Leigh is formidable and experienced counsel, whether she is negotiating settlements or litigating in court.
Leigh was called to the Alberta Bar in 2011, and has practiced exclusively in family law since then. Prior to that, Leigh spent a year in criminal defence at a top defence firm in Winnipeg, MB where she advanced her trial advocacy and proficiency at resolving high-stress situations for clients.
Leigh brings a unique and accomplished skill set to her practice. Prior to attending law school at the University of Saskatchewan, Leigh worked as a youth and family counsellor, and then addictions manager at a treatment facility in Calgary. In addition, she was a policy analyst presenting recommendations to steering committees and politicians regarding various provincial and federal legislations.
Leigh has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from the University of Victoria, a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Masters of Law (LLM) in International Human Rights Law from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
With Leigh’s background as a family counsellor, her Masters of Law, and her trial experience in the court room, Leigh combines compassion and a focus on conflict resolution with an ability to confidently challenge complex and contested disputes in all areas of divorce and family law, including appeals.
Leigh has a special focus on international family law involving jurisdiction, relocation, and international child abduction matters. Clients routinely turn to Leigh for matters involving parenting including high-conflict parenting issues, mobility and relocation, child support, spousal support, family property, emergency protection orders, and step-parent adoptions.
Leigh advocates using alternative dispute resolution wherever possible, especially when children are involved, but readily attends court and is a tenacious litigator for her clients at all levels of the court system in Alberta. Leigh has published decisions in all three levels of court: the Alberta Court of Justice, the Court of King’s Bench, and the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Leigh is a member of the International Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Calgary Bar Association. Leigh is also one of the few lawyers in Calgary that is a Fellow in the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Leigh maintains a network and connection with family and divorce lawyers from around the world.