About US

Together, Gillian and Jan have over 40 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.

Our Services

Thorough, Efficient & Reliable

Mediation and Arbitration

Our firm provides mediation services to assist clients with wrongful dismissal disputes, and other workplace conflict challenges.

Gillian conducts rights mediation and arbitration arising in unionized environments, including collective agreement interpretation and administration, human rights, disability and accommodation, discipline and discharge, interest arbitration and human rights mediation.

Workplace Investigations

Shearer Parnega has 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

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.

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

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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