Balfour Der, K.C.

Wendy E. Best has a well-established family law practice and has earned ongoing recognition as a leading family law practitioner since being called to the bar in 1980. She joined Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 1982 and became partner in 1986. Wendy was appointed King's Counsel in 1994. She acts primarily for high net worth individuals and families. While she settles most matters, Wendy’s practice includes litigation. She was inducted as a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawye...

Christopher Nixon is counsel in the Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups. His practice focuses on business law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures, private equity, corporate and trust reorganizations and corporate governance. Chris’ practice involves both transactional and advisory assignments, representing, among others, oil and gas exploration entities, oilfield service entities, investment funds and investment dealers in C...

Aaron Martens, KC is a family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator and Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer. He joined Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 1998 and is a partner in the firm. Aaron’s experience in family law matters includes being counsel on a wide variety of family and special chambers applications. He has represented clients in trials at Provincial Court and the King's Counsel, and has made appearances at the Court of Appeal of Alberta. Aaron also does adoption work. Aaron ...

Shannon joined Parlee McLaws as an associate in 2003 following the completion of her articles with the firm. She has focused her practice in the area of civil litigation, with a primary emphasis on oil and gas litigation and insurance defence matters. Specifically, in the oil and gas context, Shannon has extensive experience litigating all aspects of the industry including: Lease disputes Drilling contracts Service Agreements Constructive dismissal Breach of fiduciary duties Breach of confide...

Beth Younggren is a member of Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP ’s civil litigation and dispute resolution team. She joined the firm in 2015 after articling with and then working as associate counsel at a large multi-national law firm in its civil litigation group. Beth maintains a diverse commercial litigation practice, and specializes in advising clients with respect to construction litigation, including builders’ liens, contractual disputes, especially in the oil and gas and real estate...

Joshua is a solicitor with a primary focus in corporate, commercial, and real estate matters. His approach is to work closely from the outset with clients to move matters forward. In his commercial law practice, Joshua regularly advises clients who are operating in a multitude of industries and business sectors on purchases and sales of businesses, mergers, secured transactions & financing, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate governance, and reorganizations . He enjoys a broad real esta...

Stacey has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since her call to the Bar in 2014, and between 2010 and 2014 she worked and/or volunteered with Family Justice Services (now Resolution Services) at the Calgary Courts Centre as a judicial clerk/intake worker assisting individuals with Family Law matters. Stacey believes that clients are best served through the use of alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration, and as such will encourage people to consi...

Ben Hudson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Ben, who practices law in Calgary, Alberta, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ben is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Carey was told by many that ‘she should be a lawyer when she grew up’. So, she did just that. Carey was raised in Calgary, Alberta taking both her Bachelor of Arts Degree, and later her Bachelor of Laws Degree at the University of Calgary. After obtaining her Law Degree in 2010, Carey articled at a mid-size firm. Shortly thereafter Carey worked with Pam Bell as a young associate. It was there she discovered her love of family law. Carey’s love of family law is grounded in he...

Practising extensively in the area of debt capital markets, Howard MacKichan's primary focus is on private placements by US and Canadian institutional investors in the Canadian energy and resources market. Funds have been placed in Canadian and US dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling. Mr. MacKichan has been a fellow of the American College of Investment Counsel since 1992, one of only a few Canadian members, and was a member of the committee developing the ACIC's model form agreements. He has s...