Michelle Andresen
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Intellectual Property Litigation
Michelle Andresen is a graduate of the University of Alberta, with degrees in both education and law. (B. Ed, 2001, LLB, 2010) She was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2011.
Michelle practices in the field of civil litigation. Her focus is on commercial and insurance matters, including motor vehicle and occupier’s liability claims, and construction litigation. Her expertise also includes intellectual property disputes. She helps her clients navigate industrial design, copyright, patent and trademark litigation, including as counsel for Reckitt Benckiser v. Jamieson Laboratories (2015), where counsel secured a groundbreaking pretrial injunction preventing the defendant from continuing its use of a brand name. The decision was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.
Michelle has represented her clients’ interests throughout Alberta, as well as through mediation and judicial dispute resolution. She is a regular speaker at the University of Alberta Law School, including its Women in Law Speaker Series and its Business of Law Speaker Series.
Michelle is deeply committed to her community. Some of her volunteer legal work includes acting as duty counsel, as well as 5 years of offering free legal advice to low income Albertans at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre. In 2015, she received Edmonton’s “Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year” award. Outside work, Michelle is dedicated athlete, and participates in many fitness-related pursuits.
Morgan M. Deacon
Morgan recently moved to McAllister LLP from an international firm where she practiced for more than a decade and was a partner for several years.
Morgan has extensive experience before all levels of court including the Federal Court. Morgan specializes in corporate commercial matters including disputes and contract matters. She also has experience with builders’ lien litigation, product liability, professional negligence and shareholder matters. She brings a practical and focussed approach to her files.
Morgan is a long-standing member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alberta, is a Director of the Royal Glenora Club and member of the Governance Committee. In her spare time, Morgan enjoys cycling and playing tennis.
Dennis B. Denis, QC
Practice Areas: Wills and Estates, Corporate Law and Real Estate
Dennis is a graduate of the University of Alberta (B.A. (Spec.)) 1980, LL.B. 1983). He was called to the Alberta Bar in 1984. In 2002, Dennis was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for community service. He obtained his Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) designation in 2010.
Dennis has been an active member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Alberta Bar Association. He is Secretary of the Legal Archives Society of Alberta and Secretary of the Alumni and Friends of the Faculty of Law. Dennis has served as a non-Bencher member of several of the Alberta Law Society’s professional regulation committees.
Dennis’ community and professional involvement include being past President of the Alumni and Friends of the Faculty of Law, serving on the executive committee of the Family Centre (The Family Service Association of Alberta), the Edmonton Public Library, Grant MacEwan University, Habitat for Humanity and the Edmonton Brain Injury Relearning Society.
Dennis has maintained a satellite office in Whitecourt, Alberta, since 1985.
Anne Ferguson Switzer, QC
Practice Areas: Family Law, Wills and Estates, Mediation and Arbitration
Anne is a graduate of the University of Alberta Law School. (LL.B. 1976). Anne was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1977, and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010.
Anne has been a sessional lecturer at the University of Alberta and a frequent panelist for the Legal Education Society of Alberta.
Anne is a past president of both the Edmonton Bar Association and the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association. She has also been involved with the Edmonton Youth Emergency Services Foundation, the Royal Glenora Club, Habitat for Humanity, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Edmonton Chapter and the Edmonton Arts Council.
Anne is actively involved in the Edmonton theatre community.
Harvey P. Hait
Practice Areas: Insurance Law, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation, Debtor/Creditor Law, Employment Law and Wills and Estates
Harvey graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in Philosophy. Harvey is a graduate of the University Of Alberta Faculty of Law. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2004.
He carries on a general litigation practice with an emphasis on insurance, employment and construction matters. Harvey has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta.
In his free time, Harvey enjoys cycling and playing his trumpet.
Darcy Christian McAllister
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Employment and Professional Liability
Darcy Christian McAllister is a graduate of the University of Alberta (B.A., 2005) and Bond University (J.D., 2007) in Queensland, Australia. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2011 and the Northwest Territories Bar in 2022.
Darcy practices in the field of civil litigation, with an emphasis on insurance matters, including professional negligence, errors and omissions, construction, occupier’s liability and motor vehicle litigation. In addition, Darcy also represents clients in corporate, commercial and employment disputes. Lastly, Darcy also regularly acts for clients in regulatory matters.
Darcy has appeared before all levels of Alberta Courts and numerous tribunals. Finally, Darcy has participated in various forms of alternative dispute resolution including numerous mediations and judicial dispute resolutions.
Since 2015, Darcy has been a member of the NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) Captioning and Court Reporting Advisory Committee.
John A. McCrae
Practice Areas: Family Law, Civil Litigation and Mediation
John obtained his law degree from the University of Alberta. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar is 1990.
A respected member of the family law bar, John has experience in all levels of Alberta Courts, but prefers to mediate matters to avoid the stress a trial places upon his clients.
John is known for providing his clients with the “straight goods”. His clients always receive an honest, intelligent and objective assessment of their situation.
David T. Parkatti
Practice Areas: Corporate Commercial Litigation, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Wills and Estates, Corporate Law and Real Estate
David was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1975.
An experienced trial lawyer, David has handled litigation in Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the Court of Appeal of Alberta and leave applications to the Supreme Court of Canada.
David has found that the management of litigation files and non litigation files to be complementary and of great assistance in remaining current with ongoing developments of the law.
David has maintained a satellite office in Athabasca since 1975, and one in St. Albert since 2001.
Dave J. Rechlo
Practice Areas: Family Law, Civil Litigation, Wills and Estates, and Real Estate
Dave is a graduate of the University of Alberta (B.A. 1999, LL.B 2004, M.B.A. 2006). He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2007.
Dave has extensive experience in all levels of Court in Alberta.
Dave is an active member of Canadian Bar Association and the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association.
Dave plays guitar, bass, drums and piano. He is fluent in French.
Norman R. St. Arnaud
Practice Areas: Real Estate, Corporate Law, Wills and Estates, Estate Litigation and Mediation and Arbitration
Norm graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta in 1977, and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1978.
As part of his corporate practice, Norm specializes in corporation reorganizations, amalgamations and acquisitions.
Norm is Vice-President of the Varscona Theatre Alliance and on the Board of Directors of St. Albert Minor Football.
Brennan St. Arnaud
Practice Areas: Real Estate, Corporate Law, Wills and Estates and Estate Litigation
Brennan is a graduate of the University of Alberta (B.A. 2015; J.D. 2020) with degrees in philosophy and law. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2021.
Brennan carries on a general practice, with a focus on wills, estate planning and administration, corporate management, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate conveyancing. In addition, Brennan has experience litigating estate, construction, builder’s lien, employment, and personal injury matters.
Brennan has represented individuals and companies at the Provincial Court of Alberta and the Court King’s Bench of Alberta.
In his free time, Brennan enjoys listening to podcasts, working out, reading, and watching the Oilers.