Statement

It has been a privilege to serve as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta since 2022. The regulatory objective of self-governance is to protect the public interest. My experience, as a Bencher, as a managing partner and through decades of legal practice have given me insight into many of the issues that affect lawyers and the public we serve, including regulatory and governance matters, practice management, trust accounting, ethics and mental wellness.

During my tenure as a Bencher, I have served on the Bencher Executive, chaired the Audit and Finance and Policy and Regulatory Reform committees, served as Vice-Chair of Conduct and have been a member of several other Bencher committees, including Lawyer Competence and Nominating. I have served on multiple conduct and practice review appeal panels, disciplinary hearings and appeals.

I am currently the Bencher designee on the Alberta Law Foundation (ALF) board. ALF, funded by interest earned on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts, is the province’s larger funder of access to justice programs for Albertans. The ALF board, through good governance and stewardship, has maintained stability and continued to meet its statutory and financial commitments to its grantees.

Community involvement is important to me. I have been a panelist and chair at Legal Education Society of Alberta seminars and have instructed at the Bar Admission Course. I am an active member of the CBA, currently as a member and past chair of the Commercial Property section and previously as a member of the Engagement Task Force. Since 2012, I have volunteered several times each year as Civil Duty Counsel. I acted as pro bono intervenor counsel in two significant Alberta human rights cases, Vriend and the Aryan Nations Inquiry. I volunteer with many charitable organizations, including United Way and the YMCA, and for many years I have been a weekly volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels.

In 2024, I was appointed King’s Counsel. My practice focuses on commercial real estate and transactions. I graduated from the University of Alberta Law Faculty in 1991 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1992. I have spent my career with Witten LLP, including 10 years as managing partner from 2010 to 2020. I have been recognized by Best Lawyers® since 2013 in Commercial Leasing Law and Real Estate Law, including as “Lawyer of the Year” for Commercial Leasing Law in Edmonton for several years, including this year, and in 2025 for Real Estate Law. I have been recommended for many years by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Property Development and Leasing. This year, I was recognized by Chambers & Partners for Real Estate in Alberta.

Away from work, I value time with my family and enjoy reading, cycling, travelling and skiing, all of which help bring balance to my life. I would appreciate your support in this election and the opportunity to continue bringing my experience and perspective to the Law Society’s regulatory functions.