External Advisory Board

The Dean's External Advisory Board is a committed group of distinguished alumni who provide advice to and advocacy for the Faculty. Their collective interest lies in supporting and enhancing our efforts to preserve the best of our past while preparing students for a challenging future in a dynamic profession. Based in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto, UAlberta Law's External Advisory Board members bring not only a diversity of geographic perspectives, but a diversity of years of experience, gender, ethnic origin and sexual orientation.

EAB members include partners and associates from Canada's largest and most distinguished firms, in-house counsel from leading corporations in Alberta and across Canada, and members either in non-traditional practice environments or alternative careers. We greatly appreciate their commitment and continued service.

Calgary

  • Roxanna Benoit

    Vice President, Public and Government Affairs
    Enbridge
    Calgary, AB

    Roxanna Benoit joined Enbridge in April 2013. As Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, she is accountable for managing Enbridge's relationships with local, provincial/state and federal governments, and Enbridge's interactions with members of the communities in which it operates and is proposing new projects. Benoit is also responsible for fostering and growing relationships with Aboriginal communities.

    Prior to joining Enbridge, Benoit was Deputy Minister with the Government of Alberta from October 2011 - March 2013. She served as Deputy Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations (IIR) from May 2012 to March 2013. In that role, she provided leadership to build strong relationships with Alberta's key economic and government stakeholders to advance Alberta's domestic and international profile and interests. She also oversaw the work of Alberta's 10 international offices.

    Benoit holds an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Randall Block, Q.C.

    Partner
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Randall Block is a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Law Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary. He specializes in all forms of dispute resolution in the energy and oil & gas industries, including commercial litigation and arbitration and regulatory proceedings. He is recognized as one of the world's leading lawyers in these fields by the foremost legal ranking directories.

    Block has appeared before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Energy Resources Conservation Board, the National Energy Board, and various arbitral panels; he has also sat as an arbitrator. Block has written and lectured on various issues in oil & gas law and realization on oil & gas-related security.

    Block holds an LLB (Silver Medalist) from the University of Alberta.

  • Colin Feasby

    Partner
    Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Colin Feasby represents clients in corporate and securities litigation, energy industry disputes, franchise litigation, and constitutional matters. He has represented clients before all levels of courts in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Federal Court of Canada, and before the Supreme Court of Canada. Feasby has also represented clients in arbitrations in the United States, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Alberta, and is regularly in trial or arbitration hearings. Prior to joining Osler, Feasby clerked for the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and the Alberta Court of Appeal.

    Feasby holds a BA from Bishop's University, MA from Western University, LLB from the University of Alberta, and an LLM and JSD from Columbia University.

  • Ray Hansen, Q.C.

    Vice President, Law & Land
    Corporate Secretary
    Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Calgary, AB

    Ray Hansen has been Vice President of Law & Land and Corporate Secretary at Syncrude Canada Ltd. since January 2016 and March 2013 respectively.

    Hansen joined Syncrude as Corporate Counsel in 1985, was promoted to Manager, Law Department in 1989, and named General Counsel in 1996. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association.

    Hansen holds a BA and LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Ky R. Kvisle

    Associate
    Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Ky Kvisle's practice focuses primarily on natural resources and infrastructure with a specific focus on commercial transactions and project development. He works extensively on both international and domestic matters in the upstream and midstream energy sector, as well as in the liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil sands, agriculture, petrochemical, electricity, and mining sectors.

    His experience includes working on mergers and acquisitions, commodities trading and energy derivatives agreements, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, energy infrastructure development and operational matters.

    Kvisle holds a BA from the University of Calgary and a JD from the University of Alberta.

  • Donald Leitch, Q.C.

    Managing Partner
    Dentons Canada LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Donald Leitch is the managing partner of Dentons Canada's Calgary office. His practice focuses on securities, business and energy law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and corporate reorganizations. Leitch has expertise in general corporate law, oil & gas law, and commercial transactions.

    Leitch is a member of the Calgary Advisory Committee for the TSX Venture Exchange and a former member of the board of the Frontier College Foundation, a national literacy foundation. He also sits as an officer or director of a number of private and public companies and is a past president of the Calgary Winter Club.

    Leitch holds a BSc and B.Ed from the University of Lethbridge and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Douglas A. McGillivray, Q.C.

    Partner
    Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Douglas McGillivray is a partner at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP. His area of practice is commercial and general litigation, construction litigation, energy litigation, franchises, dealerships and distributorships, insurance and risk management litigation, and securities litigation.

    McGillivray has been named in Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Corporate and Commercial Litigation annually since 2009. He was also named in Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, as a leading litigator (2014-16); and by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in Corporate Commercial Litigation (2002-08).

    McGillivray has held various positions within the Law Society of Alberta, including President, Finance Committee Chair, and Conduct Committee Chair. He has also been a member of the Alberta Law Reform Institute and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

    McGillivray holds a BA from the University of Calgary and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Hon. Neil C. Wittmann

    Chief Justice
    Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
    Calgary, AB

    The Hon. Neil C. Wittmann has served on the Alberta Court of Appeal and led the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.

    As a practicing lawyer, he appeared before the courts in every province from Ontario to British Columbia, including the Supreme Court of Canada. While a lawyer, he was a Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, founding Chair of the Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association, Chair of the Standards Advisory Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, President of the Canadian Bar Insurance Association and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Law Reform Institute. He was also a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta and its President for two years.

    Chief Justice Wittmann had been a lawyer in private practice in Alberta for 31 years when, in 1999, he was appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal, serving in this capacity until 2005. In that year, he was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench. In 2009, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.

    Chief Justice Wittmann holds a BComm from the University of Manitoba and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Beau Zahrai

    Managing Director, Consulting and Deals
    PwC Law LLP
    Calgary, AB

    Beau Zahrai is a trusted advisor and seasoned corporate-commercial lawyer, with the ability to identify and manage commercial and legal risk and resolve conflicts and commercial challenges in a practical, efficient, collaborative, and solution-based manner. He brings global expertise, having lived in three continents. His areas of expertise include business law, corporate governance, risk management, negotiations, building legal teams, and developing and executing business strategies.

    Zahrai acted as Chair of the National Board of the Canadian Diabetes Association in Toronto from 2008-2012.

    Zahrai holds a BA from the University of Toronto and a JD from the University of Alberta. He also holds a Certificate from the Richard Ivey School of Business (Western University), Negotiation Program and a Not-for-Profit Certificate in Governance from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Toronto

  • Artem Barsukov

    Associate
    Bennett Jones LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Artem Barsukov has a corporate commercial practice with an emphasis on commercial real estate and construction. He assists clients in the energy and construction industries on project development, procurement, contract drafting, negotiating and administration, risk identification, evaluation and management. He also advises on employment agreements and facilitates purchase and sale transactions and corporate re-organizations.

    Barsukov clerked at the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and was a member of the editorial board of the Alberta Law Review journal. He has authored multiple papers on issues such as screening of foreign investment in Canadian airlines and the legal aspects of doing business in Russia.

    Barsukov holds a BComm (with Distinction) and LLB (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta.

  • Sarbjit Basra

    Partner
    Davies LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Sarbjit Basra is a partner in the Capital Markets, Corporate/Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and India practices of Davies LLP. He is experienced in a variety of transactions, including purchases and sales of businesses, reorganizations, financings from private and public capital sources, and strategic alliances. Basra has extensive experience in fund formation and private equity investment transactions, and has represented fund sponsors and principals in connection with the establishment and structuring of private equity funds and other pooled investment vehicles.

    Basra is a member of the Davies Management Committee. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada, Who's Who Legal: Private Funds, and The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.

    Basra holds a BComm from the University of Alberta and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School.

  • Rebecca Cowdery

    Partner
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Rebecca Cowdery practices corporate, commercial, and securities law, focusing on the compliance, regulatory, and governance issues facing participants in the investment management industry. She advises firms about effective implementation of the regulatory and compliance requirements for registrants mandated by Canadian securities regulators. Cowdery has more than 25 years of experience working with the investment management industry as a lawyer and regulator. She joined Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 2003, after nine years as a senior investment funds regulator with the Ontario Securities Commission.

    Cowdery is the Program Director of the BLG Adroit: Lean Project Management initiative, which is a program designed to provide legal services to clients using Lean Six Sigma principles.

    Cowdery holds a BA in Political Science and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Pierre Dagenais

    Partner
    Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Pierre Dagenais practices corporate and securities law, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He has acted as counsel in many merger and acquisition transactions, including takeover bids and statutory arrangements. Dagenais has also acted for public companies and underwriters in connection with many public offerings and has participated in numerous private placement transactions on behalf of issuers, underwriters, and investors. Dagenais advises Canadian public companies on continuous disclosure obligations and corporate governance matters.

    Dagenais has been recognized in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2011-13): Corporate/M&A; and the International Financial Law Review 1000 - The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms - Leading lawyer in mergers and acquisitions (2012-14).

    Dagenais holds a BA and LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Patrick Duffy

    Partner
    Stikeman Elliott LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Patrick Duffy has a project development practice that includes environmental permitting and litigation, energy regulation, and Aboriginal engagement. He has considerable experience dealing with environmental assessments and other regulatory approvals in a variety of sectors, including renewable and non-renewable electricity generation, electricity transmission, mining, transit and transportation, aggregate quarries, and waste management. Duffy is an experienced advocate and has appeared before all levels of courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Canada. He served as clerk to Justice Michael Kelen of the Federal Court of Canada.

    Duffy is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Law Society of Alberta, the Advocates' Society and the American Bar Association (Section of Environment, Energy and Resources). He is also a member of the executive of the Aboriginal Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association and is actively involved with the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot.

    Duffy holds a BA (with great Distinction) from the University of Lethbridge and an LLB (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta.

  • Julian N. Falconer

    Partner
    Falconers LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Julian Falconer specializes in human rights advocacy and public interest litigation. He has acted as counsel for numerous community service organizations, including Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto, Innocence Canada (formerly the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted), and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. Falconer currently acts as Independent Counsel to the Chair of the Attorney General's Iacobucci Report Implementation Committee and the Falconers team is providing legal support to the Nishnawabe Aski Nation in "Operation Invite", an initiative aimed at redressing the exclusion of Aboriginal communities from jury rolls in Ontario.

    Falconer is a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and in that capacity serves as Co-Chair of the Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee and Vice-Chair of the Task Force addressing Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees. In addition to extensive writings on issues of race and civil liberties, he has co-authored a book on coroners' inquests in Ontario.

    Falconer holds an LLB from the University of Alberta and also holds degrees from McGill University, the University of Toronto, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph-Humber.

  • Daniel J. Lynde

    Associate
    McCarthy Tétrault LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Daniel Lynde's practice focuses on banking, secured lending, private equity, securitization, and structured finance transactions. Lynde acts for Canadian and international banks, financial institutions, and borrowers in connection with lending transactions, including syndicated financings, senior and mezzanine loans, asset-based loans, restructurings, and multi-jurisdictional transactions. He has also acted for issuers, sellers, underwriters, trustees, and credit enhancers in various public and private securitization and structured finance transactions. Lynde clerked with the Provincial Court of Alberta.

    Lynde is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Canadian Bar Association. He is a past chair of the Governance Committee for the Crescent School Alumni Executive. During his time at law school, he served as President of the Law Students' Association and as an editor for the Alberta Law Review, Canons of Construction, and the Review of Constitutional Studies.

    Lynde holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and History from Western University, an LLB from the University of Alberta, and an LLM in Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.

  • James McVicar

    Senior Partner
    Peterson McVicar LLP
    Toronto, ON

    James McVicar's practice focuses on corporate finance and mining, primarily advising issuers, underwriters, and investors in domestic and international public and private financings, including venture capital financing, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and assisting public companies with reporting and corporate governance obligations. McVicar also focuses on assisting exploration and mining companies with corporate and commercial transactions, including property and equipment acquisitions, joint ventures, option and royalty agreements. McVicar spent approximately three years as legal counsel in the Corporate Finance Branch of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).

    McVicar was appointed to the OSC's Securities Advisory Committee and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, Colegio de Abogados de Minas y Petróleos (Colombia), Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

    McVicar holds a BSc (Hons) from Queen's University and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Barbra Miller

    Partner
    Aird & Berlis LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Barbra Miller is a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, member of the firm's Litigation Group and Labour and Employment Team, and Chair of the firm's Associate Committee. She has been a member of the firm for more than 25 years.

    Miller's commercial litigation practice is wide ranging and includes contractual disputes, construction disputes, shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, construction lien/surety claims, employer/employee relations, product liability claims, commercial lease enforcement, debt enforcement, as well as litigation relating to municipal, real estate, and securities disputes. She has appeared before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as various boards and tribunals.

    Miller holds a B.Ed and LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • James Park

    Associate
    Stikeman Elliott LLP
    Toronto, ON

    James is an associate at Stikeman Elliott LLP. Previously he was an associate in Dentons' Corporate, Securities, and Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies groups. His practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, and securities.

  • Manoj Pundit

    Partner
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Toronto, ON

    Manoj Pundit practices in the Securities and Capital Markets Practice Group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He is also the national leader of the firm's India Group. Pundit's practice covers the mining, high-tech, life sciences, and energy sectors. He regularly serves as lead counsel on complex domestic and international transactions and corporate governance and regulatory matters. He acts as counsel on securities and corporate matters including public and private offerings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, investment fund formation and offerings, and private equity and venture capital fund formation.

    Pundit is a founding member, director, and spokesperson of the Canada India Foundation (CIF), a national non-profit public policy organization. He was Co-Chair for the CIF's Canada India Mining & Metals Forum and the CIF's Canada India Energy Forum. He is also the Past President of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce.

    Pundit holds a BSc and LLB from the University of Alberta and an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School.

  • Henry Wolfond

    Partner
    Bayshore Capital Inc.
    Toronto, ON

    Henry Wolfond is an executive and entrepreneur, with a record of selecting high-potential markets, starting and acquiring businesses, building strong management teams, and driving companies to sector leadership. Wolfond has extensive experience in the creation, growth, and profitable divestiture of businesses. Formerly, he practiced law at Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, where he specialized in complex structured finance transactions.

    Wolfond currently serves on the boards of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC), the University Hospital Foundation, and the United Jewish Appeal Federation Community Advisory Council. He has previously served on the boards of Hillel of Greater Toronto, Baycrest Foundation, United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, United Israel Appeal of Canada, and is a co-founder of the Autism Acceptance Project.

    Wolfond holds a BAA from Ryerson University and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

Vancouver

  • Marc D. Adler

    Co-Chair, Energy and Power, Western Canada
    McMillan LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Marc Adler is a transaction-focused senior counsel with significant private practice and in-house experience in financial services with a particular focus on energy projects and financings (including renewable energy). He was formerly in-house counsel for GE Energy Financial Services in Canada. Adler is now a member of McMillan's Financial Services Group with offices in Vancouver and Calgary. He specializes in new commercial transactions, project financing, project development, private equity, joint ventures, general and limited partnership structures, syndicated credit facilities, structured finance transactions, aboriginal law, bankruptcy and insolvency, and mergers and acquisitions.

    Adler is an active member of Access Pro Bono (Vancouver), and a past member of the Advisory Committee of Gold Metal Plates (supporting Canada's Olympic athletes). He is also a United Way volunteer.

    Adler holds a BComm from the University of British Columbia and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Desmond M. Balakrishnan

    Co-Chair, Entertainment, Gaming and Sports
    McMillan LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Desmond (Des) Balakrishnan, a partner with McMillan LLP since 2004, is a member of the firm's Corporate Finance/Securities Law Group. Balakrishnan's current areas of focus include private equity investments, public offerings, new listings, mergers, acquisitions, listed company maintenance, gaming, entertainment and hospitality law. He has acted as counsel on new issues and listings on all Canadian Stock exchanges and inter-listings with several international exchanges.

    Balakrishnan is a Governance Officer at the Bumblebee Preschool Society and a volunteer for the Brad Addison Memorial Hockey Tournament, both in Vancouver. He was a panel member for the Vancouver Property Assessment Review Panel (2005-2007).

    Balakrishnan holds a BA from Simon Fraser University and an LLB (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta.

  • James Bond, Q.C.

    Vice President, Enterprise Compliance
    Wawanesa Insurance
    Vancouver, BC

    James Bond is the Vice President of Enterprise Compliance at Wawanesa Insurance's Vancouver office, a position he assumed in July 2017. Prior to this he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Western Life Assurance Company in Calgary, where he was responsible for its overall business development and strategy. Bond also led the legal, compliance, and facilities operation functions for Western Financial Group (Western) and its affiliates.

    As a member of the Executive Leadership Group, Bond provides strategic input and direction on a number of key business decisions and initiatives. Bond has held a number of additional leadership roles, including serving as President of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Chapter), on the Board of Directors of the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, and the International Franchise Association's Diversity Institute. He currently serves as a Governor of the Law Foundation of British Columbia.

    Bond holds a BA from the University of Calgary and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Dharam Dhillon

    McMillan LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Dharam is a member of the Commercial Real Estate group in the firm's Vancouver office. He is building a practice which focuses on a range of matters, including all aspects of commercial real estate, financial services, construction and P3s. Dharam's practice also focuses on general corporate and commercial transactions.

    Dharam joined the firm in 2015 as a summer student and completed his articles with the firm in 2017. He obtained his JD from the University of Alberta. While at law school, Dharam volunteered with a number of extra-curricular organizations where he held various executive positions, including President of the Law Students' Association. Prior to law school, Dharam received a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia.

  • Shelley-Mae Mitchell

    Partner
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Shelley-Mae Mitchell is a partner in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's Labour and Employment Group in Vancouver. She focuses her practice on all aspects of labour and employment law, including preventive advice, employment policies and procedures, human rights complaints, wrongful dismissals, employment litigation, injunction applications, and employment standards appeals. She also practises in most labour areas, including arbitrations, collective bargaining, picketing injunctions, and Labour Board Applications.

    Mitchell has appeared as counsel before the BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal, and Federal Court of Canada. She has also conducted human rights hearings, arbitrations, mediations and picketing actions before the Labour Relations Board.

    Mitchell holds a BAA from Ryerson University and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Michael B. Morgan

    Partner
    Lawson Lundell LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Michael Morgan's main areas of focus are civil litigation with an emphasis on bankruptcy and insolvency, builder's liens and other construction disputes, pension and employee benefits litigation, and commercial landlord and tenant disputes. In addition, he also has experience in realizations, enforcement of foreign judgments, commercial and residential foreclosures, and receiverships. Morgan has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia. He also routinely advises various stakeholders, including secured and unsecured creditors, debtors and trustees in bankruptcy, as to their rights, remedies and obligations in respect of both commercial and personal insolvencies.

    Morgan is a member of the Young Insolvency Professionals of British Columbia and Alberta and a coach for Little Mountain Baseball (Little League). He also volunteers at the Out of the Cold Homeless Shelter and gives pro-bono legal advice at the Western Canada Access to Justice Society. Additionally, he is a director for the Lazarus Community Society, a non-profit community housing provider.

    Morgan holds a BA from Trinity Western University and an LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Tim Outerbridge

    Registrar
    British Columbia Court of Appeal
    Vancouver, BC

    As Registrar of the British Columbia Court of Appeal, Tim Outerbridge performs judicial and quasi-judicial functions, including conducting registrar's hearings, assessments, and other matters set out by statute or the Rules of Court or referred by a judge of the Court of Appeal. He manages the Office of the Registrar and provides legal, technical, and procedural direction to the Deputy Registrars and provides oversight to the Registry and its staff.

    Outerbridge was previously Legal Counsel to the British Columbia Court of Appeal, where he worked as legal counsel to the Chief Justice of British Columbia. He also supervised the Law Clerk program and acted as the Court's principal contact with the media. Prior to that, he worked as an associate and research director with Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP and was an articling student and associate at Field Law LLP.

    Outerbridge holds a BA from McGill University, MA from the University of Toronto, and a JD from the University of Alberta.

  • Ilana Schrager

    Manager, Professional Growth & Management
    McMillan LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    As Manager, Professional Growth & Management, Ilana Schrager is responsible for all aspects of the student programs for the Vancouver and Calgary offices of McMillan LLP, including the recruitment, development, performance management, and mentorship of summer and articling students. She also assists with various aspects of the associate programs in Vancouver and Calgary, and is an active member of the firm's Inclusion and Diversity Committee.

    Prior to joining McMillan LLP, Schrager practiced litigation in the Toronto office of a global full-service law firm, where she was involved in the student and mentorship programs. She brings her previous experience as a practicing lawyer to ensure a professional and supportive environment for students and associates.

    Schrager holds a BA in Psychology (Dean's Honour Roll with Distinction) from Queen's University and JD from the University of Alberta.

  • Robert R. Shouldice

    Partner
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Vancouver, BC

    Robert (Bob) Shouldice is chair of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's National Council, and a partner in the Corporate Commercial Group. He practices corporate and commercial law in the areas of acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, energy and transportation transactions, infrastructure projects, corporate reorganizations and corporate governance matters, and is recognized as one of the top lawyers in Canada in these areas by the foremost legal ranking publications.

    Shouldice has extensive experience with a wide variety of mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and joint ventures. He also has experience with energy and transportation industry transactions and infrastructure projects and joint ventures (domestic and international), as well as privatizations and other commercial transactions involving government corporations/agencies. He advises boards of directors and executive officers on a variety of corporate governance issues, personal responsibilities and liability risks, and best practices.

    Shouldice is the President of the Vancouver / BC branch of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law Alumni Association, and a member of the Canadian Institute of Energy, Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation, Rocky Mountain Mineral Institute, and the Vancouver Board of Trade.

    Shouldice holds a BComm and LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Douglas R. Stollery, Q.C.

    Counsel, Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP
    Chancellor, University of Alberta
    Chancellor, St Stephen's College
    Vancouver, BC

    Douglas (Doug) Stollery currently serves as counsel to Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP (RMRF). He practiced with RMRF for 30 years in the areas of construction law, corporate and commercial law, insolvency law and banking law, before serving as General Counsel and Secretary of PCL Constructors Inc. He has appeared before all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

    Stollery is the Chancellor of St Stephen's College, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of CARE Canada and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. He is also a volunteer for AIDS Free World and is the President of the Stollery Charitable Foundation. He was installed as Chancellor of the University of Alberta on June 15, 2016.

    Stollery holds an LLB from the University of Alberta and an LLM from Harvard University.

  • Marcella M. Szel, Q.C.

    Board Member
    TransLink
    Vancouver, BC

    Marcella Szel has significant experience in the transportation industry and business community. From 1977 to 2009, Szel was with Canadian Pacific Railway, where she held a number of senior positions. As Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (2006-09), she was responsible for customers, freight revenues, logistics, and intermodal terminals and auto compounds in North America. Previously, she was Vice President of various areas, including marketing, government affairs, corporate strategy, law and corporate secretary.

    Szel is a past director of Port Metro Vancouver, Global Transportation Hub (Saskatchewan) and a past board member of Export Development Canada and Consolidated Fastfrate. She has been extensively involved in the business community, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Chair 1998-1999), Western Transportation Advisory Committee (Chair 2007-2009), Coal Association of Canada, Canadian Unity Council, BC Business Council, Canada-US Law Institute, Alberta Economic Development Authority, University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine Dean's Advisory Committee, and a member of a group that founded a Calgary chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

    Szel holds a BA (Honours) and LLB from the University of Alberta.

  • Deborah Lynn Zutter

    Mediator
    Vancouver Transportation Network
    Vancouver, BC

    Deborah Lynn Zutter practiced law for 33 years until December 2012. Certified as a Comprehensive Family Law Mediator with Family Mediation Canada, Zutter now practices mediation in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

    Zutter is a member of the BC Mediator Roster (Family). She was past-chair at the Alternate Dispute Resolution Task Force (Law Society of British Columbia), and National Alternate Dispute Resolution Section (Canadian Bar Association). She is a conflict resolution trainer and frequent public speaker who has taught mediation at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.

    Zutter holds a BA and LLB from the University of Alberta.