Services

Diane provides practical, focused legal support to unions that need help assessing grievances, managing legal risk, and making informed decisions.

Her work is centred on consulting, file-specific advice, independent legal opinions, and ad hoc ongoing advice through retainer agreements. This support is designed for unions that need targeted legal input rather than carriage of a matter from grievance through arbitration.

Diane can assist unions with:

• reviewing grievances and assessing merit;
• identifying legal risks and evidentiary issues;
• reviewing records, correspondence, investigation materials, and workplace documents;
• helping develop grievance strategy;
• developing legal arguments;
• providing independent legal opinions;
• advising on accommodation, discipline, and discharge issues;
• advising on WorkSafeBC and workers’ compensation matters;
• assessing duty of fair representation concerns;
• advising on privacy obligations, including PIPA compliance;
• developing privacy policies and internal privacy procedures;
• advising on consent practices, record-keeping, and the handling of member information;
• reviewing or developing internal policies;
• advising on governance issues and member-facing processes; and
• helping unions communicate complex legal or procedural issues in clearer language.

Diane understands that unions need advice that is both principled and practical. A grievance may raise important workplace rights, but it still needs to be assessed in light of the evidence, the collective agreement, the applicable law, the workplace context, and the union’s obligations to the membership.

Her role is to help unions understand the strengths and risks of a file, clarify their options, and decide on a practical path forward.

Diane provides practical legal support to non-profits, societies, and community organizations that need clear advice on workplace, privacy, governance, and organizational issues.

Her work is designed for organizations that need focused legal input, help understanding their obligations, or support developing policies and internal processes.

Diane can assist non-profits with:

Workplace issues

• employment contracts and offer letters;
• workplace policies and procedures;
• investigations, including misconduct and harassment concerns; and
• practical advice on managing workplace conflict and legal risk.

Privacy and PIPA compliance

• advice about privacy obligations under PIPA;
• creating or reviewing privacy policies, internal procedures, and retention practices; and
• responding to privacy questions, access requests, or privacy concerns.

Governance and organizational policies

• bylaws, governance policies, and internal procedures;
• board, member-facing, complaints, discipline, and review processes; and
• plain-language policy drafting and review.

Diane understands that non-profits often have to manage legal obligations with limited time, staffing, and resources. Her goal is to provide clear, practical advice that helps organizations understand their responsibilities, reduce risk, and make sound decisions.

Diane provides plain-language advice for employees facing difficult or uncertain workplace situations, and who need help understanding their rights and options.

The services she can offer depend on whether the employee is a union member.

She helps employees who have been:

• injured at work and are dealing with WorkSafeBC;
• drawn into a professional discipline matter with a professional regulatory college;
• dismissed or offered a severance package; or
• asked to sign an employment agreement, release, or other workplace document.

Diane’s role is to help employees understand what is happening, what rights may be engaged, and what options are available.

Because Diane is a member of the Employment Standards Tribunal, she does not advise on the interpretation of the Employment Standards Act, or represent employees at the Employment Standards Branch or Tribunal.