Catherine Phelps

About Catherine Phelps

Ontario employers bring Catherine Phelps the whole spread of workplace problems: a termination to get right, a grievance, a human rights complaint, an employment contract or a policy that needs drafting. A senior associate at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti, working with the firm's Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo offices, Catherine also steps into a different role when a complaint surfaces inside an organization. Employers hire Catherine as a neutral outside investigator to look into claims of harassment, discrimination or misconduct.

Western University is where Catherine's legal path began. The law degree came with distinction in 2019, along with the Law Society of Upper Canada Prize for academic achievement, and the final year included a semester abroad at the University of Copenhagen. After articling at a national full-service firm, Catherine was called to the Ontario bar in 2020, kept practising there, and moved to Filion in 2022.

Catherine's work has reached the Supreme Court of Canada. Together with Evan Campbell, Catherine acted for VuPoint System Ltd. when Alan Croke sought leave to appeal a 2024 Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling, and the Court dismissed the application with costs that December. Teaching is part of the picture too: Queen's Professional Master of Industrial Relations program has brought Catherine in as a guest lecturer, and Ontario Bar Association labour and employment programs have put Catherine on panels reviewing new case law.

Away from client files, Catherine sits on the board of Community Veterinary Outreach, a registered charity that cares for people who are homeless and their pets together, and volunteers on the HRPA's Western Chapter Council.