Our litigation group welcomes new associate Michael Low

We are pleased to welcome Michael Low who has joined our dispute resolution group as an associate.

Michael was called to the Alberta Bar in 2017 and has a broad civil litigation practice that encompasses commercial and construction disputes. His commercial practice includes advising on corporate governance litigation and shareholder oppression claims. He has also worked closely with banks, other lenders and trustees in debt recovery proceedings for corporate and consumer delinquent accounts. Michael's construction practice encompasses a wide variety of disputes that arise in large-scale construction projects from the initial bid/tender phase all the way through to end of construction, including faulty workmanship, delay claims, changes in schedule, lien claims, as well as contractual disputes.

Commenting on his recent appointment to the team, Michael said, “I am excited to be part of the BD&P team. I look forward to learning from highly respected lawyers in the pre-eminent litigation group."

Outside of the office, Michael is involved in fundraising for infants and toddlers with neuromuscular disorders with organizations such as Love for Lewiston, Muscular Dystrophy Canada and Cure SMA.

In 1989, Beverly McLachlin of Pincher Creek and University of Alberta alumna was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, and became the first female Chief Justice in 2000. Former Chief Justice McLachlin is revered as one of Canada's foremost legal minds, and has fought tirelessly to promote indigenous rights across the country.

The Honourable Mary M. Hetherington became the first woman to be appointed to the Alberta Court of Appeal in 1990. She had previously served on the District Court of Alberta (Calgary) from 1977-1978 and the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Calgary) from 1979-1985. Justice Hetherington sat on the Court of Appeal until 2012.

And finally, a reflection on historic women in the legal profession would not be complete without reference to the formidable "RBG". The late U.S Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's legacy of promoting female representation in the legal profession and her commitment to fighting for and protecting women's rights in the United States will endure for generations. RBG demonstrated how important and beneficial it is for women to be treated as equals to men, and fought well into her final days to ensure women around the world knew their value and saw their place at the table.

In the year 2021, we are still reminded of the inequalities facing women in the legal profession, and in the professional world generally. The partnerships of Canada's largest law firms are still predominantly male, with male lawyers continually out-earning their female counterparts. There is still substantial work to be done in order to see equal representation, but let us revel in the victories of the women who came before us, honour their legacies and accomplishments, and find inspiration in their work for the changes still to come.