Jessica Forman (she/her) leads Forte Workplace Law’s investigations practice group. An experienced investigator, Jessica has conducted, advised on and reviewed complex investigations involving allegations of sexual assault, discrimination based on race and bullying and harassment. Trained as a trauma-informed investigator, Jessica has also led several workplace assessments and environmental scans for clients in a variety of industries, including Indigenous organizations. Jessica’s background advising employers and employees on matters arising from workplace conflict gives her an important perspective on the role of an investigator’s work and report. As a leader in workplace investigations, Jessica regularly speaks about and trains others on how to conduct effective and fair workplace investigations.
Languages: English
Catalina Rodriguez (she/her) is an employment lawyer and CPHR who has practiced both in law firms and as in-house counsel. She is a trauma informed investigator. Catalina’s experience as a workplace investigator includes sectors such as construction, municipal government, post secondary education, aviation, indigenous governance and the non-profit sectors. She has investigated complaints of sexual harassment, racism, and bullying. Catalina is a mediator and a trainer of best practices on prevention of bullying and harassment and conflict resolution in the workplace.
Languages: English and Spanish
Katelynn Denny (she/her) is an employment lawyer and workplace investigator, with experience conducting complex investigations into allegations of sexual violence and misconduct, discrimination based on race and gender, breach of privacy, and bullying and harassment. As a trauma-informed lawyer and investigator, Katelynn is dedicated to ensuring a fair, accessible, and transparent process for everyone involved. She has led investigations in both unionized and non-unionized environments, including post-secondary and K-12 education sectors, and has mentored others on how to conduct workplace investigations. She has also been appointed to the roster of investigators for the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner. As a lawyer, Katelynn advises both employers and employees on workplace conflict and issues related to investigations, and this perspective informs her work as an independent investigator.
Languages: English
Christie Gilmour (she/her) is an experienced workplace investigator who has considered issues of bullying and harassment, sexual harassment and discrimination in her work. As an employment and workplace human rights lawyer, Christie regularly advises employers and employees on workplace investigations and the issues that lead to them. Christie is particularly skilled at connecting with people and understanding their point of view, which allows her to get to the bottom of the issues underlying workplace conflict. As a trauma informed investigator, Christie brings a practical and compassionate approach to her work.
Languages: English
Jim Boyle (he/him) is a labour, employment, and human rights lawyer with extensive experience advising employers and trade unions on workplace issues, including investigations into allegations of bullying & harassment and disrespectful conduct. Jim takes a practical and trauma-informed approach to advice and investigations, focusing on identifying solutions that correct problems and promote happy, productive workplaces. Jim’s experience as a workplace investigator includes industrial worksites and post-secondary institutions.
Languages: English
Sarah Ewart (she/her) is a labour, employment and human rights lawyer, workplace investigator and StandUP TeamsTM facilitator. As an investigator, she has experience investigating complex workplace issues including allegations of bullying and harassment, sexual harassment, and discrimination, using a trauma-informed approach. As a lawyer, she has experience advising employee, employer and union clients on similar issues. Sarah is a creative thinker who has a talent for finding answers in the grey area, and a compassionate listener and speaker. Also, she presents and shares her knowledge on neurodivergence in the workplace to lawyer and non-lawyer audiences.
Languages: English
Harmit Sarai (she/her) is an employment lawyer and workplace investigator with experience investigating complex issues such as discrimination based on race and sex and bullying and harassment. She has conducted investigations in both unionized and non-unionized environments, including secondary and post-secondary institutions. As an employment lawyer, Harmit regularly advises employers and employees about workplace conflict and takes pride in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through her lived experience with diversity, volunteerism with various legal clinic serving groups, and Board work, Harmit brings experience in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. Harmit is a trauma informed investigator and takes a compassionate approach to her work.
Languages: English and Punjabi
Amy Frankel (she/her) has practiced employment and human rights law for over 20 years. As an experienced workplace investigator, she has conducted dozens of investigations for municipalities, school districts, post-secondary institutions, indigenous organizations, health care employers, and private companies in numerous industries. She has also conducted investigations for provincial ministries throughout British Columbia as an appointed workplace investigator for the BC Public Service Agency. Amy also conducts workplace assessments and provides workplace investigation training. Her formal training includes investigation best practices, credibility assessment, unconscious bias, and trauma-informed investigation. Amy strives to minimize negative impacts by using a compassionate, transparent approach to help participants feel heard and supported throughout the investigation process.
Languages: English
Sara Forte (she/her) is the founder of Forte Workplace Law and an experienced mediator and investigator. Sara has conducted workplace investigations in the healthcare, post-secondary, K-12 education, and manufacturing industries. All of Sara’s work is centered in a trauma-informed approach and she engages in ongoing learning to increase her cultural competency. With an extensive background in labour law on both the union and management side, Sara has been retained jointly for investigations by unions and employers and is a rostered investigator in a provincial collective agreement.
Languages: English
Adele Burchart (she/her) is an employment and human rights litigation lawyer with lived experience as a racialized professional. She advises both employers and employees in navigating complex workplace disputes, including matters involving sexual harassment, bullying, performance management, attendance and disability management, discipline and terminations, and discrimination. Adele also acts for complainants who advance and respondents who face serious allegations that are investigated, and she has investigated allegations of bullying and harassment, disrespectful conduct, and discrimination. Adele’s experiences have provided for a nuanced understanding of organizational dynamics and of the broader social contexts in which workplace conflict occurs. She brings a critical and informed lens to her work as a workplace investigator, and her breadth of experience enables her to conduct investigations with empathy, procedural fairness, and a commitment to restorative principles.
Languages: English