Our Board is comprised of 24 Benchers. Twenty are lawyers elected by the profession and four are public representatives appointed by the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.
Benchers
President
Dentons Canada LLP
2500 Stantec Tower
10220 – 103rd Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 0K4
Darlene Scott was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She studied economics in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta from 1978–1981 and obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1984. She is a senior partner in the Edmonton office of Dentons Canada LLP and practises in the areas of commercial law, real estate and lending. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in corporate law, real estate and financial services.
Darlene has been an instructor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and Faculty of Extension, at Legal Education Society of Alberta Bar Admission Courses and has been a panelist and chair at numerous Legal Education Society of Alberta conferences. From 2009–2014, she acted as a Director and Secretary of Little Warriors, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of childhood sexual abuse.
Darlene served as the Chair of the Alberta Law Foundation and as Chair of the Law Society’s Conduct, Credentials and Education, and Real Estate Practice Advisory Committees. Darlene served on the Nominating Committee in 2017 and has served on the Executive Committee of the Law Society since 2015.
Darlene has chaired Policy, Audit & Finance and she is currently serving as President. She currently serves on the board of KV Mortgage Fund Inc. and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta.
Darlene joined the Law Society of Alberta Board in 2014.
President-Elect
Gowling WLG
#1600, 421 7 Avenue
Calgary, AB T2P 4K9
Ken Warren was called to the Bar in 1986. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary. He also completed the Harvard Mediation Workshop in 2000.
Ken is a partner at Gowling WLG, where he practises in the area of commercial dispute resolution with a focus on shareholder disputes, professional liability defence, executive employment law and mediation. He is recognized by Best Lawyers and Lexpert in Corporate Commercial Litigation and by Best Lawyers in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Ken served as the managing partner of Gowling WLG’s Calgary office for nine years, stepping down in 2016. He has practised with one firm for his entire career.
He is an active member of his community and profession. He served on the Board of the Calgary Urban Project Society from 2010–2017, served on numerous Law Society of Alberta committees continuously since 1993 and has regularly lectured in the CPLED program.
Ken joined the Law Society of Alberta Board in 2018.
Crown Prosecutor’s Office
6th Floor South
10365 – 97th Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3W7
Sony Ahluwalia was born and raised in Uganda and later in London, England, completing his LLB in Canada. For the last 12 years, he has worked as a Crown prosecutor with the provincial government and currently as an Assistant Chief Crown prosecutor with Alberta Justice in Edmonton. In addition to the in-house training, courses through the Law Society and training through Osgoode Professional, Sony completed his LLM at Osgoode in Criminal Law and Procedure.
Sony has mentored Criminology programme students from the University of Alberta and presented to volunteers at victim services and sexual assault centres dealing with sexual violence. Sony presents to high school classes on the issue of consent in sexual assault. He has worked with members of his faith community to serve at inner city shelters and served as an electoral officer at his Gurdwara.
Huckvale LLP
410 6 Street South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 2C9
Ryan Anderson’s practice is based in Lethbridge. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and law degree from the University of Calgary. He returned to his rural roots after law school and has been living in his home town of Magrath and practising in the Lethbridge area. His practice consists of agricultural transactions and finance, wills and estates, and family law disputes, including work as a mediator.
Ryan has served in many areas including the Chair of a non-profit serving individuals with developmental disabilities, Lethbridge Bar Association, Economic Development and Scouts Canada. He has taught courses for the Lethbridge College (Business Law), Lethbridge Public Legal Education (Wills and Estates), and the Legal Education Society of Alberta (Family Law Issues). Ryan joined the Board in 2018.
Torys LLP
4600 Eight Avenue Place East
525 8th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 1G1
Lou is a 1986 graduate of the University of Calgary and was called to the Alberta bar in 1987. He is managing partner of the Calgary office of Torys LLP and received his Queen’s Counsel designation in 2020.
As regulatory and environmental counsel and a commercial litigator, Lou’s practice involves representing clients before administrative tribunals and the courts.
Lou is dedicated to the mentoring and coaching of young lawyers as they navigate their career paths. He has been an instructor in civil procedure, advocacy and trial preparation for the Law Society of Alberta Bar Admission course, a member of the Law Society of Alberta Civil Practice Advisory Committee and the Sub-Committee on Discovery Reform and lectured on behalf of the Legal Education Society of Alberta. Lou is a member of the Energy Bar Association (Canada) and sits on the Organizing Committee for the Energy Regulatory Forum.
Duncan Craig LLP
2800 Scotia Place
10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3V9
Ted graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Major: Political Science) in 1985 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1988. He articled at Bennett Jones and was called to the Alberta bar in 1989. Ted continued to work at Bennett Jones until June 1998, when he joined Duncan and Craig LLP, where he is a partner. Over the past 31 years, he has practised in all areas of general and commercial litigation.
Ted has lectured at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension; Legal Education Society of Alberta; Law Society of Alberta Bar Admission Course (guest lecturer); Canadian Bar Association Mid-Winter Meetings; Canadian Bar Association Subsections; Canadian Defence Lawyers; University of Windsor Law School and to private industry.
Ted is a former member of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Board of Ethics, the St. Stephen’s College Ethics Review Board and the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild. He sits on the board of the Edmonton People in Need Housing Society and the Frank J Flaman Charity Board.
Muessle Flett Law LLP
201 – 112 Riverstone Ridge
Fort McMurray, AB T9K 1S6
Corie Flett was called to the bar in 2011 in Fort McMurray, where she continues to practise. Corie is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. She is a founding partner at Muessle Flett Law LLP, with a primary focus in family law.
Corie has gained extensive board and governance knowledge over the years from her involvement in the legal profession and community, including the CBA Alberta Branch Executive Council, the CBA National subcommittee on judicial issues, the Law Society of Alberta Credentials and Education Committee, Pro Bono Law Alberta, the Northern Lights Health Foundation and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority.
Corie joined the Board in 2018.
Elizabeth Hak is a public representative Bencher. She has a B. Sc. in Genetic Toxicology and a Journalism diploma. She worked at the RCMP Forensic Laboratory in Edmonton, Alberta as an Alcohol Expert for 12 years. She has extensive writing and decision-making experience.
Since 2011, she has served on a number of boards and councils including the Alberta Transportation Safety Board, the AISH/IES Appeal Panel and the Licence and Community Standards Appeal Board in Calgary. Elizabeth was a public member with the Life Insurance Council of Alberta and the Alberta College of Combined Laboratory and X-ray Technologists.
Elizabeth is currently a member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada and is a public member with the General Insurance Council of Alberta.
Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP
10150 100 St NW #600
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0P6
Bill Hendsbee was born and raised in southern Ontario and received his Honours Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Western Ontario. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1993 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1994 as well as the Northwest Territories Bar in 1997. Bill is a partner at Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP, where he has practised exclusively in plaintiff personal injury law for more than two decades.
Bill has served as President of the Edmonton Bar Association and as President of the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA). He has volunteered his time to chair and speak at seminars for both the Legal Education Society of Alberta and ACTLA.
Bill is active in his community, serving as a Board Member of Spinal Cord Injury Alberta and he chaired a golf tournament in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation for 10 years. He has also been involved in the sports community, serving as Commissioner of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference since 2006; while also having served as the President of the Alberta Climbing Association and as a Board Member of both Climbing Canada and the Paralympic Sports Association.
Bill joined the Board in 2018.
Parkland Fuel Corporation
1800, 240 – 4th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 4H4
Born and raised in Nigeria, Kene obtained his law degree from Abia State University in 1997 and licensure from the Nigerian Law School Abuja in 2000. He went on to obtain a Master of Laws degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland in 2004.
Kene relocated to Canada and completed his composite articles at DLA Piper Canada and Imperial Oil. He then joined Blake, Cassels and Graydon as an Associate in 2017, before moving on to his current role as legal counsel with Parkland Corporation.
Kene served on the Law Society of Alberta’s Bencher Election Task Force and he volunteers at the Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project with Pro Bono Law Alberta. He serves as a mentor to law students through the Canadian Bar Association mentor program, and to internationally trained lawyers in Calgary through Global Lawyers of Canada. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Global Lawyers of Canada, Calgary Black Chambers and Our Saviour Anglican Church.
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
2400, 525 – 8 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 1G1
Cal Johnson was born and raised in Calgary and attended the University of Alberta where he graduated with his Bachelor of Laws. He is currently counsel with Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLP where he has been for over 40 years.
Cal has chaired and served on the Board of Directors of Vertigo Theatre and has also served on the Board of Directors of the United Way, the Springbank Community Planning Association and the Doorway (Moving People off the Street).
He has been named in the Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Natural Resources Law annually since 2008, in the area of Project Finance Law annually since 2012 and in the area of Banking & Finance Law annually since 2013. He has chaired the South Alberta Real Estate Subsection of the CBA and was Chair, South Alberta, for the Joint Legislative Review Committee of Law Society of Alberta and Canadian Bar Association.
Cal also taught law at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, has instructed in the Bar Admission Course and currently instructs in the Professional Responsibility section of CPLED.
Cal joined the Board in 2013.
Dartnell Lutz
607, 888 4 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0V2
Jim Lutz was born and raised in Calgary. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University and his law degree from the University of Wales. Jim works at Dartnell Lutz, where he practises criminal law and represents individuals in front of disciplinary boards.
He is a Past President of the Calgary Bar Association and has lectured at the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology as a member of the Calgary Bar Association, Criminal Trial Lawyers Association and Criminal Defence Lawyers Association.
Jim joined the Board in 2018.
Barbara McKinley is a public representative Bencher. She is the owner of The Worker’s Advocate, where she has worked as an advocate and appeals representative for over 20 years. She has extensive experience interpreting and applying legislation and policy in order to participate in appeal hearings, prepare written arguments and facilitate communication between individuals, unions and the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB).
Barbara served two years as a member on the Alberta Federation of Labour Committee on WCB and Health and Safety, the Technical Working Group on Occupational Health and Safety Code, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Disability Appeals Panel, and as Chair for the Alberta Labour Coalition on Worker’s Compensation.
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics and French and a Bachelor of Music degree both from the University of Alberta.
Warren Sinclair LLP
600, 4911 51 Street
Red Deer, AB T4N 6V4
Bud Melnyk was born and raised in Edmonton where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1985. After completing his law degree in 1990 at the University of Alberta, Bud began practising law in Red Deer, and has been an active member of the bar since 1991. He is currently a partner with the law firm of Warren Sinclair LLP.
In 2017, Bud was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch). In 2010, he was awarded the Prism Award for outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services in central Alberta. He is a current member of the Family Law Rules Advisory Committee. In addition, Bud has been a chair and presenter at Legal Education Society of Alberta conferences dealing with family law.
Bud has also been an active member of the community where he has been the Run Director for the CIBC Run for the Cure, Canadian Cancer Society since 2016. He is also a past board member with the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Red Deer and an ongoing volunteer with the Festival of Trees (fundraiser for the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation).
Bud joined the Board in 2018.
Alberta Law Reform Institute
402 Law Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5
For the past 19 years, Sandra has worked at the Alberta Law Reform Institute – first as legal counsel, then research manager and now Executive Director. Sandra is passionate about developing policy solutions so that the law keeps pace with societal change. Before moving to law reform, she was a tenured academic in New Zealand where she taught statutory interpretation, legislative drafting, torts and jurisprudence. Since returning to Canada, Sandra has facilitated professional law reform training for lawyers across Canada and delivered dedicated seminars to lawyers from South Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago. Sandra holds an MBA and completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Not for Profit program.
Sandra’s professional experience includes service on: the Legal Education Society of Alberta, Board of Directors (2014–20); Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch Council (2012–19); CBA Alberta Governance Review Task Force (2017–18); Federation of Law Reform Agencies of Canada, President (2014–17); Uniform Law Conference of Canada, Alberta delegate (2007–present); Uniform Interpretation Act Working Committee (2011–14); and the Uniform Wills Act Working Committee (2010–13).
Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
Suite 800 Lancaster Building
304-8 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 1C2
Stacy Petriuk was born and raised in Calgary. She received her BA from Queen’s University in 1991, her LLB from the University of Calgary in 1996 and her LLM from the University of Cambridge in 2001.
Stacy is a partner at JSS Barristers, a civil litigation boutique, where she was the Managing Partner from 2015 to 2017. Her practice focuses exclusively in civil litigation, with an emphasis on professional negligence defence work and commercial litigation.
She is active in her community and was a member of the board of directors of the Calgary Arts Development Authority from 2014 to 2020. She has presented at numerous seminars in Calgary and Edmonton on diverse civil litigation topics including e-trials, e-discovery, drafting pleadings and the Rules of Court.
Stacy joined the Board in 2018.
Alberta Securities Commission
#600, 250 5 Street
Calgary, AB T2P 0R4
Deanna Steblyk was called to the Alberta Bar in 1999, and she has practised law in Calgary ever since. She received her law degree from the University of Alberta in 1998 (With Distinction), after completion of her undergraduate degree in English (First Class Honours) at the University of Calgary.
After 10 years in private practice as a civil litigator, Deanna accepted a position as litigation counsel for the Alberta Securities Commission, where she prosecuted breaches of the Alberta Securities Act before the Commission and the Provincial Court of Alberta (Criminal Division). In 2017 she moved to the Office of the Vice-Chairs of the Alberta Securities Commission, where she assists Commission adjudicators with legal research, preparation of oral and written decisions, and policy matters.
Deanna has always had a strong interest in public service, and has worked in a wide variety of volunteer capacities. She is the Chair of the Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors, a director and Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Humane Society, Past President of the Association of Women Lawyers, Past Chair of the CBA Alberta’s Civil Litigation subsection (south), and a regular guest instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.
Since 2003, she has served on several Law Society committees, including Conduct, Finance, Credentials and Education, and the 100th Anniversary Celebration Steering Committee.
Deanna joined the Board in 2018.
Justice and Solicitor General (AB), Dept. of
Constitutional Law, 4th Flr., Bowker Bldg.
9833-109 St.
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8
Margaret Unsworth was born and raised in Edmonton where she received her Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.
She is the Director of Constitutional Law with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. As a legal advisor to the Government of Alberta for the past 30 years, her practice covers a wide range of constitutional and human rights questions from division of powers issues to Charter rights and constitutional conventions. Margaret is an experienced litigator who has represented the Attorney General of Alberta at all levels of Alberta Courts and has appeared numerous times before the Supreme Court of Canada, most recently as lead counsel for Alberta on the Senate Reference.
Margaret has served on the Executive of the Civil Litigation and Constitutional Law sections of the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch) and continues to speak at CBA sections. In addition, she is actively involved with the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, assisting in the mooting program and speaking on an ad hoc basis.
Margaret has received numerous awards for work on team projects within Alberta, on intergovernmental projects, like the incorporation of Banff, and has been recognized for her dedication to the future of the profession through her work as mentor and coach.
Margaret joined the Board in 2016.
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
700 Epcor Tower
10423 101st Street
Edmonton, AB T5H 0E7
Moira received her law degree at the University of Alberta and began her career working as a prosecutor for the provincial government in rural Alberta in 2003. For the last eight years, she has worked with the federal prosecution service in Edmonton.
Moira is a founder of the New Parents’ Peer Support group with ASSIST and has volunteered with ASSIST since 2012.
Moira is excited to see that equity, diversity and inclusion are key pillars of the Law Society’s Strategic Plan.
Moira joined the Law Society of Alberta Board in 2021.
Lawson Lundell LLP
Suite 1100, 225 – 6th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 1N2
Grant obtained his law degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1982 and practised in Regina until 1988. Since moving to Calgary in 1988, Grant has practised exclusively as a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer and received his Queen’s Counsel designation in 2013. Grant has a strong commitment to serving the legal profession. He has taught the bar course and presented at several Legal Education Society of Alberta seminars. He also does an extensive amount of pro bono work every year.
Grant spends many hours each year mentoring young lawyers and also has a strong commitment to the community. He has served on and chaired many charitable and non-profit boards including the Multiple Sclerosis Society in both Saskatchewan and Alberta, the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, the Celtic Soccer Club and Glenmore Christian Academy. He has also been extensively involved in law firm management.
Cora Voyageur, PhD is a public representative Bencher. She is a Sociologist and a Professor at the University of Calgary. She teaches a variety of Criminology courses and courses about Indigenous life in Canada and around the world. She is also the faculty leader for the Indigenous Women in Leadership program at the Banff Centre.
Cora’s academic research is focused within Indigenous communities and their lived experience, including Indigenous women entrepreneurs in Alberta and Indigenous women who serve on Boards of Directors. She has participated on numerous boards and committees within Edmonton and Calgary.
Cora earned her Master of Education in Educational Foundations and her Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Alberta.
AgeCare
19655 Walden Blvd SE
Calgary, AB T2X 0N7
Salimah received her Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1999 and Masters in Clinical Social Work degree in 2000, both from the University of Calgary. She completed her Bachelor of Laws Degree at the University of Manitoba in 2003 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2004.
Salimah held several positions within the former Calgary Health Region and Alberta Health Services including Legal Counsel, Associate General Counsel and General Counsel. In November 2015, Salimah joined AgeCare, Communities of Care and Wellness as Senior Vice President, Corporate Services & General Counsel.
Salimah is a recipient of the Women in Law Leadership Award, Tomorrow’s Leader (2013) and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Community Builder Award (2018). Salimah is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association where she continues to serve as Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association National Health Law Section. Salimah is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Salimah holds two Ministerial Appointments to the Family Violence Death Review Committee and the Law Enforcement Review Panel. Salimah was recently appointed to the Mount Royal University Board of Governors.
Louise Wasylenko is a public representative Bencher. She received her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta in 1980, and her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in 1989.
Louise has extensive experience working in legal and regulatory environments, both professionally and as a board member, advising and educating on the need for commitment to professional standards and codes of conduct, adjudication and strategies for remediation.
She has played senior management roles at Bennett Jones, KPMG, and several major health care organizations and municipalities, responsible for the analysis and management of financial processes, risk management and compliance activities. Louise is semi-retired and contributes her financial expertise to several non-profit organizations.
Louise was appointed to the Board in 2015.