Alberta Expropriation Association 2024/2025 Executive

Melissa has a general litigation practice at Prowse Chowne LLP, with a focus on disputes regarding expropriation, privacy, civil sexual assaults, employment, administrative matters, and corporate and commercial matters.

Melissa has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta, including the Provincial Court, the Court of King’s Bench, and the Court of Appeal. Melissa believes in taking a realistic approach to assist her clients with litigation matters through risk analysis and strategy, with a mindset towards the best possible outcome.

In 2021, Melissa was successful in arguing a new tort, Public Disclosure of Private Facts, in the Court of King’s Bench, in the case of ES v Shillington, 2021 ABQB 739.

Melissa is a member of the Edmonton Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association.

Melissa Chairs the Prowse Chowne LLP Social Committee.

Outside of work and volunteer activities, Melissa enjoys spending time with her Airedale Terrier Juno.

Bio coming soon

Marika practices energy, environmental and regulatory law and litigation at the Calgary office of McLennan Ross LLP, where she regularly represents and advises developers, energy companies, governments and landowners. Marika’s experience includes working with both project proponents and landowners in projects related to the development of electricity, including power plants, transmission lines and renewable energy facilities, as well as oil and gas facilities such as wells, pipelines and processing plants.

Marika is often called upon to assist with land acquisition matters and in recent years successfully assisted the Province in negotiating agreements with landowners for large tracts of land required for a major water management project. Recently, Marika acted as second counsel to a landowner in a successful appeal of the compensation awarded by the Surface Rights Board in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench decision: Pentelechuk v Grand Rapids Pipeline GP Ltd, 2023 ABKB 692.

Marika has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta and has extensive experience before a variety of administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Natural Resources Conservation Board and Subdivision and Development Appeal Boards. Marika understands the importance of identifying the unique needs of each individual client and provides realistic and pragmatic advice that identifies solutions that best suit each client’s current and long-term goals.

Marika regularly shares her legal insight by publishing and presenting on various topics of interest to her clients.

Marika is heavily involved in various mentorship activities both inside and outside of McLennan Ross LLP, including volunteering as a mentor for law students with the Canadian Bar Association.

Marika is an avid NHL fan and in particular, a passionate Edmonton Oilers fan.

Courtney Knude has over 20 years of experience in the real estate appraisal industry focusing primarily on the appraisal of rural property. Courtney obtained her AACI designation in 2001 and has prepared reports on a wide variety of properties including farm land, ranch land, future development sites, recreational properties, acreages, equestrian properties and intensive livestock operations. Courtney’s reports have been prepared for expropriation purposes, the Surface Rights Board, the Ecological Gift Program, foreclosure purposes, divorce proceedings, financing and estate and tax settlement. Courtney has appeared as an expert witness for the Surface Rights Board and the Court of Queen’s Bench.

Brett Coley, a partner with Gettel Appraisals Ltd., is an appraiser with the AACI designation and has practiced in the real estate industry since 2005. Brett has conducted appraisals and related assignments as well as provided expert opinion evidence on properties across Alberta and in Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. He has extensive experience across all real estate sectors completing assignments for a variety of purposes including litigation, expropriation and surface rights. Brett has served on the AEA Executive as Secretary since 2018.