Statement

It has been my honour to serve as a Bencher of the Law Society for the past four years at the previous two Bencher tables, and I am eager to continue serving the public in this role. Lawyers and the Law Society play an essential role in upholding and promoting the rule of law, principles that are more important than ever in our province and around the world. I believe in the responsibilities and obligations that come from being a member of an independent profession, and that I can continue to contribute to the good governance of the Law Society to regulate in the public interest and uphold the rule of law.

As a Bencher, I have participated in the extensive governance and adjudication roles of the Law Society. I am currently elected to the Law Society’s Executive Committee; I am Chair of the Law Society’s Policy and Regulatory Reform Committee; and Chair of the Complaint Dismissal Appeal Working Group. I previously served as Vice Chair of the Law Society’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and as the Bencher representative on the Board of ASSIST. My involvement reflects my passion for equity, diversity and inclusion and for lawyer mental health.

Before becoming a Bencher, I served on several Law Society Committees during the previous nine years, including Credentials and Education (2015-2017), Practice Review (2018-2020) and Conduct (2021-2023).

I was born in Calgary and, because of my father’s oil and gas career and my education, had the privilege of living in five countries on four different continents before returning to Alberta to begin my legal career. I received my Honours BA with Distinction from Queen’s University and JD from the University of Toronto. After clerking at the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton, I was called to the Alberta Bar in 2008. I am also a member of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories.

I am a civil litigation partner at Gowling WLG, where my practice includes commercial litigation, health law, international arbitration, defamation and constitutional law. I have been recognised by Lexpert as a Leading Lawyer under 40, and a Litigation Lawyer to Watch, and by Best Lawyers in Canada.

I have led Gowling WLG’s Calgary pro bono programs, and received a Distinguished Service Award for my pro bono work from the Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association (2013) and the Pro Bono Service Award from Pro Bono Law Alberta (2016). I chaired Gowling WLG’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee in Calgary (2019-2026). I served as an Advisory Board Member for the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, Public Interest Law Clinic (2016-2025). I am also active in my community and serve on, and have chaired, several not-for-profit boards and school councils.

My hope is that all of our members will vote this year to ensure that their voices are heard. It is a privilege to serve the public interest as a Bencher for the Law Society, and I would be honoured by your support.