Lavinia Latham, J.D
Lawyer. Workplace InvestigatorHow to Conduct Legally Compliant Workplace Investigations • Leadership Training • How to Manage Competing Priorities • The Resilient Leader • Inclusive Leadership Development in the Modern Workplace
Areas of Expertise
Lavinia Latham is a dedicated social justice advocate, lawyer, and workplace investigator with a proven track record of advancing equity and fighting systemic discrimination. A 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women honouree, Lavinia is now a named partner at Alphonse Latham LLP, where she specializes in workplace investigations, employment law, and human rights. Lavinia also provides corporate training to businesses and organizations seeking to create respectful, inclusive, and legally compliant workplace environments.
Lavinia’s advocacy journey began during her undergraduate studies at Carleton University, where she raised awareness about injustices impacting Black Canadians. She went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa, serving as the National President of the Black Law Students Association of Canada (BLSAC), where she led national initiatives to support Black law students and youth.
To date, her legal career includes significant human rights litigation, such as obtaining leave to intervene before the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple matters of national importance and successfully challenging mandatory minimum sentencing laws under the Criminal Code of Canada. Lavinia has also held leadership roles promoting human rights and equity within educational institutions, notably as the founding Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA) to the Director of Education at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
In addition to her legal work, Lavinia is a trained film/television actress and has appeared in various commercials as well as the smash-hit, Suits. Lavinia brings her creativity and strong communication skills to her two quickly growing YouTube channels: Fine Natural Hair ROCKS (focused on hair and beauty for Black women) and Lavinia Latham JD (offering legal and socio-legal commentary for aspiring lawyers, businesses, and organizations).
Signature Topics
How to Conduct Legally Compliant Workplace Investigations
Using an engaging and easily digestible approach, this talk walks leaders through the legal and practical steps of conducting workplace investigations that are not only fair—but defensible. Drawing from real-life cases and behind-the-scenes insights as a human rights and employment lawyer, Lavinia empowers HR professionals, executives, and people leaders to handle allegations of misconduct with integrity, confidence, and legal precision.
A Lawyer's Guide to Achieving Success Despite Overwhelming Challenges
Using an engaging storytelling approach, this talk will offer leaders insights from the legal profession on strategies for building resilience, managing stress, staying calm under pressure, and leading their teams to long-lasting success.
A Lawyer's Guide on Time Management & Managing Competing Priorities
This talk will offer leaders proven techniques from the legal profession to manage time more effectively, enhance productivity, and balance competing priorities just like a seasoned attorney.
Inclusive Leadership Development in the Modern Workplace
This session will explore the delicate balance between achieving organizational objectives while upholding human rights and facilitating a respectful workplace environment.
Using a storytelling approach, this talk will offer practical strategies for leaders to achieve exponential success while creating and maintaining a healthy, legally compliant workplace environment.
