Read Lauren’s Back Story
WHAT SHE’S KNOWN FOR
Lauren epitomizes (and developed) our slogan: forward thinking at work.
When she founded the firm in 1995, she set out to provide proactive employment law and HR advisory services, and to always stay ahead of the curve. She’s been providing innovative (and entertaining) training programs ever since; was the first lawyer to speak to her peers about workplace bullying at a Law Society conference many years ago; and has been conducting workplace investigations for more than 20 years.
Lauren works with employers in both the public and private sector and has developed a particular niche working with municipalities, municipal councils and emergency services.
PRACTICE AREAS
Lauren conducts workplace training and has trained thousands of individuals on a wide range of topics including:
- Respect in the Workplace training
- workplace management training including hiring, managing, accommodating and terminating employees
- creating positive and psychologically safe workplaces
- resolving dysfunctional teams
- one-on-one sensitivity training
- HR management advisory services
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A prolific writer, Lauren is the author of a leading book on workplace policies: “Powerful Employment Policies” and the simple-to-use hiring guide: “Recruitment Workbook & Disk”. Lauren has also written numerous articles on human resource law for various business publications, including acting as the legal columnist for Canadian Manager magazine for eight years, and writing for the Canadian HR Reporter, CCH Publications and Canadian Employment Law Today.
Lauren’s expertise has been quoted in the Toronto Star and the National Post and she has been a sought-out guest expert on CBC Radio’s Ontario Today.
Lauren has been described as an “exceptional speaker who explains the law in terms that everyone can understand” and has trained thousands of individuals on workplace issues. For a complete list of Lauren’s presentations, please click here.
INTERESTING TIDBIT
Lauren climbed Croagh Patrick in Ireland, ziplined in Costa Rica and flew a glider plane. Lest you think she’s fearless, she cried up (and down) Croagh Patrick, screamed from one end of the zipline to the other, and hyperventilated all 10 seconds she flew the plane.
And she’s terrified of heights.
Read Lauren’s Bio
Lauren had her first client when she was in grade 2. His name was Steven and she defended him from a woman who accused him of throwing snowballs at her sons. When the mother tried to accost Steven, Lauren stepped in and pointed out that the woman’s “innocent” sons had thrown snowballs at Steven the day before…with rocks in them. Stunned by the defiance of an eight-year old girl with frizzy hair, the mother retreated…and Lauren won her first case.
It was a theme in her life, with teachers, employers and family members worn out by protracted negotiations with a passionate young girl ultimately sighing and saying, “you should be a lawyer”. And so she is.
Lauren’s father’s career was spent as director of labour relations for the City of Sault Ste. Marie and she spent her youth learning about workplace issues. Now her older sister and brother have careers in human resources, while Lauren took the legal path.
In 1995 Lauren started the firm with no clients and very little experience in employment law. She set up her office in a spare room with a table, computer and a hard, wooden dining room chair. She spent four months immersed in a small business start-up program learning everything from business planning to marketing to financial management, while at the same time learning as much as she could about employment law.
She loved every minute of it; and still does. Running a business and being a lawyer are equally challenging and rewarding and she has since helped develop Bernardi Human Resource Law into a well-respected and innovative human resources law firm. Lauren’s enthusiasm and drive infuse every aspect of the firm and its ongoing growth.
Lauren feels incredibly blessed to enjoy a career that is rewarding, interesting and, at times, really funny.
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