MLT Aikins wishes to congratulate Edmonton lawyers Colleen Verville and Garnet Matsuba, recipients of the 2020 Queen’s Counsel designation.
Minister of Justice and Solicitor General (Alberta) Doug Schweitzer has announced MLT Aikins lawyers Colleen Verville and Garnet Matsuba as recipients of the honourary title of Queen’s Counsel in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the Alberta legal community.
The Queen’s Counsel designation is awarded to lawyers who are found to have made a significant contribution to the legal profession or public life in the province, as determined by the Lieutenant Governor in General. This distinction dates back to the 16th century in England, and recognizes consistently high standards of practice and distinguished service to the profession.
Read the complete list of appointees from the Province of Alberta.
About Colleen Verville
Colleen focuses on Aboriginal law and employment, labour and human rights.
Her areas of expertise include: employment agreements, non-competition agreements, injunction applications, Canada Labour Code adjudications, personnel policies, drug and alcohol policies, sexual harassment policies, election codes, membership codes, wrongful dismissal actions, human rights complaints, election disputes, general commercial litigation, privacy policies, judicial reviews, demand letters, trespass by-laws, banishment by-laws, by-laws, negotiations and business immigration. Additionally, Colleen has extensive experience in forensic litigation, workplace harassment investigations and TLE negotiations on behalf of First Nations.
Colleen is called to the bar in Alberta and the North West Territories. However, she practises throughout Canada for firm clients who are deemed federal employers. She has appeared numerous times on behalf of clients before the following courts and tribunals: The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench and Alberta Court of Appeal, The Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, The Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, Canada Labour Code Adjudications, Federal and Provincial Privacy Tribunals, The Alberta Human Rights Tribunal and The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
About Garnet Matsuba
Garnet practises in the area of taxation which includes Canadian and international corporate tax planning, corporate reorganizations, tax-efficient business structuring, business succession planning, and estate planning and administration. Garnet services clients ranging from small-to mid-size owner managed businesses to private and public multinational enterprises, spanning a wide variety of industry sectors.
His numerous academic achievements include winning the T. Eaton Company Gold Medal on earning his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the age of 18, and the Judges’ Bronze Medal on earning his Bachelor of Laws degree at the age of 21. He has served as a Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and is currently on the Law Society of Alberta Audit and Finance Committee. He was selected as Young Canadian Achiever for Edmonton-Strathcona and named the Northern Alberta representative to the Federal Advisory Committee for International Youth Year in 1985.