Claim names managing partner Conan Taylor, whose other firm settled a human rights complaint months earlier
A former paralegal at a Vancouver family law boutique has sued the firm, its managing partner, and a lawyer she reported to, alleging that the lawyer harassed her, the managing partner berated her, and she was wrongfully dismissed.
The claim comes months after another firm led by the same managing partner, Conan Taylor, settled a human rights complaint brought by a former associate.
None of the allegations in either matter has been proven.
Taylor, based in Edmonton, is the founding and managing partner of both Spectrum Family Law LLP and Taylor Janis LLP, which have offices across Alberta and BC.
In August 2026, Lia Holberg filed a wrongful dismissal claim against Spectrum, Taylor and Kitt Perrick, a lawyer to whom she reported directly, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, seeking damages. Kathryn Marshall, founder of Toronto employment law firm Marshall Law, represents her.
Kathryn Marshall
Spectrum hired Holberg in May 2024, and she worked there for almost a year. The claim alleges that Perrick “engaged in persistent and escalating harassing behaviours,” including intrusive questions, repeated invitations to dinner and drinks, a demand for 24/7 availability, and “ongoing, nonconsensual personal contact.”
Holberg “reported this behaviour frequently to Taylor” and to her direct manager. When confronted with this “inappropriate conduct,” Perrick “escalated” the harassment. He called her names, increased the “frequency of unsolicited messages in a blatant breach of Spectrum’s Cell Phone Policy,” and invited her on a camping trip, the claim alleges.
The behaviour allegedly “intensified to the point that Ms. Holberg felt compelled to break her lease and move back in with her partner for her own safety.”
In August 2024, Holberg told Taylor she could no longer work with Perrick, but she continued to receive assignments on matters involving him. Spectrum eventually terminated Perrick, citing his treatment of Holberg as one reason.
Before Perrick left, Taylor came to Holberg’s office “unannounced and proceeded to scream at Ms. Holberg, berate her, and reduce her to tears.” He then ordered her to help Perrick pack up his belongings.
Holberg began a medical leave a few weeks later on her doctor’s recommendation. When she returned after about a month, she “felt unwelcome and scrutinized for taking a leave she was rightfully entitled to,” she claimed. Her relationship with her manager, previously a “positive” one, deteriorated, and at one point she spent a day at her desk with “no work and no explanation.”
Taylor “abruptly terminated” Holberg in April 2025.
The earlier matter involved Taylor Janis, who terminated Sophie Purnell, a Black associate, in November 2022. Purnell, also represented by Marshall, filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission against Taylor and the firm, alleging race- and gender-based discrimination.
Purnell alleged that the firm’s leadership failed to “ensure a safe and racism free workplace” and to protect her from a “targeted campaign of harassment and bullying.” She also alleged that Taylor responded to her complaints with demeaning comments that amounted to gender-based discrimination.
The complaint was not adjudicated; it settled in April 2026. The settlement included a public statement in which Taylor Janis offered its “sincere apology” for any “negative experience” Purnell had at the firm.
“We acknowledge that our response when concerns involving discrimination were raised could have been managed better, and we regret any negative impact on Ms. Purnell,” the statement said. “We are committed to learning from this experience and to improving our equity, diversity and inclusion policies and practices.”
Marshall says the Purnell case and the public apology are significant.
“My client stood up for herself, which is unusual for a Black lawyer,” she says, adding that Purnell hopes others can learn from the case.
She says the issues in both cases are systemic.
“Some lawyers believe they can get away with this type of behaviour, including bullying and abusive conduct, because they think they are above the law,” she says.
“More generally, younger lawyers are socialized to accept the abusive conduct and are deterred from complaining. That has allowed people in the legal industry to get away with it for decades, but fortunately, things seem to be changing.”
Canadian Lawyer contacted Taylor for comment, but he did not respond.
