About

The Firm

McFadden Investigations Law Corporation is a woman-owned firm offering personalized, innovative, and thoughtful investigations and training services. We understand what clients need most – effective expertise, commitment to a timely, thorough, impartial process, and the skills to provide valued results. Our dedication to this mission is paramount. We provide client-centric services to help manage workplace issues with integrity, transparency, empathy, and adaptability. Let us help be part of the resolution.

Carrie A. McFadden, AWI-CH

Carrie’s practice focuses on conducting workplace investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, performance issues, and other misconduct.

Carrie is an experienced investigator who has conducted investigations into complex and sensitive allegations in a variety of industries. From small companies to large government agencies, Carrie uses a thoughtful and adaptable approach to each case.

In the public sector, Carrie regularly conducts investigations for school districts, community colleges, high schools, and elementary schools. In the private sector, Carrie has investigated claims for organizations ranging from start-ups to non-profits to international corporations. Carrie is experienced in a variety of industries, including education, government, public safety, recreation, utilities, legal, and medical. She has handled investigations involving line-level employees, management, and chief/senior executives and elected officials.

Carrie McFadden

Prior to forming her own firm, Carrie worked for over four years at one of California’s leading workplace and campus investigation law firms. Prior to devoting her practice to workplace investigations, Carrie practiced civil litigation for over 10 years where she represented public entities and their employees in a wide variety of cases, including excessive force allegations against law enforcement, constitutional challenges to municipal policies, and employment cases involving allegations of wrongful termination, retaliation, and discrimination. Carrie has provided trainings to peace officers, administrators, and attorneys on topics relating to constitutional rights and supervisory issues. Her background in representing employers and employees gives her a unique perspective that she brings to her current practice as a neutral investigator.

Professional Degrees, Certifications, Awards and Organizations
  • Juris Doctor, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2006
  • Bachelor of Arts, with Honors, in Law & Society, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002
  • State Bar of California Member, No. 245199
  • Member of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI)
  • Committee member for AWI’s Membership and Marketing Committee and co-leader for AWI’s solo practitioner affinity group
  • AWI Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) (2018)
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, California Lawyers Association, Labor and Employment Law section 
  • Vice Chair, Sacramento Employer Advisory Council (2022)
  • Member, Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing
  • Recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” annually from 2013 to 2016
Notable Presentations and Publications
  • Sacramento Area Human Resource Association, 2024 Annual Conference, Presenter, “Navigating Post-Investigation Waters: Strategies for Conflict Resolution and Rebuilding Trust,” August 2024
  • Sacramento Employer Advisory Council, Webinar, Co-Presenter, “Coffee With An Attorney – Workplace Investigations,” August 2022
  • “Cultivating a Positive Workplace Free From Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation and Abuse of Conduct,” Presenter, Public School District, March 2022
  • Article: “One Straw Too Many: How to Address Employee Bullying Claims,” Public Risk Management Association, Public Risk magazine, May/June 2020
  • 2019 CALPELRA Annual Training Conference in Monterey, CA, Co-Presenter, “How to Address Employee Bullying Claims,” November 2019
  • Public Agency Risk Managers Association 2015 Annual Conference, Co-Presenter, “Officer Involved Shootings: Preparing for the Plaintiff’s Big Bang Theory,” February 2015
  • Lorman Education Services, Presenter, “Police Liability in California,” September 9, 2014
  • California Peace Officers’ Association, Co-Presenter, “Civil Liability/Legal Aspects of Officer-Involved Shootings,” January 2012 and May 2013
  • Northern California Cities Self Insurance Fund, Co-Presenter, “Legal Update on Use of Force Issues, May and December 2013
  • Sacramento County Bar Association’s Constitutional Law & Civil Rights Section, Co-Presenter, “From Gideon to Newdow: How Pro Se Litigants Have Shaped Civil Rights Law,” May 2008