Darlene is trained as a mediator, arbitrator and collaborative lawyer and has done an extensive amount of mediation including in family matters, employment matters and general civil matters.  Darlene's legal and practical experience in working with estate files,  business law matters in family disputes, and general transactional work is of benefit to parties in mediation where estates and/or corporate interests are involved.  Darlene is a member of the ADR Institute of Canada, Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch, Alternative Dispute Resolution North Section, and is recognized as a qualified family mediator by the Ministry of Justice, Government of Saskatchewan, Early Family Dispute Resolution for purposes of section 44.01 of The Queen's Bench Act. 

Darlene’s experience and background includes serving as a full time mediator with the Ministry of Justice, Dispute Resolution office where she served as mediator in family law files and non-family civil actions as part of the mandatory civil mediaton process in Saskatchewan.

A partner with Robertson Stromberg LLP, Darlene maintains a general practise  including employment law, estate work,  commercial transactions, mediation (both family and general), and conducting adjudications in respect of occupational health and safety matters under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

Darlene acts as counsel for clients in employment law, including preparing employment contracts, advising on employer and employee rights and responsibilities, human rights proceedings, and workplace harassment matters. She has experience in closing complex commercial transactions, negotiating and preparing  multi-party agreements in transactional work and settlement agreements in litigation disputes, and  doing what needs to be done to move these legal matters to successful conclusion and resolution.

• Darlene received her Bachelor of Law (With Distinction)  and was called to the Saskatchewan bar in 1993, receiving the Academic Excellence Award for the highest standing on the exam that year. 
• Darlene is trained as a mediator, facilitator, and collaborative lawyer.  Mediation skills and training include basic mediation training recognized by the Law Society of Saskatchewan (1998), Advanced Mediation training in civil disputes (Legal Education Society of Alberta), Collaborative Lawyers Interest based negotiation training, Collaborative Law Process training and Advanced training, training in dealing with high conflict parties in legal disputes, and attendance at many ADR focused seminars and workshops over the years.
• Darlene is a qualfiied arbitrator and holds a Q.Arb. designation with ADR Institute of Canada.
• Darlene's holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, achieving majors in finance, marketing and general business from the University of Saskatchewan.

• In 2012 Darlene was appointed as an Adjudicator under The Saskatchewan Employment Act in respect of matters involving occupational health and safety matters, including harassment, in the workplace.  In this role she mediates and adjudicates the appeal of decisions by employers or employees made by the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
• In addition to her work with clients, Darlene has offered her expertise in mediation and ADR to law students at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law as a presenter and coach.
• Darlene served as President of the Saskatoon Estate Planning Council, an association that brings professionals together with expertise in all fields related to estate planning.
• Darlene worked as a mediator with the provincial Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. In this role Darlene mediated family and civil files and facilitated both two party and multi-party disputes. She also participated in the design and delivery of conflict resolution workshops and delivered presentations on family law and other legal topics.
• Darlene is an active member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Bar Association. She is currently Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution North of the Canadian Bar Association.

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