DONNA PURCELL, K.C.
After articling at the Alberta Court of Appeal and Court of Queen’s Bench, Ms. Purcell joined the civil litigation department at a major Calgary law firm where her practice involved representing oil and gas companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, and individuals in various civil disputes.
She relocated to an Edmonton law firm focused on representing insurance companies and individuals in serious personal injury and other insurance-related matters. Her civil litigation practice includes insurance and serious personal injury, employment law and corporate/commercial disputes. Donna Purcell, K.C., has successfully appeared at all levels of Court in the province of Alberta and before various administrative tribunals. She is trained in the mediation of civil disputes. Her goal is to provide timely and cost-effective solutions to her clients, including by alternative dispute resolution processes.
She is passionately involved in her local and legal communities, including volunteering with a range of organizations, and is a generous supporter of various charitable organizations including those focused on access to justice, charities focused on youth, and various arts groups.
- Harvard Business Analytics Program, 2021
- University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, Juris Doctor, 1988
- University of Calgary, Faculty of Psychology (Honours) Program, First Class Standing, 1982-1985
- Legal Education Society of Alberta training in the Mediation of Civil Disputes (I and II) with extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution on behalf of clients
- Law Society of Alberta
- Canadian Bar Association
- Central Alberta Bar Society
- Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (Sustaining Member)
- Advocates’ Society
- American Bar Association
- Association of Women Lawyers (Calgary)
- 2022 Article in the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association Barrister magazine (Spring) Edition “A Tale of Two Courts – How Digital Transformation is Improving the Practice of Law and Access to Justice for Albertans”.
- 2021 Co-Presenter, Central Alberta Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Chapter – COVID-19, What’s an Employer to Do?
- 2021 Presenter, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce – Women Leading Change on “Digital Innovation and Remote Work”
- 2021 Presenter, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s “COVID-19 Personal Injury & Fatality – Individual and Class Actions Webinar”
- 2021 Presenter at the University of Calgary Innovation Internship Training Program on “The Business and Challenges of Small and Solo Firms”
- 2021 Panelist and Article in the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association Barrister magazine (Spring) Edition on Access to Justice Roundtable with The Honourable Chief Justice Mary T. Moreau
- 2020 Article in the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association Barrister magazine (Fall/Winter) Edition “Awareness Campaign for Access to Justice for Vulnerable Albertans during the Pandemic”
- 2020 Presenter, Scotiabank Women Initiative – Female Entrepreneur Day presentation on Innovation Disruption
- 2020 Article in the Top 100 Canadian Professionals Magazine Fall Edition on Donna Purcell QC Law
- 2020 – Alberta Protocol for Remote Questioning (part of working group during COVID-19)
- 2020 – Co-Creator of Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s 7 Episode YouTube Survive and Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series on Virtual Litigation developed during the first weeks of COVID-19
- 2020 – Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s Survive and Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Presentation on Virtual Treatment/Virtual Experts (Episode 6)
- 2020 – Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s Survive and Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Presentation on Virtual Mediation (Episode 3)
- 2020 – Canadian Bar Association National Podcast interview for “The Every Lawyer” on Managing During the Pandemic: An “Outside the Big Cities” Roundtable Discussion
- 2020 – Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s Survive and Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Presentation on Virtual Questioning (Episode 2)
- 2020 – Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s Survive and Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Presentation on Virtual Meetings with Clients, Employees and Lawyers (Episode 1)
- 2020 – Canadian Bar Association “Keeping Small and Solo Firms Going in Uncertain Times” webinar during COVID-19
- 2020 – University of Calgary, Small & Regional Firm Day Panel (2015, 2017)
- 2019 – Presentation on “The Role of Questioning in the Summary Judgment and Summary Trial Environment” to Legal Education Society of Alberta
- 2018 – Presentation on “Select Legal Issues Involved in Patient Treatment” to Collegiate Sports Medicine Inc.
- 2016 – Legal Education Society of Alberta Questioning: An Interactive Seminar for Litigators: “Managing Challenging Witnesses and Counsel”
- 2013 – Introduction of Premier Alison Redford at Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s Women’s Law Forum “Lessons Learned in Life and Law”
- 2013 – Presentation on “Current Legal Issues in Employment Law” to Central Alberta Bar Association
- 2013 – Presentation on “Current Legal Issues Surrounding Human Resources” to Certified General Accountants Association of Alberta
- 2010 – Presentation of “The New Drop Dead Rule 4.33” paper at Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association “The New Rules: An Essential Overview” Seminar
- 2010 – Presentation of “Update in Personal Injury Law: Minor Injury Regulation – What Every Lawyer Needs to Know” paper for Central Alberta Bar Association
- 2010 – Presentation of “Emerging Defence Tactics and How to Deal with Them” at Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association’s “Beat the Cap” Seminar
- 2004 – “Tort Reform 101” paper provided to the Central Alberta Bar Association
- 2003 – Presentation to Public Legal Education Network of Alberta (PLENA) member organizations – Employment Law “Tips and Traps”
- 2003 – Presentation to Municipality – Liability of Municipalities and Insurance
- 2002-2005 – Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta – World of Choices – Lawyer Facilitator
- 1998 – Presentation to Alberta Association of Insurance Adjusters – “What Defence Counsel likes to see in the Adjuster’s File” 1997
- 1997- Presentation to Alberta Dental Association – Employment Law
- 1995 – Presentation/Outreach Program on behalf of The University of Alberta, Faculty of Law – Open Forum on Gun Control – Bill C-68: Good Motives, Bad Law: Law and Firearm Control
- 1995 – Presentation at Grant MacEwan College for the Insurance Institute of Canada course on Principles and Practice of Insurance – Law and the Judicial System
- 1994 – Law Society – assisted in drafting/revising Loss Prevention Handbook section
- 1993 – Presentation to Alberta Motor Association Insurance Company – Changes to the Alberta Rules of Court – Next Step
- 1991 – Presentation to Bank of Montreal Auditor’s Group – Registrations under the Alberta Personal Property Security Act
- 1990 – Assisted in the research and preparation of “Civil Procedure and Practice: Some Recent Developments”, by G. H. Poelman and A. S. Rudakoff for (1990), 24 Alta. Law Rev. 672
- 1990 – Presentation to Credit Union Central – Part 6 of the Personal Property Security Act
- Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Changemaker Category, 2021
- Selected for the Top 50 Professional Women Magazine (North America), 2020
- Selected for the Top 100 Attorneys Magazine (North America), 2020
- Selected for the Top 100 Canadian Professionals Magazine, 2020
- Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association, Gary J. Bigg Champion of Justice Award, 2018
- Women in Law Leadership, (WILL), Award Recipient, Leadership in the Community, 2015
- Queen’s Counsel Appointment, 2011
- Prism Award for outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services, 2011
- University of Calgary Scholarship in Law, 1987
- Louise McKinney Scholarship in Law (for Highest Academic Standing), 1985
- Louise McKinney Scholarship (for Exceptional Academic Achievement), 1984
- Calgary Herald Scholarship in Social Sciences, 1983
- Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, 1982
- Texaco Merit Scholarship, 1982-1985
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 1 – Demo 1 – May 2020
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 1 – Dealing with the “Paper” Work – May 2020
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 2 – Demo 2 – May 2020
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 3 – Demo 3 – May 2020
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 5 – June 2020
- Video – Survive & Thrive Virtual Reality Lunchbox Webinar Series – Episode 6 – June 2020
- Podcast – The Every Lawyer: Keeping Small & Solo Firms Going During Uncertain Times – April 2020
- Article – Local Dancers Part of Nationally Touring Show – March 2015
- Article – Province to Move Landlord & Tenant Disputes Out of Court – July 2014
- Article – Big Brothers, Big Sisters to Benefit from Dance Contest – October 2013
- Article – Three Red Deer Lawyers Receive Queen’s Counsel Appointments – December 2011
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