Rubin Thomlinson | Insights, News & Articles

Hockey Night in Canada – the verdict is in, prompting a reckoning between criminal and civil evidentiary standards

July 25, 2025 | By Chantel Levy

On July 24, 2025, Justice Maria Carroccia delivered her verdict in the widely followed sexual assault criminal trial in which she considered the actions of five former World Junior hockey players, in relation to a woman, in a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. Justice Carroccia found the accused not guilty, and stated that the woman, referred to as “EM” throughout the trial, was neither credible nor reliable.

C-Suite Investigations: Reflections on investigating allegations against senior leaders

June 25, 2025 | By Elizabeth Bingham

You receive an anonymous complaint through your whistleblowing portal that your CFO is having an affair with a subordinate. Your board receives a complaint that your CEO is creating a toxic work environment. Some of the most challenging complaints for organizations to address are complaints against C-level employees and other members of senior leadership.

How close is close? The RBC case and the emergence of fraternization policies

June 24, 2025 | By Chantel Levy

The Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) made headlines last year when they fired two executives, over allegations of an undisclosed relationship between them that led to preferential treatment. One executive was junior to the other and had received significant promotions and pay increases, allegedly with the other’s influence.

Correcting four misconceptions about trauma-informed workplace investigations

June 19, 2025 | By Dana J. Campbell-Stevens

Being trauma-informed is something that we are hearing quite a lot about in the space of workplace investigations, and rightly so. There is a lot of good conversation happening as employers, investigators, lawyers, human resource personnel, etc., are all starting to understand and appreciate the value and importance of conducting trauma-informed workplace investigations.

Refusée à l’embauche parce qu’elle est trans* : les leçons de l’affaire Bar Lucky 7

June 17, 2025 | By Frédérick J. Doucet

Les droits des personnes trans* subissent des reculs préoccupants à travers le monde. Aux États-Unis, les interdictions visant les personnes trans* se multiplient : restrictions à l’accès aux soins d’affirmation de genre, exclusion des compétitions sportives féminines, interdiction de servir dans l’armée …

Turned away for being trans: What the Bar Lucky 7 case tells us about workplace discrimination

June 17, 2025 | By Frédérick J. Doucet

Trans rights are facing alarming setbacks around the world. In the United States of America, there has been a recent wave of bans targeting trans people: from restricting access to gender-affirming care, to barring participation in women’s sports and military service.

Money, power, & respect: Takeaways from the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as a workplace investigator

June 12, 2025

By the time you read this blog, we will be entering week five of the federal investigation and legal proceedings involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. Side note: Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. For some, this trial may feel like a blockbuster movie—complete with shocking allegations involving guns, drive-by shootings, explosives, and even kidnapping.

Why every workplace investigator should be a case law expert and other lessons from a recent arbitration decision

June 10, 2025 | By Liliane Gingras

As workplace investigators, we always think about the possibility of our work being legally scrutinized: either before a court, tribunal, or arbitrator. While we know that some cases carry greater risks than others, we know that the possibility of a legal challenge exists in every case.

Breathwork for investigators: Enhancing focus, reducing stress, and building resilience

June 5, 2025 | By Heather Shields

Conducting workplace investigations can be tough on investigators. Staying physically and mentally healthy is crucial. I sometimes need help from others. Recently, I visited my athletic therapist, Natasha, for help with a stubborn knot in my shoulder and neck.

“How can we help?” Considering accommodation for persons with disabilities in workplace investigations

May 20, 2025 | By Alison Griggs

In my previous blog post, You Ought to Know? Rethinking the ‘Reasonable Person’ Standard When Disability Is a Factor, I shared my experiences applying the reasonable person standard in investigations where the respondents identified as having cognitive, intellectual, or psychological disabilities that may have affected their ability to understand that their behaviour may be unwelcome.

Serious insight for serious situations.