Rebecca Speer, Senior Advisor, Legal and Investigations

Rebecca Speer’s professional activities place her on the leading edge of today’s workplace issues.   She applies over twenty-one years of legal and investigative experience to her unique work with a wide range of private and public-sector organizations.  She assists clients with the prevention and management of workplace violence and other forms of disruptive behavior; the effective and proper investigation of suspected employee misconduct; and the successful handling of other employment-law related issues, with a focus on employee behavioral and disciplinary matters, internal complaint resolution, and employer liability.  

 Ms. Speer is a nationally-recognized expert in the area of workplace violence prevention.  In 2001, she was designated by the U.S. Department of Labor as a U.S. Representative to a Tri-National Conference on Violence as a Workplace Risk.  In 2002, she testified before Congress at a hearing entitled “Examining the Need for Greater Workplace Security and the Control of Workplace Violence.” In 2003, she participated in a groundbreaking working group established by the FBI, resulting in the publication of Workplace Violence:  Issues in Response.  She also participated in a Joint Working Group on Workplace Violence led by the Special Operations Division of the San Francisco Police Department focused on improving the private sector-emergency responder interface during critical incidents.  In 2005, Ms. Speer chaired a national committee convened by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) to successfully develop a Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Guideline.  In 2009, she again was selected to chair a national committee assembled by ASIS and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) to devise an American National Standard for Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention.  Through her efforts, the American Bar Association in 1998 unanimously adopted a formal policy encouraging employers to proactively address workplace violence. 

In addition, Ms. Speer is a sought-after speaker and has taught extensively concerning workplace investigations.  With a particular emphasis on allegations affecting senior and executive management, she conducts numerous investigations addressing alleged ethical breaches; abusive management; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; assault and other physical impropriety; neglect of duties; and other misconduct. 

Ms. Speer is a graduate of Stanford University and the Santa Clara University School of Law.  She is a member of the State Bar of California and of several Legal, Human Resources, and Security organizations.