The Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon the legal profession to learn more about the history of indigenous peoples, the legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous laws and Aboriginal Crown relations. Experience the Kairos Blanket Exercise to open or continue the conversation about decolonization.

From NAFTA to USMCA, learn more about the changes, ramifications and legal effects on Canadian investors and future investment in Canada. UMSCA will change the way we resolve international trade disputes. David R. Haigh, QC will demystify this hard-fought agreement drawing on his experience as an arbitrator in investor-state and commercial arbitrations.

Have you thought about changing the direction of your legal career? How do you decide? How do you know when you are ready to make the move? Join Sameera Sereda from the Counsel Network and our panelists as they introduce you to the fascinating stories of people who have walked a new path and discover the next steps to make a change.

Everybody’s talkin’ about… adult interdependent partners, marriage-like relationship, common-law spouse, prenuptial, co-habitation… In this session, join lawyers from Alberta and BC to discuss best practices in drafting agreements between adult interdependent partners, common law partners or those in a marriage-like relationship to meet the requirements of the Adult Interdependent Relations Act in Alberta and the Family Law Act in BC.

In this seminar, you will learn practical tools and skills to begin introducing a data-driven approach to your opinions, project and budget management, and practice management. We will show you how to use structured data sets to forecast litigation outcomes, case tables to spot strong and weak spots in cases, and decision-trees to create probability models.

Solicitors can also use these techniques to identify transaction risks, forecast transaction budgets with greater accuracy. Managing partners and department heads will see how to use these tools in business and practice development. You will be challenged to use a new paradigm when approaching legal problems and be inspired to innovate in your practice.

Lawyer well-being affects our ethical duty to the people we serve, to other lawyers and to ourselves. It also influences our competency. Join Shari R. Gregory, Associate Executive Director of the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program to learn about the ABA’s report, “The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change” to be inspired to change how we practice and look after ourselves.

We live in a world of constant change, yet lawyers are often viewed as conservative and resistant to change. The idea of being a "leader" and leading change can evoke a "Why me?" reaction. Join Karmen Masson, Professional Coach, Lawyer and Facilitator, as she simplifies the definition of leadership, shares the key skills of great leaders, and challenges you to consider "Why not me?"

Our annual judges’ panel brings together Chief Justice Mary Moreau of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of the Supreme Court of BC, Chief Judge Terrence J. Matchett of Alberta’s Provincial Court and Judge Marguerite (Meg) Shaw of BC’s Provincial Court. Reflecting on initiatives in the courts to help the people we serve, learn which initiatives are providing positive change.

Meet Alberta’s new Chief of Alberta’s Human Rights Commission and Tribunals, Michael Gottheil. For over 30 years, he has served as a tribunal chair, adjudicator, mediator, lawyer, and educator creatively exploring how past lessons and current realities can help shape creative policies and implementation methods to achieve and improve access to justice. As a justice leader living with vision loss, he has personal insight into our shared strengths, vulnerabilities and what each of us can contribute to positive change.

A unique opportunity to listen to The Honourable Thomas Cromwell share his perspective on moving from bench to bar. He will offer keen insight on the transition from Canada’s top court back to practice, a reversal of the more familiar tale of bar to bench, delivered with his usual light-hearted wit.

Justice Cromwell served in the Supreme Court of Canada from 2008 to 2016. Prior to this, he was a judge with the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal from 1997 to 2008. He became a companion of the Order of Canada in December 2017 for his “illustrious service as a Supreme Court justice, and for his leadership in improving access to justice for all Canadians.”

Justice Cromwell is currently Senior Counsel at Borden Ladner Gervais in Ottawa and Vancouver.