Kate Andrews

It is critical that a modern Bencher table include a variety of perspectives and experiences in order to regulate a widely-varied profession responsibly and practically in the public interest. If elected, I will bring a uniquely broad view of the practice of law in Alberta, together with practical governance experience, to inform and strengthen the Law Society’s work.

My career so far has been widely varied. Since my call to the Alberta Bar in 2011, I started out with a broad litigation practice in a mid-sized regional firm; sharpened my advocacy skills in securities, shareholder activism and energy litigation at a large national firm; and practiced fairly independently on a receipts split basis in a small firm, where I focused on corporate governance, environmental, and construction law. For the past 6 years, I have worked in-house at CPKC, first handling roughly 100 active litigation matters in multiple provinces and now leading regulatory affairs for Canada and the United States, working daily with regulators on how regulations are made and applied.

These experiences have given me insight into many facets of practicing law in Alberta. I understand the pressures on my colleagues in smaller firms, the challenges faced in a larger firm and the nuances of practicing in-house. As a parent of young teens, I also keenly aware of the balancing act required by many of my colleagues to sustain a legal practice while also committing to our families’ needs. I believe that these insights will contribute to the Law Society’s ability to better serve the public interest and support the profession.

My commitment to serving the community through practical supports and sound governance is also evident in my volunteer work. I helped found and served as the chair of Lawyers for Equity, Access, and Diversity Alberta, an organization which, in addition to working toward a profession that is more representative of the population it serves, operates the Calgary Robe Bank. I am also the governance chair for the Calgary Public Library, an organization that serves all Calgarians in a myriad of ways.

The Law Society – and the legal profession – of Alberta faces many challenges, ranging from the societal to the technological. The Law Society must meet these challenges in service of the public interest, which calls for Benchers with a clear understanding of their role to make governance decisions in the public interest, to be decision makers who are unafraid to ask difficult questions, to admit what they don’t know, and really dig in to understand the issues. I believe strongly in the importance of the Law Society’s work, and I commit my experience, energy, enthusiasm, and unabashed nerdery about governance to serving the public interest as a Bencher.