Brendan (he/him) is a litigation and dispute resolution partner at Blakes in Calgary. He specializes in complex commercial disputes, deal litigation, and public law matters. He has significant trial, appellate litigation, and arbitration experience across a variety of industries and practice areas, including transportation (air and rail), large infrastructure projects and construction, energy, insurance, procurement, administrative law, and constitutional law. Brendan also does extensive pro bono work for the 2SLBGTQ+ community in Alberta and Canada, including for Egale, Skipping Stone, the Centre for Sexuality, and Calgary Pride. He was the co-founder of Alberta’s first legal clinic for trans and gender-diverse people and has acted as lead pro bono intervention counsel advocating for the rights of 2SLBGTQ+ people at all levels of court in Alberta and in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Brendan teaches Administrative Law at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and is part of Avenue Calgary Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2022. Before joining Blakes, Brendan clerked for the judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Honourable Justice Andromache Karakatsanis of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Dalal is a queer, racialized woman and refugee. Dalal chooses work and volunteer roles based on her lived experiences and values, and applies an intersectional approach to her advocacy work. This spring, Dalal graduated from the Peter A. Allard School of Law with a Specialization in Indigenous Legal Studies. While in law school, Dalal was Co-President of OutLaws, an executive member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers at Allard, and co-founded the Allard BIPOC Alliance.

Dalal is completing her articles at a full-service national law firm in Vancouver, after which she will spend a year clerking at the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Dalal is an active member of the queer law community and will mentor queer and racialized students and lawyers as she progresses in her career.

Gillian is currently a Trans Rights Summer Legal Fellow with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and will be entering their third year of the BCL/JD program at McGill in the fall. They are significantly involved in 2SLGBTQ+ organizing at McGill and in Montreal more generally. Prior to law school, they worked with JusticeTrans, helping to research and co-author a major needs assessment on trans access to justice in Canada. Originally from Kelowna BC, they are passionate about how law can be a tool in the fight for progress, and about fighting the current wave of queer and transphobia in and out of the courtroom.

As a trained lawyer and professional practice manager with Cain Lamarre LLP based in Montréal, Gabrielle is widely recognized for her sustained and impactful cultivation and support of emerging diverse talent in Montréal’s legal community and across Québec. Passionate about practice transformation and professional development, Mtre. Le Chasseur advocates innovation to promote a professional environment conducive to the development of new legal talent.

Gabrielle is keenly aware of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and has developed an extremely successful approach to making the business case for diversity in regional law firms in Québec.

Her work in identifying, mentoring and supporting up-and-coming members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community makes her an exemplary ally.

In a recent interview, Gabrielle remarked, “An ideal employer is consistent with their values, they influence the business community through their distinctive social contribution, and they ensure the development of the full potential of each member of their team to enable them to influence others authentically.”

Hannah Lam is a recent graduate of Queen’s University and resides in Calgary, Alberta. Her interest in public service has led her to intern at the Child Advocate’s Office, Legal Aid, and the Government of Alberta. She is currently interning at the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York and will be returning to Calgary to complete her articling year. Throughout her academic and professional journey, Hannah has been recognized for her commitment to social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities. She eagerly anticipates utilizing her legal career to help support access to justice and promote human rights.