Daphne Pierre Bishop, AWI-CH

Partner & Chair of Workplace Investigations Group

Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation

Daphne Pierre Bishop, JD, AWI-CH, has been practicing employment law since 2001. During that time, Daphne advised small to Fortune 500 companies in various industries on how to comply with the law, and defended employers against the gamut of employment-related claims ranging from single plaintiff discrimination cases to wage and hour class actions.

Combining her litigation and counseling experience, Daphne’s practice now focuses on conducting and supervising workplace investigations as a neutral third party. Daphne’s clients trust her to investigate high-profi le and complex workplace matters, including “me too” complaints, race discrimination allegations, and toxic workplace claims. When conducting investigations, Daphne is discreet and diplomatic in her evaluation and assessment of both employer and employee conduct, and her extensive experience working with employers and employees provides her with a unique advantage in assisting companies to prevent, uncover, investigate and resolve employee and institutional misconduct. Daphne received a certifi cate from the Association of Workplace Investigators after successfully completing the 2019 Training Institute for Workplace Investigators.

Daphne frequently writes articles, speaks, and conducts trainings on employment issues, including harassment and discrimination. Daphne regularly serves as faculty for AWI’s Training Institutes for Workplace Investigators. Daphne has been dedicated to pro bono work throughout her career, including performing criminal advocacy work on behalf of abused women, representing clients in guardianship proceedings, serving on a non-profi t board of directors, and helping indigent clients become legal US residents.

Daphne is from Chicago, where she was raised by her parents, who are immigrants from Haiti. From there, Daphne attended Yale College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sang in the a cappella group Shades of Yale. Next, Daphne attended UCLA School of Law, where she led the Black Law Students Association and served as an editor on the UCLA Women’s Law Journal. Daphne earned her Juris Doctor in 2001.