My name is John Lemieux, and I am seeking election as a Bencher.
Two decades at the bar and extensive experience across both sides of the governance table – as an executive leader and as a board director – equip me to help govern with pragmatism, curiosity, and a steadfast commitment to independence.
My Experience
I am currently the General Counsel at the University of Alberta, managing an effective team involved in governance, policy, and legal risk management, where I am routinely called upon to brief executive and board leadership. Prior to that, I served as University Secretary, the institution’s most senior governance advisor. Before joining the university, I was a partner at the Edmonton office of Dentons Canada LLP.
In my executive role, I help lead, refine, and operate a complex governance framework involving a broad scope of interest-holders, while remaining an active practitioner providing legal advice to the university across administrative decision-making, student and staff conduct, corporate structuring, and commercial transactions. I have developed a solid understanding of administrative law and the work of administrative bodies, including adjudicative processes and judicial reviews.
Throughout these roles, I have cultivated superior written and oral communication skills, complemented by a deep operational understanding of how policy choices translate into practice. This perspective is further enhanced by my board service at the Art Gallery of Alberta, where our focus is on strategic oversight, risk management, and long-term viability. I appreciate the critical boundary between governance and management, and my experience will allow me to bring disciplined, high-level oversight to the Bencher table.
Throughout my career I have maintained a commitment to legal education and mentorship, serving as Acting Director of Learning at Dentons in 2020, as a sessional law instructor at the University of Alberta, and as a mentor to students-at-law and associates. I have also pursued my own professional development, earning a Master of Laws degree, and completing formal training in ISO 37000, an international standard guiding organizational governance.
My Approach to Governance
At the heart of my career as a solicitor has been a focus on collaboration — bringing complex matters to completion by working constructively with diverse parties to achieve their commercial objectives.
Participation at a governance table similarly requires receptiveness, pragmatic objectivity, and a dedication to considering the best available data in support of decision-making. I bring this same mindset to my community service and board work.
As our profession navigates rapid technological advancement, risks, and heightened public scrutiny, I offer my personal and professional experience as a responsible steward to help the Law Society proactively address these challenges while supporting high standards of legal competence, ethics, and professional independence.
