Advisory

Advisory

Richards Advocacy provides advisory services to a variety of clients including non-profit corporations, educational institutions, camp organizations, and policyholders. Our advisory services includes advice on risk management, conduct issues, complaint process and procedures, managing litigation, and insurance coverage advice.

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Investigations

Investigations

External investigations need to be done right! Richards Advocacy has expertise conducting external workplace investigations on complaints of sexual and gender-based violence, harassment, discrimination, civility, fraud, and research integrity for companies, universities, colleges and camps across Canada.

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Litigation

Litigation

Richards Advocacy has 20 years of litigation experience. We are passionate legal professionals and work hard to resolve disputes. Our practice includes civil and commercial litigation with particular expertise in lawsuits involving insurance, subrogation, professional negligence, breach of contract, and sexual misconduct.

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Advisory

Richards Advocacy provides advisory services on policies, procedures, contemplated litigation, risk management and insurance.

Advisory

Richards Advocacy provides advisory services to a variety of clients on issues ranging from institutional risk management, policies and procedures for conduct-related concerns, insurance claims handling, insurance coverage review, and managing the intersection between potential litigation, criminal proceedings, and the maintenance of corporate records. Our team of lawyers has extensive experience navigating issues of risk, contract review, and assessing steps in contemplation of litigation. Our clients trust our advice and assessments.

Our advisory services are broad and connected to the depth of our expertise, developed over 20+ years in the industry.

Richards Advocacy is regularly consulted by policyholders and insurers on coverage issues and has a particular expertise in assessing the duty to defend, assessing coverage issues related to commercial and residential property claims, and providing opinions on bad faith claims.

Richards Advocacy is also regularly consulted by non-profits and camp organizations on policies and procedures for navigating conduct-related concerns, particularly as it relates to incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.

Investigations

Richards Advocacy is regularly retained as external investigators on conduct-related complaints for organizations across Canada.

Investigations

Uncovering the relevant facts and providing an independent and timely report is critical to investigations.  

Richards Advocacy is regularly retained by companies, regulators, universities, colleges, and camp operators to conduct external investigations on complaints made under professional conduct policies, harassment and discrimination policies, sexual and gender-based violence policies, civility policies, collective agreements, and research integrity policies. Our investigative experience includes unionized and non-unionized workplaces, coaches, athletes, physicians, tenured faculty, and students. Richards Advocacy’s investigative work extends across Canada, servicing clients in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.  

The firm also conducts sports investigations. Ashley and Ivana are on the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC)’s roster of independent investigators. These complaints include issues and conduct that span many sporting environments across Canada.

Our team’s expertise is extensive and includes prior work experience investigating at regulatory colleges and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.  We are members of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), and Ivana Bozinovoic has completed her certificate training with this organization.  

All of our investigations are conducted with procedural fairness and a trauma-informed perspective and approach.

External Investigations

Richards Advocacy’s approach to external investigations starts with defining a clear scope and mandate for the investigation, and providing all involved parties with a framework for the investigation.  Ensuring that everyone understands the process to the investigation is important.  Our Investigators also ensure that their investigations are thorough –  gathering all the facts and relevant documents early in the process and following up on additional facts and evidence, as needed.

Richards Advocacy applies a trauma-informed approach to their investigations while ensuring fairness, due process, and transparency throughout the investigation.  Our Investigators approach all investigations with the same purpose – to independently investigate the facts, assess credibility, and ensure a fair and complete review.

The Investigators at Richards Advocacy are trained lawyers and members of the Canadian Chapter of the Association of Workplace Investigators (CAWI).

Complaint & Investigation Support

Richards Advocacy can provide legal support and assistance to individuals under investigation, or to individuals seeking to bring a complaint forward, at their place of employment or academic institution.  We are lawyers who are also trained investigators and understand how to support an investigative process and prepare individuals for interviews and hearings.  Complaint-based investigations are different than civil litigation processes. Engaging with a lawyer who understands these processes will ensure that you are better prepared for the complaint and interview process.

We can also assist with appeals of decisions that have been made following the results of an investigation and reviewing the investigative process for fairness and transparency.

Workplace Assessments

Sometimes a complaint identifies a broader systemic issue, system or process that is not linked to any one individual but to a department, or group within an organization.  Often these complaints speak to a toxic workplace environment, or a systemic issue triggering a Human Rights Code-based complaint.  Richards Advocacy has experience with investigations of this nature, and can investigate these issues in a fulsome manner, providing a comprehensive report that assists employers with resolving the complaint, and instituting better practices to ensure a civil and non-discriminatory workplace.  Workplace assessments can also stem from an anonymous complaint(s).  The investigators at Richards Advocacy are trained lawyers who understand complex workplace environments and can assist with these complaint-based assessments.

Prima Facie Assessments

Richards Advocacy also has expertise with conducting prima facie assessments of concerns or issues that arise in a workplace or academic setting. In these scenarios, individuals may report concerns or issues to a manager, supervisor, academic professor or Dean, and it can be unclear if these concerns/issues constitute a formal complaint.  Richards Advocacy has been retained to assess these scenarios and provide an assessment as to whether the concerns/issues give rise to a complaint that should be investigated under workplace or academic policies.

Litigation

Richards Advocacy has a team of experienced lawyers and law clerks who work hard to resolve legal disputes.

Litigation

Richards Advocacy has a team of experienced civil and commercial litigators to service their clients.  Our team applies passion and expertise to every litigation file they handle.  

Richards Advocacy has specific expertise in lawsuits involving negligence, breach of contract, professional negligence, sexual misconduct and commercial and residential property claims.

The firm has experience supporting both individual clients and institutions as they navigate civil and commercial litigation. The firm regularly acts as counsel to non-profit corporations, individuals, small and mid-sized companies, insurers, policyholders, and camp organizations. Founder and Managing Partner, Ashley Richards, has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Partner, Ivana Bozinovic, has appeared at the Ontario Superior Court and Ontario Court of Appeal.

Richards Advocacy also has experience bringing subrogated property claims for insurers in Ontario. Our team handles subrogated claims in areas such as fire loss, water damage, professional negligence and oil spills. Richards Advocacy applies their advocacy skills to every subrogation file and works hard to efficiently resolve each matter. Quick recovery on subrogated matters is always our goal.

How is Richards Advocacy different than other law firms?

Richards Advocacy understands the facts first.

Understanding all of the issues in a lawsuit is critical to successful litigation – interviewing witnesses, finding and reviewing all relevant documents, taking time to understand the facts, context and personalities involved, is important to successfully litigating a lawsuit.

Richards Advocacy will tell you what they think.

Litigation is emotional. Whether you are a private client or an institutional client, if litigation has resulted, something has gone wrong. Hiring a lawyer means hiring someone who can help. It’s not helpful if your lawyer just advances your position, without taking time to really assess the facts, context and the law.  Our team works hard to understand what happened, when, and what are the possible outcomes of litigation – what can we predict and what we can’t.

Richards Advocacy works hard to efficiently resolve lawsuits.

Litigation can be expensive and long. Our team works hard to avoid delays, push matters forward and try to efficiently resolve disputes. Richards Advocacy believes clients are better served if litigation moves forward – too often a litigation file sits and is inactive for long periods of time. Our team always strives to move matters forward to get them resolved.

Conferences & Training

Richards Advocacy is committed to advancing our knowledge and skills through participating in conferences and ongoing training. 

Conferences & Training

2025 Conferences & Training

2025 Conferences

Ashley was a guest speaker for the Canadian Association of College & University Student Service’s annual program, the Student Conduct Institute, on January 23, 2025.  Ashley spoke about key issues and procedural concerns in complex student complaints and investigations.

Ashley & Ivana attended the Ontario Camp Association’s annual conference, OCA Connects 2025, in Markham, Ontario on February 12, 2025.  They were invited guest speakers and spoke about the importance of policies and procedures when dealing with staff and camper conduct concerns.

Ashley was an invited panelist for Osgoode Professional Development’s bi-annual program, Responding to On Campus Sexual Violence Complaints.  Ashley’s panel spoke on Investigative Procedures & Findings on day two of the program (February 20, 2025).

Richards Advocacy was a sponsor for Housing Service Corporation’s conference, the Regeneration Forum, held at the Westin Hotel in Toronto on February 27 and 28, 2025.

2025 Training

Ashley, Ivana & Nicole attended the Civil Litigator’s Guide to Evidence on January 22, 2025.

2024 Conferences & Training

2024 Conferences

Ashley & Ivana were speakers and attendees at the Ontario Camps Association annual conference, OCA Connects 2024. This two day conference was held in Markham on February 14 – 15, 2024. Ashley & Ivana presented on Best Practices for Communication with Parents, Managing Camper Misconduct & Dealing with Incidents.

Ashley was a speaker for the session: A Model Human Rights Policy for the Osgoode Certificate in Human Rights Theory & Practice on May 7, 2024.

Ashley & Ivana attended the annual conference for the Canadian Association of University Solicitors, held in Montreal, on May 30th to June 2nd. Richards Advocacy was a sponsor of the three day event which brought together in-house counsel and external lawyers working in post-secondary education. 

Ashley attended the annual conference for the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education, held in Ottawa, on June 24th to June 26th.

Ashley was the Chair for the annual Women’s Caucus Retreat, hosted by the Canadian Defence Lawyer’s Association. The retreat was held on November 1st to 3rd, 2025, in Niagara. The retreat focused on issues of gender inequities in the legal /insurance profession, and the success of leading female practitioners and industry panelists.  

2024 Training

Jayashree attended the AWI Workplace Investigations Basics Virtual Seminar Series in June 2024.

2023 Conferences & Training

2023 Conferences

Ashley attended the Women In Law Summit on February 16, 2023 in Toronto, hosted by Canadian Lawyer.

Ashley, Jayashree & Tali attended CDL’s 19th Annual Insurance Coverage Symposium on April 28, 2023, in Toronto. Ashley was a speaker at the conference and presented a trend analysis on the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2010 decision, Progressive Homes.

Ashley attended the Canadian Association of University Solicitor’s Annual Conference on June 8 to 10, 2023, in Calgary, Alberta.

Ashley attended the 2023 AWI Annual Conference from October 4-6, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ashley was a panelist at the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services for a fireside chat on: Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, Trauma Informed Practices and Mental Health as it impacts the student conduct process in post-secondary spaces on November 2, 2023.

Ashley, Tali and Jayashree attended CDL’s Women’s Caucus Retreat at Niagara-on-the-Lake from November 3rd to 5th.

2023 Training

Ashley presented a training seminar on the Legal Implications of Notetaking to the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services on March 29, 2023. Copies of the presentation are available upon request.

Jayashree & Tali attended Osgoode Professional Development’s annual conference on Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues, on February 27, 2023.

Jayashree attended CDL’s training program on Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in the Justice System, on April 5, 2023.

Tali attended Osgoode Professional Development’s training program on Privacy and Information Management in Healthcare, on May 4, 2023.

Jayashree & Tali attended the Nuts and Bolts of Examinations for Discovery, provided by the Law Society of Ontario, on June 1, 2023.

2022 Conferences & Training

2022 Conferences 

Ashley attended TMU’s conference celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Human Rights Code on June 23, 2022.

Ashley attended CDL’s annual Insurance Coverage Symposium on June 13, 2022.

Ashley attended the CAUS Annual Conference in Halifax on June 9th to 12th, and presented on her experience as a post-secondary external investigator.

Ashley & Ivana attended the Advocates’ Society’s conference on The Art of Settlement on April 12, 2022.

Ashley attended AWI’s conference on Investigators Best Practices from a Litigator’s Lens, on April 14, 2022.

Ashley attended the OBA’s conference on Responding to Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault in the Education System, on March 31, 2022.

Ashley attended the first bi-annual women’s law retreat hosted by the Canadian Defence Lawyer’s Association’s Women’s Caucus  in October, 2022.  Ashley was an organizing member of the Women’s Caucus and moderated a panel discussion on current trends in the insurance industry.

Ashley & Ivana attended Osgoode’s intensive course in “Responding to Campus Sexual Violence” on October 31st, November 1st, November 14th and 15th, 2022.  Ashley was an invited faculty member and spoke in a panel discussion on making findings of misconduct.

2022 Training

Ivana attended AWI’s Training Institute from June 13th to June 17th, to obtain her AWI Certificate in Investigations.

Insights

Careers

We are always interested in hearing from lawyers who are looking for a change!

Careers

We are always interested in hearing from lawyers who are looking for a change! Come talk to us about our practice and how our workplace may be a great fit for what you are looking for in a career!

Areas of practice that would be a compliment to what we do: regulatory discipline, complaints and investigations; human rights law; insurance coverage, professional negligence defence, and workplace investigations.

Contact Details

Contact Details

Richards Advocacy Professional Corporation
3 Church Street
Suite 500
Toronto, ON M5E 1M2

Ashley Richards: arichards@richardsadvocacy.com
Ivana Bozinovic: ibozinovic@richardsadvocacy.com
Meghan Cavanagh mcavanagh@richardsadvocacy.com
Nicole D’Alessandro ndalessandro@richardsadvocacy.com
Jennifer Cashmore jcashmore@richardsadvocacy.com
Sarah Malik smalik@richardsadvocacy.com

Richards Advocacy
Suite 5700, 100 King Street West
First Canadian Place
Toronto, ON M5X 1C7

Ashley Richards:
arichards@richardsadvocacy.com

Ivana Bozinovic:
ibozinovic@richardsadvocacy.com

Jennifer Cashmore:
jcashmore@richardsadvocacy.com

Jayashree Sivakumar:
jsivakumar@richardsadvocacy.com

Tali Borges:
tborges@richardsadvocacy.com