Experience

A founding partner of Shearer Parnega, LLP, Gillian Shearer is an experienced arbitrator, mediator and workplace investigator, as well as a human rights and employment lawyer. She draws on decades of experience assisting clients in resolving complex workplace disputes.

Gillian was called to the Ontario bar in February 2002, after graduating with her LL.B from Queen’s University, Gillian worked on Bay Street as a labour and employment law advocate until 2006 before moving to in-house roles, primarily in the energy sector. In 2011 Gillian started her own law firm, and began working as a neutral, conducting independent workplace investigations and providing mediation services to a wide variety of clients. In addition to her work as a mediator, arbitrator and workplace investigator, Gillian acts as the neutral ombudsperson for the National Ballet of Canada.

Gillian is known for her excellent people skills and for diligently working to identify, and effectively solve workplace issues. Her professional experience as a management-side lawyer, coupled with her family ties to the labour movement in the U.K. help her fairly see both sides of labour and employment disputes.

Gillian spent many years volunteering with the Sexual Assault Rape Crisis Centre for Peel, and the John Howard Society. In her personal life, Gillian is happily married with a teenager and 2 dogs. She spends her time outside of work heavily involved with youth soccer, and she has a passion for fitness, and home design.

Gillian is able to assist with rights mediation/arbitration, interest arbitration, and wrongful dismissal mediation. Her Firm provides workplace investigation and restoration services, as well as training on various workplace issues. Gillian is known as an expert in the area of workplace investigations.

Currently, Gillian’s availability for labour arbitration dates can be obtained by contacting Erin Schleyer at erin@shearerparnega.com. For availability for employment mediation, dates are available on mediatordates.com.

Education and Certifications

Admitted to practice law in Ontario, February 2002

LL.B, Queen’s University, 2000

Harvard Law Mediation Course, 2026

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Queen’s University, 1995

Investigation Certification, John E. Reid & Associates

Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional

Articles and Publications

Author of Book entitled, “The Law and Practice of Workplace Investigations”, Emond Publishing, November 2026

Contributor to LexisNexis Expert Series (Workplace Investigations)

Professional Associations

Association of Workplace Investigators

Ontario Bar Association

Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics