Mandi Deren-Dubé

• Acts for Banks and Credit unions in secured and unsecured enforcement proceedings against individuals and corporations, including seizure of assets, foreclosure and sale of real property, and appointment of receivers across a broad range of industries, including agriculture and farming, medical and veterinary, construction, oil and gas, retail, and restaurants
• Acts for Co-operatives across Western Canada in collecting and enforcing on unpaid debts by members, as well as all types of contractual, property, and credit-related disputes
• Acts for Receivers and Trustees on legal matters arising out of commercial and personal insolvency proceedings
• Acts for shareholders and directors on shareholder disputes, including allegations of oppression and breach of fiduciary duty
• Acts for trade suppliers in the collection and enforcement of unpaid invoices
• Acts for employers in a wide variety of disputes, including claims of sexual harassment and discrimination, wrongful dismissal, and breaches of human rights legislation
• Acted for a corporation who was defrauded out of several million dollars by an independent contractor. Carried out complex enforcement proceedings following judgment
• Acted for commercial landlords in disputes over unpaid rent, the validity of certain termination clauses, and other disputes over terms of the rental agreement
• Acted for landlords in disputes before the RTDRS, as well as appeals to the Court of King’s Bench of RTDRS Orders
• Glenn Thompson (Re), 2020 BCEST 8 – Acted for the director of a corporation and successfully appealed a decision by the Director of Employment Standards that the director was personally liable for unpaid wages
• Shelter Canadian Properties Limited v Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, 2021 ABQB 217 – Acted as co-counsel for a property management company and real estate investment trust and successfully obtained judgment ($1.4 million) against their insurers for unpaid rental losses arising out of the Fort McMurray wildfire
• Pinder v HML Contracting Ltd, 2021 ABCA 207 – successfully obtained an Order for security for costs on a solicitor and client basis before the Alberta Court of Appeal. The Appeal arises out of a judgment obtained against the Defendant pursuant to a personal guarantee of the debts of a corporation, following the receivership and subsequent bankruptcy of that corporation
• HML Contracting Ltd v Twisted Pair Technical Services Inc, 2021 ABQB 899 – Acted as counsel for a contracting company that obtained a judgment on a guarantee given by one of its former business partners, following the receivership of Twisted Pair. Successfully defended an Application for a stay of the judgment on the guarantee pending the outcome of a second shareholder oppression action initiated by the individual defendant against the Plaintiff, its directors and a number of other companies
• 2189252 Alberta Inc (Tutti Fruitti Breakfast & Lunch) v Harvard Developments Corporation, 2021 ABQB 977 – Successfully defended a commercial landlord against allegations of wrongful termination of a commercial lease and an Application for relief from forfeiture
• Nixon v Gruschynski, 2022 ABQB 80 – Acted as counsel for the Plaintiff on a partial application for summary judgment against a process server who lied on an Affidavit, leading to the loss of a cause of action against a seller under a commercial real estate purchase contract
• HML Contracting Ltd v Pinder, 2022 ABCA 184 – Successfully defended an appeal of a judgment to the Alberta Court of Appeal granted against the individual defendant on a guarantee
• HML Contracting Ltd v Pinder, 2022 ABCA 185 – Successfully defended an appeal to the Alberta Court of Appeal of a decision of the Alberta Court of King’s Bench to deny a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of another action
• Nixon v Gruschynski, 2022 ABCA 205 – Successfully appealed a decision of the Alberta Court of King’s Bench dismissing an application to admit new evidence and grant partial summary judgment to the Plaintiff
• Chan (Re), 2022 ABQB 424 – Acted as counsel for the intervenor, the Alberta Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (AAIRP), on an Application for advice and direction in respect of how to resolve a conflict in case law surrounding the administration of exemptions in a bankruptcy
• Successfully obtained a Replevin Order directing the return of improperly seized assets of a contractor following a failed agreement for purchase and sale of real property
• Conducted a significant number of workplace investigations on behalf of union and non-union employers, including investigations of claims for harassment, discrimination, and racism

Mandi advises and represents businesses with all types of disputes, including but not limited to breaches of contract; commercial lease disputes and other real property disputes; construction disputes; employment issues; fraud, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty investigations and claims; shareholder disputes; and commercial debt collections and foreclosure matters. She takes a practical and results-based approach to solving problems for her clients.

With a commerce degree and past management experience in the oil and gas, construction and transportation industries, Mandi brings a strong business background and in-depth knowledge of various industries to her legal practice. Her clients include co-ops, credit unions and businesses across a wide variety of industries, including construction, farming and agriculture, and transportation.

Her insolvency and restructuring practice consists of representing secured and unsecured creditors with realizations and enforcement of security. She also assists companies in financial distress and represents shareholders and directors of insolvent corporations in navigating the insolvency process, including by defending claims against directors and officers and advising regarding shareholder disputes.

Mandi has experience with emergency and urgent applications such as injunctions, preservation of property orders, receivership applications, and other types of interim relief. She has represented clients before all levels of court in Alberta, and she has resolved disputes through litigation as well as mediation and judicial dispute resolution.

• Volunteer, Queen’s Bench Amicus Project, Pro Bono Law (Alberta)
• Volunteer, Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project, Pro Bono Law (Alberta)
• Member, Creditor and Debtor Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Labour and Employment Law Section, Canadian Bar Association

• Deans’ Honours List, Alberta School of Business (2010-2013)
• Louise McKinney Scholarship for exceptional academic achievement (2012)
• Jason Lang Scholarship for academic achievement (2011)
• Undergraduate Scholarship for academic achievement (Alberta, 2011)
• Isabel Munroe Smith Memorial Scholarship for academic achievement (2010)
• Deans’ Honours List, Faculty of Arts (2009-2010)