Administration Management and HR Team

Tanya Postma, Chief Administrative Officer
519-837-2100 ext. 330
tpostma@svlaw.ca

In her role as Chief Administrative Officer, Tanya is responsible for making the day-to-day operations of both the Guelph and Fergus/Elora law offices run smoothly, properly and efficiently.

Originally from Kitchener, Tanya obtained her CHRL designation bringing a comprehensive background in Human Resources Management to the firm. Reporting directly to the Managing Partner and the Executive Committee of SV Law, Tanya supervises a team of Accounting, Human Resources, IT and Administration staff who report directly to her and administers various operational and human resources duties for over 75 law clerks and assistants. Since joining the firm in 2011, one of her primary responsibilities is implementing the strategic direction of the firm and is also accountable for overseeing Human Resources, Administration, Finance, IT, and Facilities Management.

Outside of the office, Tanya loves to travel and has given back to the community through volunteer work including over 20 years involvement with the Children’s Wish Foundation.

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  Cadence Listhaeghe, HR Generalist
  519-837-2100 ext. 346
  clisthaeghe@svlaw.ca

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  Yvonne Clarke, HRBP: Organizational and Development Specialist
  519-837-2100 ext. 266
  yclarke@svlaw.ca

Yvonne is SV Law’s HR Business Partner. With a passion for aligning HR strategies with business objectives, Yvonne brings over a decade of experience in HR management.

Her scope of responsibilities encompasses orchestrating seamless onboarding experiences, nurturing professional development pathways for both new recruits and seasoned team members, and collaborating closely with different practice groups to understand their goals, challenges, and staffing needs. Yvonne is committed to supporting HR initiatives that promote employee well-being and organizational success.

Prior to joining SV Law, Yvonne held the position of Human Resource Manager at law firm in Waterloo managing the day-to-day operations. Her academic journey led her to the University of Guelph, where she pursued her studies in Human Resource Management.

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Teresa McDermott, Office Services, Payroll & Benefits Administrator
519-837-2100 ext. 317
tmcdermott@svlaw.ca

Teresa is SV Law’s Office Services, Payroll & Benefits Administrator and part of the Human Resources Team reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer.  Teresa’s role has grown over the last 10 years with the firm and is responsible for maintaining the Guelph and Elora offices, benefit administration and payroll among many other services.  Teresa has a “can do” approach to requests and is essential in making sure that the offices are running smoothly.  Teresa also sits on many of SV Law’s internal committees and prides herself in working with a great team!

Teresa has had previous years of working within a law firm prior to joining SV Law’s team in 2014.  Teresa’s position has transformed into a very diverse and busy position working closely with the Human Resources Team.

When not in the office, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family, fishing and playing with her 2 four-legged children.

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Chris Riley, Information System Manager 
519-837-2100 ext. 337
criley@svlaw.ca

Chris is SV Law’s Information System Manager, supporting the Guelph and Elora offices. Chris is responsible for all firm IT systems and technical operations, (network, telecommunications, hardware/software) and IT security. He has been a part of our team since 2019 and strives to keep our technical operations running smoothly.

Chris has been an IT professional for 23 years, 17 years in legal work, and worked for a Cloud service provider for three years prior to joining SV Law. Chris has a BA from York University and earned multiple IT certifications, the most recent being the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.

When outside the office, Chris enjoys spending time with his fiancé and is a big fan of the Toronto Raptors and Buffalo Bills. He also likes to cook and host friends and family for a barbeque.

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Hayley Kenn, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
519-837-2100 ext. 257
hkenn@svlaw.ca

Hayley is SV Law's Marketing and Communications Coordinator, reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer. Her responsibilities include managing SV Law's social media presence, maintaining relationships with local media and business contacts, presenting internal and external communication strategies, and developing marketing and communications plans to promote the SV brand.

Hayley has extensive marketing experience, having worked as a Marketing Coordinator for a large firm in Barrie and through her freelance work. Hayley graduated from Georgian College in 2020 with a diploma in Marketing and Advertising Communications.

When Hayley is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets, attending concerts, and relaxing at her cottage.

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Gabrielle Walker, Director of Professional Development and Resources (she/her/elle)

519-837-2100 ext. 345
gwalker@svlaw.ca

Gabrielle is SV Law’s Director of Professional Development and Resources, reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer.  Gabrielle is responsible for overseeing the firm’s law student and lawyer professional development initiatives.  She focuses on recruitment, onboarding, performance and practice management, and engagement.  Gabrielle strives to provide ongoing and holistic support to law students and lawyers and to foster an inclusive and welcoming firm environment.

Prior to joining SV Law, Gabrielle practised as In-House Legal Counsel at a national health and dental benefits provider.  She holds a BA from St. Francis Xavier University, a JD from the Faculté de droit of the Université de Moncton, and an LLM in Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.  She was called to the Ontario bar in 2019.

Outside of the office, Gabrielle enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and two dogs.  She also enjoys reading, listening to live music, snowboarding, and discovering local community events.