Courtesy of Fred Katz Studio
The Honourable Don R. Sommerfeldt, long-time sessional instructor in Tax at the Faculty of Law and former counsel with Dentons Canada LLP in Edmonton, was sworn in as a judge of the Tax Court of Canada in a special sitting of the Court on Monday, August 24, 2015, at a ceremony held at the Law Courts in Edmonton.
The ceremony was presided over by the Chief Justice of the Tax Court, the Honourable Eugene P. Rossiter, five members of the Tax Court of Canada, Chief Justice Catherine Fraser and Justices of the Alberta Court of Appeal, and Justices of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench. The courtroom was filled with Justice Sommerfeldt's family, friends, and colleagues from the practicing tax bar, Dentons LLP and other firms in Edmonton and Calgary.
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law connections were strong, with Dean Paul Paton and tax Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Research Chris Sprysak attending on behalf of the Faculty, and former Vice Dean and Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench Wayne Renke and Justice Russ Brown, awaiting his swearing in as the newest Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, in attendance, together with many U of A Law alumni, including Justice Sommerfeldt's sons Matt (B.Ed, 2001) and David (JD 2015).
Matt Sommerfeldt, now Legal Counsel to the Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton, formally introduced his father in a touching address to the Justices and the court. He spoke highly of his father's love for education, the importance of fairness, and most of all the dedication and loyalty his father has for his family, profession, colleagues and his community.
Mr. Willan Softley spoke on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., M.P. James Eamon, Q.C., President of the Law Society of Alberta, brought greetings on behalf of the Law Society; Steven Mandziuk, Q.C., past president of the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch, spoke on behalf of the President of the Canadian Bar Association and its members; and Mr. Stephen Raby, Q.C., a fellow member of Justice Sommerfeldt's U Alberta Law Class of 1977, spoke on behalf of the President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. Raby joked that he recalled managing to survive a tax course in law school because the evaluation was based on group work and with Justice Sommerfeldt as the group's resident expert, there was no way they could go wrong. He remembered that his own contribution was typing the paper!
Justice Sommerfeldt paid tribute to his extended and accomplished family, friends, professional colleagues, his assistant and others who have played such an important role in his personal and professional life. He reserved special thanks for the Faculty of Law, noting that Professor (now Justice) Ellen Picard had provided him a syllabus and notes for the year he was pressed into service at the last minute to teach Torts, and thanking Professor Chris Sprysak for "greensheeting" his exams!
The Faculty of Law offers sincere congratulations and best wishes to Justice Sommerfeldt on his appointment, and thanks for his many years of dedicated service to the Faculty and its students.
Bio:
Mr. Justice Sommerfeldt received a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University of Lethbridge in 1972 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1977. He also received a Master of Arts from Brigham Young University in 1974 and a Master of Laws from Cornell University in 2004. He was admitted to the Bar of Alberta in 1978 and to the bar of New York in 2004.
Mr. Justice Sommerfeldt has been with Dentons Canada LLP (formerly Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP) since 2000. Prior to that, he practiced taxation, estate planning and pensions with Edward A. Zelinsky Professional Corporation; Cruickshank Karvellas; Milner Fenerty; the Department of National Revenue (Rulings Directorate) while on secondment from Milner & Steer.
Mr. Justice Sommerfeldt is a member of the following associations: the Canadian Tax Foundation and is a past governor; the Society of trust and Estate Practitioners, the Canadian Bar Association; the Canadian Association of Law Teachers; the International Fiscal Association; and the New York State Bar Association.