, by conducting workplace cultural assessments and developing sound workplace policies. Where possible, she enjoys finding efficient and effective solutions to workplace disputes as an alternative to litigation.
Education
Admitted to the practice of law in Ontario, February 2000
LL.B. Osgoode Hall Law School, 1998
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Queen’s University, 1995
Professional Associations
Advocates’ Society
Prosecutor’s Network, Advocates’ Society
Association of Workplace Investigators
Shearer Parnega, LLP
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Our Office
First Canadian Place
100 King Street West, Suite 5700
Toronto, ON M5X 1C7
Phone: (416) 915-4121