About Us Lawyers mediators Ottawa Cornwall Pembroke
Law and real-world experience, applied to practical solutions
Joanne and Karen bring deep experience in law, mediation, and public systems to their work with families.
Joanne Roulston, MSW, JD
Lawyer, accredited mediator (ADRIO), registered social worker, and former federal government executive.
Joanne works at the intersection of family law, coercive control, and social policy, with particular expertise in child and family relations, income security, and public systems.
Joanne is a nationally recognized expert in family and children’s policy and income security. She has testified before parliamentary committees and served as an OECD national expert on children’s programming.
Joanne is a former federal executive with extensive experience in policy, research, and program evaluation, including managing complex projects, human resources, and government contracting.
She is a part-time professor of social work at Carleton University and an experienced teacher and facilitator.
Selected roles and contributions:
- Co-Chair, Expert Panel on Income Security, Council on Aging of Ottawa
- Former Vice-President, Ontario Association of Family Mediators (Ottawa Chapter)
- Board member and scientific advisor, Canadian Institute for Child Health (1992–2019)
- Director, National Council of Welfare
- Director, Corporate Evaluation, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Executive member, Union-Management Consultation Committee during federal Deficit Reduction Action Plan
- Former child protection social worker
Karen Farnsworth, Certified Gladue Writer, JD
Lawyer, mediator, Royal Canadian Navy veteran, military spouse & parent
Karen is a certified Gladue Writer with expertise in Indigenous legal matters.
As a member of the Canadian military community, Karen brings a knowledge of the particular challenges of members & their families in navigating pensions & benefits for members & veterans. Karen works with military families on family matters with a depth of understanding & practicality.