DBB LAW - Key Persons
Aaron is a family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator and Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer. He joined Dunphy Best Blocksom in 1998 and is a partner in the firm.
Aaron's experience in family law matters includes being counsel on a wide variety of family and special chambers applications. He has represented clients in trials at Provincial Court and the Court of Queen's Bench, and has made appearances at the Court of Appeal of Alberta. Aaron also does adoption work.
Aaron has also conducted numerous mediations and arbitrations in family law matters.
He is the Past-Chair (2010) of the Canadian Bar Association's Family Law Section for Southern Alberta and sat on the Executive of this Committee from 2003 until 2010.
Aaron has Chaired panels for the Legal Education Society of Alberta on Spousal Support (2008), the Family Law Refresher Course (2013) and the Family Statutes Amendments Act (2019). He taught the Bar Admission Course (CPLED) for the Legal Education Society of Alberta from 2002 to 2017 and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Calgary Law School and has lectured on family law Issues in Calgary high schools.
Aaron sat on the Board of Directors for the Legal Education Society of Alberta until 2020 and was Chair of the Executive Committee from 2016 - 2018. He has been a Dispute Resolution Officer since 2009, assisting people with family law issues at the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and the Provincial Court of Alberta - Family Division.
His personal interests include hockey, basketball, football, golf, hiking, travelling and wine collecting/tasting.
Alicia understands each client is unique and life events impact every family differently. There is no one size fits all solution in family law. Each client has a voice that needs to be heard.
Alicia's strong litigation background allows her to tailor success-driven solutions for each individual client. The cornerstone of Alicia's practice is effective communication both with the client and opposing party/counsel.
Alicia has successfully advocated for clients in both the Provincial Court of Alberta, the Albert Court of King's Bench, and the Alberta Court of Appeal. She also has experience representing clients in alternative dispute resolution processes, including a two-day mobility arbitration, a two-day binding JDR (parenting and support).
Alicia has been practicing law for 10 years with experience in both family law and civil litigation, working at both a national and mid-sized law firm before joining Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP.
Beth is a partner in Dunphy Best Blocksom's civil litigation and dispute resolution team. She joined the firm in 2015 after articling with and then working as counsel at a large multi-national law firm in its civil litigation group for a number of years.
Beth maintains a diverse civil litigation practice, and specializes in advising clients with respect to construction litigation, including builders' liens, contractual disputes, especially in the oil and gas and real estate contexts, shareholder disputes, and collections. Beth has appeared at all levels of the Alberta courts and has acted as counsel in numerous arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes.
Beth is committed to the provision of pro bono legal services. She is a former Director and Executive Committee member of Calgary Legal Guidance. She has also been a volunteer at Student Legal Assistance and Pro Bono Law Alberta.
Beth graduated from the University Calgary Faculty of Law in 2008, obtaining Dean's List standing in all three years of law school. During law school, Beth was very involved with Student Legal Assistance and appeared on numerous occasions before the Alberta Courts in that capacity.
Beth enjoys spending time with her family outside, especially in the mountains. She is also a cook, a yogi, a traveller, and an avid reader.
Caroline Lee is a senior family law practitioner specializing in family law and alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration.
She joined the firm in 1989 with an established background in all aspects of family law. Caroline became a partner in 1994 and was managing partner of the firm for six years. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2004.
Caroline has been involved as a family law teacher and lecturer with the Legal Education Society of Alberta and the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary and has spoken at the Law Society of Alberta's Bar Admission (CPLED) Course and the National Family Law Program, sponsored by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Canadian Bar Association.
Caroline was on the Board of Directors of the Association of Collaborative Family Lawyers until 2003. She is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and former chair of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch - Family Law Section (South).
Caroline has extended her dedication as a family law practitioner through volunteer work at the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, Children's Shelter, Calgary Sexual Assault Centre, and Y.W.C.A. She was also a founding member of The Missing Children's Association.
Caroline's professional accomplishments were recognized in the first and second editions of "The Best Lawyers in Canada™" in 2006 & 2008 and all subsequent editions. She has been included as a leading practitioner in family law by the L'Expert Directory since 2005.
Cassidy joined DBB as an articling student in 2020, working primarily in the civil litigation group.
Throughout law school, Cassidy served as the Vice President of Administration for the Society of Law Students and volunteered as a Caseworker for Student Legal Assistance, helping low-income clients with various family, civil, and criminal law matters.
Cassidy values experiential diversity, which has led her to participate in international study programs at the University of Iceland, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the University of Trento in Italy.
In her free time, Cassidy enjoys playing squash and tennis, hiking, climbing, and skiing in the mountains with her puppy Margot.
Catherine works with individuals, families and business owners on tax, corporate and estate planning matters, and provides them practical, cost-effective solutions that meet their needs and helps them achieve their goals.
Catherine articled with a boutique oil & gas law firm in Calgary in 2004 and clerked at the Tax Court of Canada in Ottawa in 2005. Prior to joining Dunphy Best Blocksom in September 2015, Catherine spent the next several years working with various well-known national and Calgary-based law firms in their taxation and wills & estates groups.
Catherine is Métis and proud of her unique Canadian heritage. Her family has lived and farmed in Alberta for many generations. Understanding the needs of individuals, families, small businesses and large private enterprises, Catherine provides targeted solutions to each of her clients.
Catherine received her law degree from the University of Alberta in 2004.
Catherine is never idle on her feet. When not chasing around her toddler, she loves to run for fun. While she has run countless half-marathons and marathons in all parts of North America, she has recently participated in virtual team running races in Bali, Lombok and Japan. She loves the challenge of staying on her feet, despite Calgary's sometimes snow-packed streets, and she is always in pursuit of new paths to experience.
Chris provides clients with practical advice on a wide range of workplace issues, including regulatory compliance, employee discipline, terminations, workplace investigations, human rights, and accommodations.
Chris also provides clients with tailored advice to assist them with resolving corporate commercial disputes, including shareholder remedies, debtor/creditor claims, trademark and copyright infringement, privacy, and builders' lien matters as efficiently as possible.
Chris has experience as counsel in various matters before all levels of the Alberta Courts, the Court of Queen's Bench and Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, as well as the Federal Court of Canada. In addition, Chris represents provincially and federally regulated clients concerning employment standards, human rights, and labour relations matters. Chris also represents clients in commercial and labour arbitrations, mediations and as a nominee in labour arbitration matters.
Chris has written on a number of workplace issues along with presenting at seminars and conferences concerning employment and labour topics. Chris' publications have been re-published by third party outlets, including by CanLII Connects, and Canadian Employment Law Today.
Raised in Calgary, Chris received both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary. Chris joined the firm as an associate in 2019 after articling & practicing with an international firm in Calgary.
Chris enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends. He enjoys camping, fishing, golfing, hunting, hockey, and skiing.
David Younggren specializes in civil litigation. He joined DBB Law in 1988 after articling to Chief Justice Laycraft at the Alberta Court of Appeal.
David became a partner in 1993 and has an established civil litigation practice including corporate contractual litigation, shareholder disputes, wrongful dismissal, real estate litigation, builders' liens and collection matters.
He has appeared in all levels of Court, including a successful appearance on a criminal appeal (R. v. Egger) in the Supreme Court of Canada and appearances as Ad Hoc Discipline Counsel for the Law Society of Alberta.
David is a past Chair of the Alberta Association of Police Governance and was a member of the Calgary Police Commission for over five years. He is also a past Chair of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, a past Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary and has been an active member, speaker and organizer for the Canadian Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the DBB Law Articling Committee
- Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Fulvio joined Dunphy Best Blocksom in 1994 and conducts a business and estate-oriented practice.
He brings extensive experience in the areas of business law, corporate restructuring, mergers & acquisitions, commercial transactions, trusts, banking, mental incapacity and estate planning & administration.
Fulvio is committed to teaching and mentoring the newest members of the profession. He was an instructor for the bar admission courses required for the admission of new lawyers and has instructed at the University of Calgary Law School.
Fulvio is a member of the DBB Law Articling Committee and coordinates the in-house training program. He has completed his training as a collaborative lawyer and is an appointed executive member of the Wills and Trusts subsection of the Canadian Bar Association.
Fulvio is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) with a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Calgary.
Fulvio enjoys presenting to organizations large and small on topics relevant to individuals and entrepreneurs, including:
Buying and Selling a Business
Estate and Disability Planning
Succession of Family Held Businesses
Proper Use of Trusts
Duties and Responsibilities When Acting as a Personal Representative
Director and Officer Liability
Private Lending and Security
The Use of Shareholders Agreements in Privately Held Corporations
Protection of the Elderly and Vulnerable Individuals
Job Titles:
- Retired Partner
- Counsel ( Retired )
Jason articled with Dunphy Best Blocksom in 2001 and joined the partnership in 2010. He became a managing partner in January 2014.
Jason practices primarily in the area of family and employment law. Jason acts for both employers and employees and enjoys the perspective both bring. Jason is experienced in all facets of property disputes, spousal support, custody/access and child support. He has a particular interest in Hague Convention (international child abduction) cases.
Jason is an experienced family law mediator/ arbitrator. Jason has advocacy experience at all levels of Court in Alberta, including significant trial and appellate work. Other highlights of his career include appearing at the Supreme Court of Canada (solicitor/client privilege issue) and being appointed as Commission Counsel to the Alberta Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry for the Province of Alberta (to investigate queue-jumping allegations).
Jason was a long-serving and dedicated volunteer with Calgary Legal Guidance, receiving the Allan D. Hunter Volunteer of the Year award in 2008. He served on the Board of Cause Canada and helped with fundraising efforts for this charity, as well as a number of other community development causes.
Jason enjoys many sports/outdoor activities and coaches minor soccer and hockey. Jason loves working on the family ranch near Peers, Alberta, whenever possible.
Job Titles:
- Retired Partner
- Partner ( Retired )
Kennedy, preferably known as Keni, joined DBB as an associate in August 2022 after relocating to Alberta. She focuses predominantly on family law.
Kennedy, preferably known as Keni, joined DBB Law as an associate in August 2022 after relocating to Alberta. She focuses predominantly on family law.
Prior to joining DBB Law, Keni clerked at the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan for one year and was called to the bar in Saskatchewan in June 2022. She was then called to the bar in Alberta in October 2022.
Khatera articled at Dunphy Best Blocksom in 2009/2010 and has been an Associate at DBB Law since July 2010.
She practices primarily in the area of family law. She is committed to ensuring that her client's interests and needs are understood and advanced, by maintaining civility, reasonableness and a high level of respect and sensitivity to all parties involved. Khatera believes that the best interests of her clients can be promoted through an interest-based approach in negotiations, mediation, and through all dispute resolution processes.
Khatera has litigation experience at all three levels of the Courts in Alberta, including trial and appellate work. Khatera was counsel in the Court of Appeal on Alberta's leading case on the issues of foreign marriage and polygamy.
Khatera currently volunteers with Pro Bono Law Alberta. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of Calgary Immigrant Women's Association and Centre for Newcomers. Khatera has volunteered with Future Generations Canada, the Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.
Khatera believes strongly in the importance of mentorship and considers the opportunity to do so a great privilege. She has been involved with Student Legal Assistance at the University of Calgary and with Law Society of Alberta as a mentor through Mentor Express Program. She has continued to be a coach/facilitator for the Negotiation Course at the University of Calgary Law School.
Khatera's other interests include running, participating in fitness classes, reading non-fiction books, cooking, and keeping busy with her husband and two children.
LANGUAGES
Dari
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Law Society of Alberta
Kirsten was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Kirsten worked in the area of family law while attending Law School in the United Kingdom. She graduated, receiving a Juris Doctor, in 2019 from the University of Surrey.
Kirsten has practiced solely in the area of family law since being called to the bar in July 2021. In her practice, Kirsten would like build on her experience in family law with a specific focus on child custody disputes. Kirsten is committed to promoting the best interests of her clients based on their individual needs, in negotiations, mediations or other forms of dispute resolution. Kirsten is also a confident advocate when required to attend at Court, and regularly appears in the Provincial Court of Alberta and the Court of King's Bench.
Kirsten is a member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Calgary Bar Association. She enjoys volunteering with various organizations such as Surrey Nightline student listening services, the Foothills Hospital and Fernie Search and Rescue.
In her free time, Kirsten enjoys skiing, travelling and walking her dog, Tucker.
Kyra joined DBB as an articling student in July 2020, working predominantly in family law.
Kyra articled with DBB Law and is now an Associate with our team, working predominantly in family law.
Prior to joining DBB Law in July 2020, Kyra spent 19 months as a bilingual Judicial Clerk at the Court of Queen's Bench. She has since appeared before the Provincial Court of Alberta as well as the Court of King's Bench, and has assisted on files before the Court of Appeal.
Kyra completed her Master's in law (LLM) at University College London (UCL) in 2018 with a specialism in Criminal Justice, Family and Social Welfare. While at UCL she participated in the establishment of the Student Resolvers Mediation Project. Kyra graduated with first class honours in her LLB in Law and Criminology from the University of Sheffield in 2017 where she volunteered with the Freelaw Legal Clinic and was a student tutor with the School of Law. Kyra continues to be involved in a volunteer capacity in the community and has been volunteering with the CPLED PREP bar admission course since her call to the bar.
Kyra is committed to working with families and individuals to resolve their legal issues efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. In addition to her family law practice, Kyra also assists with civil and estate litigation matters and Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship files.
In her spare time, Kyra enjoys playing slo-pitch, travelling, and dancing.
Logan is a proud graduate of the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, following his father Randy Kachur Q.C. (‘78) and sister Courtney Kachur ('08). During law school he studied abroad at the prestigious business law program at Juridiska, University of Stockholm. Logan studied Political Science at Missouri Southern State University, where he volunteered with Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008 and was an outfielder on the baseball team.
Logan has represented clients at all levels of court in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including multiple successful reported decisions at the Court of Appeal.
Logan enjoys cooking, travel, and baseball. He is a member of the Alberta Champion Calgary Giants senior baseball team. His claim to fame is hitting a home run off of ex-MLB Allstar John Axford, before finishing the summer with a truly atrocious batting average. When not at work he enjoys time spent with his rescue pup Chip, nephews Bear Cub, Mango, YoYo, and niece Dolly.
Madison received her law degree from Dalhousie University in 2015 and has practiced exclusively in family law since 2016.
Madison takes a client centric approach to her practice. She is committed to guiding her clients through confusing and stressful situations by finding practical and sustainable solutions that reduce conflict. Madison works closely with clients to help them to understand each aspect of the separation and divorce process including: property division, child support, spousal support, and parenting.
Madison understands that every family unit is unique, and she recognizes that each file requires a personalized approach that meets the needs of her individual client and their family. She is motivated to find solutions that help clients to focus on their future goals and move forward from difficult situations.
Having completed mediation training with the Legal Education Society of Alberta, Madison believes that mediation and arbitration are excellent tools for efficient and low conflict resolution of matters however; as an experienced divorce lawyer she knows that in certain situations parties need to utilize the court system to resolve matters. In circumstances where litigation is necessary, Madison is confident and experienced having appeared numerous times before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and the Provincial Court of Alberta. Madison has also assisted on matters heard at the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Memberships
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Calgary Bar Association
Member, Law Society of Alberta
Education
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), McGill University, 2016
Juris Doctor, University of British Columbia, 2021
Mark Sawyer articled with DBB Law in 2003 and became a partner in 2010. Mark's practice focuses on the business and commercial aspects of the law, as well real estate and estate planning.
Mark works with many privately held businesses, advising them on their corporate, financing, contract and shareholder matters. Mark provides advice as well on the incorporation of new businesses and the sale and purchase of existing companies. He also acts for clients who are buying, selling and refinancing residential and commercial real estate, as well as those who are preparing and administering wills and estates.
Mark currently volunteers with the Bar Admission (CPLED) Course as an evaluator and has previously volunteered with Calgary Legal Guidance.
Mark attended the University of Calgary where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History before getting his Law Degree from the University of Alberta.
Mark loves to golf and travel and has especially enjoyed his trips to Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as more recent trips to Florida and Hawaii with his family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Contact - Real Estate
Nicole practices in the area of family law and is committed to ensuring her clients' needs and interests are understood and met.
Nicole completed her undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University earning a Combined Honours degree in Political Science and International Development Studies. She then went on to volunteer for a year in Cape Town, South Africa for a variety of organizations including a women's domestic violence lobby group, and a children's after-school program promoting non-violence through creative arts.
Nicole then completed her Masters Degree in Political Science at York University before attending law school at the University of Calgary. She finished her articles in 2012 with a western based full service firm, and was an associate in the litigation group before joining Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 2015.
Nicole now practices solely in the area of family law. She has always had an interest in family law, and moved into this area to have the personal connection with her clients.
She is committed to ensuring that her clients' interests and needs are understood and advanced. She feels that the best interests of her clients can be promoted through an interest-based approach in negotiations, mediation, and through any and all dispute resolution mechanisms.
While it is her thought that such avenues of negotiation and mediation should be utilized wherever possible, where it is necessary to attend at court, Nicole is a very capable and confident advocate, and regularly appears in both Provincial Court and the Court of Queen's Bench as well she has successfully appeared in the Court of Appeal.
Outside of the office Nicole volunteers with Calgary Legal Guidance and the Women's Center of Calgary, and keeps busy with her husband and three children.
Pat has been a partner with Dunphy Best Blocksom since 1990. She is a skilled senior matrimonial lawyer and her practice emphasizes negotiation, mediation and arbitration resolutions to complex property, support, and custody settlements.
Pat's current practice focuses on mediation, arbitration in the family and estate law. She also advises on and prepares pre-nuptial, cohabitation and post-nuptial agreements.
She has been a co-instructor for the Legal Education Society of Alberta on mediation training in the area of family disputes from 1996 to 2017. In 2006, she received the John Haynes Memorial Award from the Alberta Family Mediation Society for excellence in mediation.
Pat received her appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1998. She was inducted as a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2001, which is an international organization dedicated to improving international family law practice throughout the world.
Pat is involved in international human rights and poverty issues and has been a director on three Canadian charitable foundations: Partners in the Horn of Africa, which funded sustainable development in Ethiopia, and Future Generations Canada, which supported community-based programs in health care, education and rebuilding civil society in Afghanistan. She has traveled extensively throughout rural Ethiopia to work on projects that focus on alleviating poverty by water development, education, HIV prevention and support, reforestation, and orphan fostering. Since 2017, Pat has been a director of CUPS which is a Calgary not-for-profit organization that helps individuals and families overcome the challenges of poverty and attain self-sufficiency.
Paul provides clients with tailored advice on a variety of issues, primarily assisting them with all of their real estate, estate planning, estate administration, corporate/commercial, and adult guardian and trusteeship needs.
Born and raised in Calgary, Paul ventured east and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia and a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University. Paul joined the firm as a summer student in 2017, and has gone on to article and practice with DBB Law.
A former professional hockey player, Paul is an avid Flames fan but also loves his Blue Jays. When he's not in the office, you'll likely find him in the mountains with his wife, their two children, and their dog.
Peter joined DBB Law as an articling student in 2022.
Peter was born and raised in Calgary before travelling to Vancouver for education from the University of British Columbia, first a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business, then a Juris Doctor with a business law concentration designation from the Peter A. Allard School of Law. In law school Peter volunteered with the Law School Legal Aid Program to provide legal advice and representation to clients who otherwise would be unable to afford legal assistance.
Peter enjoys hockey, football, and the outdoors. Previously Peter worked as a back-country trip leader, taking groups for trips as long as 7 days through the Kananaskis and Banff areas.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Sandy Vander Ziel joined DBB Law in 2013 and practices exclusively in family law.
She is a registered collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator, as well as a dispute resolution officer with the Court of King's Bench. She has practiced in the area of family law at local and national law firms since 2002. Sandy has significant experience with a variety of methods of Alternate Dispute Resolution including Collaborative law, lawyer assisted mediation, arbitration and interest based negotiation. Sandy works in all areas of family law including, but not limited, to separation and divorce, parenting plans, child custody, child and spousal support, matrimonial property, as well as Co-habitation and Pre and Post-nuptial agreements. Sandy has a strong collaborative practice and is known for her in-depth experience with family violence matters and has received training in family violence screening. Sandy is also a Parenting Co-ordinator and is truly passionate about working with families.
Sandy has had extensive experience appearing at the Court of King's Bench, the Court of Appeal of Alberta, as well as Provincial Family Court, particularly as a child and youth advocate. She has represented children through the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Advocacy Program.
Sandy is committed to working in an atmosphere that promotes healthy parenting relationships post-separation so that the best interests of the children are always protected.
She is the past Chair of the Association of Collaborative Professionals and is a volunteer with the Legal Education Society of Alberta as an instructor and evaluator for the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education program. Sandy is also the past President of the Canadian Bar Association Family Law Section.
Sandy has a passion for community involvement and is the Past Chair of the Calgary Youth Justice Society Board of Directors. During her tenure on the Board, the Sandy Vander Ziel Heart of Change Award was established in her name. In 2016, Sandy was honoured to receive the Women in Law Leadership Award for service to the community.
Sandy is the past President of the Board of Directors for Sonshine Community Services, a second-stage transitional shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. She is truly passionate about her work with Sonshine and the opening of the first children's centre in North America, which provides children who have been exposed to and/or have been victims of family violence, with therapeutic intervention to work towards breaking the cycle of violence. Sandy is also on the Board of Directors for the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters and was recently appointed as a member on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Women's Foundation.
Sandy is the President of the Calgary Killarney Artistic Swim Club and in her spare time loves to be in the mountains or on the water with her children, husband and Golden Retriever, Winnie.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at Dunphy Best Blocksom
Sarah is an Associate at Dunphy Best Blocksom with a diverse international background, practicing in the area of family law, employment law and real estate.
After graduating from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce and working in the energy sector Sarah moved to Australia where she obtained her Juris Doctor from Bond University graduating in 2015 with honours. Subsequently, Sarah moved to Ottawa where she worked as a Special Advisor to a Federal Cabinet Minister before joining Dunphy Best Blocksom in 2017.
Sarah advocates on behalf of her clients before the Alberta Provincial Court and Court of Queen's Bench, understanding that litigation is but one method of resolving a dispute. Her practice encompasses all areas of the law arising from cohabitation and marriage including property division, support, parenting/access and adoption. She also represents clients in negotiations and various forms of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, endeavouring always to resolve her clients' matters in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Outside of work Sarah enjoys traveling and volunteering her time to charities with a special focus on refugee aid.
Wendy has a well-established family law practice and has earned ongoing recognition as a leading family law practitioner since being called to the bar in 1980.
Wendy joined Dunphy Best Blocksom in 1982 and became a partner in 1986. Wendy was appointed King's Counsel in 1994. She acts primarily for high net worth individuals and families. While she settles most matters, Wendy's practice includes litigation.
She was inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2008. She has been selected by Best Lawyers in Canada annually since 2006 and was recognized as the Calgary Family Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in Canada™, in both 2010 and 2017. She has been named annually in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a recommended leading practitioner in Family Law. In 2018, she was awarded both the Canadian Bar Association/Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for "Service to the Profession" and the Women in Law "Leadership Award for Leadership in the Profession (Private Practice)".
Wendy is a sought-after speaker for many organizations, including the National Judicial Institute, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the B.C. Supreme Court Judges Education Program, the Alberta King's Bench Judges Education Program, the Newfoundland & Labrador Supreme Court Judges Education Program, the Advocates Society, Federation of Law Societies, Calgary Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, Jewish Family Services, Alberta Trial Lawyers Association, and the Legal Education Society of Alberta. She has also published dozens of related papers.
Wendy was appointed to the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Alberta from 2017 until 2019. She was on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family (CRILF) for 22 years, including serving as President from 2009 until 2016. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Park Society, serving on the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Finance Committee.
Wendy served as a member of the Alberta Securities Commission for six years and on the Law Society of Alberta's Family Law Advisory Committee for five years. She was on the Board of the University of Calgary's Student Legal Assistance for 11 years. Wendy was a member of the Canadian Bar Association's National Council and served on several of its committees.