Meet The Team

Leanne M Walsh *

Lawyer, Mediator, Workplace Investigator 

Year of Call

British Columbia, 2000

Education & Training

 

  • 1999 - Bachelor of Laws
    University of British Columbia
  • 1995 Bachelor of Arts
    University of British Columbia
    Sociology Major, First Class Standing
  • Harvard Mediation Intensive, Harvard Law School- Program on Negotiation 
  • Mediation and Conflict Management Training – Legal Education Society of BC – 80 hours Mediation skills training
  • Certificate in Workplace Investigations (AWI-CH) – Association of Workplace Investigators

Memberships & Appointments

  • Government of Canada’s National Roster of Workplace Harassment & Violence Investigators 
  • Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner as an Independent Investigator
  • Canadian Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR)
  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA) - BC Branch
  • Association of Workplace Investigators Member (AWI)

Contributions

  • Past mentor for the Melville School of Business, CPHR, UBC Law among others.
  • She Connects: Supporter and advisor to new non-profit mentorship startup for girls
  • Regular presenter on employment law topics

Leanne M Walsh*

Lawyer, Mediator, Workplace Investigator 

Leanne founded West Coast Workplace Law in 2019 with the goal of creating an employment law firm that is approachable and accessible and remains true to its core value of building better workplaces. She has worked with employers, employees, professionals and unions. Leanne is a member of the Law Society of BC, holds a Workplace Investigator Certificate (AWI-CH) and has a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. She is also a trained Mediator.

Leanne has extensive experience working closely with human resources departments and guiding leaders through all aspects of the employment relationship. She also regularly provides advice and support to professionals and employees on a broad range of workplace issues.

In addition, Leanne regularly acts as a neutral in two different capacities – as mediator and workplace investigator. Leanne mediates a wide range of disputes including employment law, human rights, interpersonal and organizational issues. As an experienced workplace investigator, Leanne has conducted workplace investigations in a variety of workplaces and sectors, including unionized and non-unionized workplaces, the Federally regulated sector, as well as not-for-profit and private sector businesses. 

Leanne is on the Government of Canada’s National Roster of Workplace Harassment and Violence Investigators and was appointed by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) as an independent Investigator and Assessor member of their Investigation Unit and Sport Environment Assessment Unit. She is former Chair of CBA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution section and is the founder and past co-chair of their Workplace Investigation’s section. She is also an AWI member.

Leanne conducts seminars and in-house training on various topics including harassment and discrimination, team-building and leadership.

She believes in the important role of both the formal and informal mentorship in building strong communities.  

*practicing through a law corporation

Brooke Finkelstein

Brooke is an employment lawyer, workplace investigator & trainer, joining West Coast Workplace Law following her articles and work with a large international law firm. Brooke’s passion for advocacy, highly collaborative approach and commitment to clients has made her an important part of the team.

Brooke earned her law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, where she focused on both leadership and service, including taking on roles as president of Dalhousie Law Hour, as Academic Peer Mentor, and as the Gender Representative on the Law Students’ Society Board of Directors.

Brooke believes the workplace should be a positive, productive place to grow and enjoys assisting clients in building better workplaces. She excels at providing legal advice and support to employees, employers and professionals on a full range of workplace law matters, including terminations and discipline, managing the workplace, human rights, as well as interpretation and review of employment agreements and drafting of workplace policies. She has represented clients during mediations and has facilitated early resolution of workplace issues. Brooke also assists clients with workplace investigations and is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation process.

Brooke believes workplace training is essential to a well-functioning workplace and enjoys creating tailored training for groups on topics such as respectful workplace. Brooke also writes on current employment law issues and case law trends.

Brooke is a member of the Law Society of BC and a member of the CBA Employment Law, Human Rights Law, and Workplace Investigations sections. Brooke is an active member of the community in which she lives, including serving as a summer legal intern at Rise Women’s Legal Centre.

Brooke Finkelstein

Associate Lawyer

Year of Call

British Columbia, 2023

Education & Training

  • JD, Dalhousie University 2022                
  • Trauma-Informed Practice Foundations Course Certificate – Justice Institute of BC
  • Workplace Investigations coursework, Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI)

Memberships & Appointments

  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA) - BC Branch -  Workplace Investigation, Employment Law, Human Rights Sections Member
  • Law Society of BC
  • Association of Workplace Investigators Member  (AWI)

Contributions

  • Contributor to HR Reporter publication
  • Contributor to People's Law School

Joanna Zajaczkowski

Legal Assistant & Operations

As a legal assistant with West Coast Workplace Law, Joanna is committed to excellence in everything she does. Her intelligence, positive outlook and exceptional commitment to client care has made her an invaluable part of the team.

Overseeing law firm operations is a core focus for Joanna. Her talent for creative solution finding and her dedication to making ongoing improvements has ensured the firm’s continued growth and success.

Joanna completed her Bachelor of Arts at SFU and joined West Coast Workplace Law following work in tech and client-facing roles with provincial and international companies. As a former national level rhythmic gymnast, Joanna has supported the continued and positive growth of the sport in BC through her volunteer efforts. She is fluent in French, Greek and Polish.

OUR TESTIMONIALS

What Our Clients Say

Helping clients throughout BC build better workplaces

Contact Us

Connect: 604-969-3636

Head Office: 6388 No. 3 Road, Suite 720, Richmond, BC  V6Y 0L4

Our office is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Swx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), QayQayt First Nation, Kwantlen, q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), and Stó:lō Nation.