Brendan is a litigation and appellate lawyer in the areas of regulatory, public, constitutional, administrative, civil, commercial, criminal and international law.
He has acted as defence counsel on complex criminal and regulatory matters including homicides, commercial offences (charges of fraud, charges under the Securities Act, Consumer Protection Act, Income Tax Act etc.), commercial transportation offences, environmental offences, as well as Occupation Health and Safety charges where serious injury or death has occurred. Further, Brendan acts as defence counsel on all forms of charges under the Safety Code Act (Building Code, Fire Code, and Electrical Code etc.).
Whether acting for an individual or a Fortune 500 Company, Brendan uses his knowledge of constitutional, regulatory and criminal procedure to ensure the best outcomes for his clients.
Brendan’s constitutional law practice involves invoking the constitution to defend businesses and individuals’ rights against government activity and unconstitutional legislation, and includes First Nations rights. He has been counsel on numerous precedent-setting cases in the area, he holds a Masters of Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School where he studied under some of Canada’s most noteworthy constitutional practitioners and scholars.
He has acted as counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta including the Provincial Court, Court of Queen's Bench, and Court of Appeal. He has also acted as counsel before the Superior Court of the Yukon Territory, Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, the Federal Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal and as lead counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Further, Brendan has acted as counsel before countless administrative tribunals, commissions and boards including:
- The Alberta Securities Commission
- Canadian International Trade Tribunal
- Law Society of Alberta
- Chartered Accountants of Alberta Disciplinary Tribunal
- Alberta College of Social Work Disciplinary Tribunal
- Alberta Insurance Council
- Alberta Teachers Association
- Parole Board of Canada Appeal Division
- Municipal Councils
- Subdivision and Development Appeal Boards
- Service Canada Board of Referees
- Transportation and Safety Board of Alberta
- Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council
- Alberta Legislature’s Ethics Commissioner
- Alberta Chief Electoral Officer
His commercial practice involves all areas of commercial litigation, and he also acts in all manner of corporate, partnership and other business association disputes. He has experience in acting for employees and employers in high conflict wrongful and constructive dismissal litigation.
Brendan has been trusted by lawyers and police officers to conduct matters on their behalf when they find themselves before courts and tribunals.
He regularly conducts appeals and judicial reviews in all areas of law for a diverse range of clients from large corporations to individuals.
Since 2009 Brendan has been a guest lecturer at Mount Royal University in constitutional rights. He has also been an instructor in the Trial Advocacy Course at the University of Calgary Law School since 2015.
In 2019, Brendan was both an editor and contributor of the Alberta Limitations Manual, published by Lexis. He is a co-founder of a pro bono legal clinic at Wellspring Wellness Centre where he provides people going through cancer treatment, as well as their families, legal advice in various areas of law.
