Maria established Gergin Phillips Investigations after more than ten years of practice as an employment lawyer at a full-service Canadian law firm in Toronto.
Maria's extensive experience advising and representing clients across the retail, education, health care, professional services, financial services, manufacturing, design, and technology sectors allow her to bring to her investigative process an understanding of the context in which her clients operate. Maria's experience as a litigator at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal and the Ontario Labour Relations Board also allows her to conduct investigations through the lens of assessing legal claim risk and seeing the greater picture. This means that the investigations Maria conducts are informed by an awareness of organizations' legal obligations, as well as the legal principles relating to evidence and procedural fairness. Maria's certification from the Canadian Mental Health Association as an expert in the management and promotion of workplace mental health, as well as her specialized training in trauma-informed investigations allow Maria to conduct effective investigations of complaints which require extra sensitivity and skill. Maria frequently speaks and provides training to Human Resources professionals and senior staff relating to workplace investigations, workplace conflict and workplace mental health, including at the Human Resources Professionals Association, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development programs, and Lancaster House. |
Maria's Qualifications and Memberships
- J.D., University of Ottawa
- M.A., Carleton University
- B.A. (Hons.), University of Toronto
- Graduate of Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations | Employee Internal Investigations Course
- Certified Canadian Mental Health Association Psychological Health and Safety Advisor
- Member of the Association of Workplace Investigators
- Member of the Ontario Bar Association
- Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario