Deborah R. Hatch
Widely recognized as a senior and formidable trial and appellate lawyer, Deborah has practiced law for 25 years. She has argued over 120 cases in the highest court in Alberta, the Court of Appeal, and numerous other appeals in the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Queen’s Bench. She represents both individual and corporate clients facing criminal and quasi-criminal matters, including environmental, and regulatory charges. She is especially experienced and recognized for her handling of sexual assault and jury cases.
Outside of court, Deborah has sat on the Law Society of Alberta’s Criminal Practice Advisory Committee and the Credentials and Education Committee, and served as President of the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association in 2009-2011. She has also served as a Director of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers since 2012 and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2018. She has taught The Law of Evidence at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, and is an Advocacy Adviser with the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. Her most important endorsement, though, comes from other lawyers, who frequently refer cases to her in recognition of her tenacity, intellect, experience, and willingness to work hard for clients to achieve the best results.
Caitlin Dick
Caitlin’s accomplished legal practice focuses on criminal defence trial work and appeals, as well as some administrative law. She has argued criminal cases at all levels of court in Canada, including jury trials at the Court of King's Bench, criminal appeals at the Court of King’s Bench, the Court of Appeal of Alberta, the Court of Appeal of Saskatchewan, and at the Supreme Court of Canada. She is no stranger to complex or novel legal matters and has represented clients facing serious allegations including sexual offences, drug trafficking, fraud, and murder. Her fearlessness, creativity, extensive preparation, and commitment to achieving the best results for her clients drive her representation and lead to other lawyers and community professionals referring clients to her, knowing they will be well-represented.
In addition to her criminal defence work, Caitlin's skill set includes policing-related litigation. She is the Vice Chair of the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association's Policing Committee and takes on a select number of non-criminal cases relating to police accountability issues. Caitlin has also defended many impaired driving matters under the SafeRoads Alberta legislation at the initial review stage, and has achieved precedent-setting results at the judicial review level.
Prior to law school, Caitlin received a Bachelor of Social Work Degree and worked as a social worker/support worker in a variety of environments. This unique background provides her with a holistic, client-centred, and trauma-informed approach to her legal practice. She has particular experience and knowledge around representing Indigenous and racialized clients, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people involved in the sex trade, and people with complex mental health and/or addiction issues. Her community involvement includes a role on the executive board of the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association, as a panel presenter for the Centre for Race and Culture (Racialization and the Criminal Justice System), as a presenter at the Public Interest Alberta Annual Conference (Legal Observer Training), and as a volunteer and performer with local theatre and improv companies.
Caitlin accepts some cases on Legal Aid and is a member of Legal Aid Alberta’s Major Cases Panel, a panel of a limited number of lawyers who accept serious and complex criminal matters on Legal Aid.