Lorene Schaefer

Meeting of March 20, 2013 - Development of a Quality Control Plan for Private Sector Investigations and Conciliations

Lorene F. Schaefer, Esq. is a full-time workplace neutral. At Workplace Investigations Group, she conducts impartial investigations nationwide and delivers training on how to conduct an effective investigation. She is also a mediator with One Mediation, Inc. and a charter member of the Association of Workplace Investigators, Inc. and on the faculty of its national training institute.

Prior to beginning her full-time neutral practice, Lorene represented both employees and employers. On the employer side of the bar, she was in private practice before becoming in-house counsel for the General Electric Company where she worked for 14 years in a number of roles, including General Counsel of GE's Transportation business in Erie, PA and Senior Labor & Employment Counsel at GE's Energy business in Atlanta, GA and GE's Healthcare business in Waukesha, WI.  On the employee side of the bar, she not only represented employees in her private practice but she herself served as the named plaintiff in a gender discrimination class action.

Lorene enjoys an excellent reputation with both the plaintiff and defense bars. At GE, she was considered a "thoughtful leader" who "works hard to find 'win-win' solutions" and "stands up for what is right and fair." David Sanford, a partner at the national plaintiff's firm of Sanford & Heisler LLP, describes Lorene as an "incredibly talented, conscientious and driven attorney. Her attention to detail and relentless pursuit of justice, coupled with her dual perspective as both a former in-house counsel for GE and a plaintiff, make her ideally suited as a mediator. I would highly recommend to both sides of the bar." 

Lorene's unique background, leadership and ability to establish trust and confidence in the integrity of the investigative and mediation processes has led to the successful resolution of many situations and assisted in avoiding costly litigation.

Lorene blogs regularly at www.WinWinHR.com and is a trusted media resource providing a balanced perspective on workplace issues to various media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Corporate Counsel, Inside Counsel and Business Insurance.