2024-25 Board of Directors
Calgary
Robert D. L. Bassett
Biography
Rob is a member of the Alberta Bar (2000) and the British Columbia Bar (2005). He is a career Crown Prosecutor with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General in Calgary, specializing in domestic violence, early case resolution and youth criminal justice. Rob also trained with, and was seconded to for three years, the Alberta Public Service Commission as an Indigenous Awareness co-facilitator and trainer, proudly partnering as an ally with Indigenous colleagues, Elders and Knowledge Keepers. For several years, Rob has also been volunteering as Calgary and Siksika Nation Program Facilitator and instructor for Level Justice, a Canadian charitable organization for Indigenous youth outreach and justice education. In 2022, Rob was honoured to begin his new assignment of prosecuting in Calgary Indigenous Court. While studying at UCalgary Law, Rob co-chaired the CBA Alberta Law Students Section (South) for three years. During articling, he was a member of the CBA Alberta Public Education Committee, with a mandate to improve education and access for self-represented litigants in the Alberta Court of Justice Civil Division. Rob next co-chaired the CBA Alberta Criminal Justice Section (South) with an emphasis on continuing education and membership retention. He was later elected to the CBA Alberta Council for three years, with a focus on developing a new governance framework. More recently, Rob co-chaired the CBA Alberta Access to Justice Committee and sat on the My Justice Skills Working Group, advancing public understanding of the judicial system through branch initiatives and early legal education in Alberta schools, respectively. Rob has held faculty positions at UCalgary Law and SAIT, as a sessional instructor in clinical theory and trial advocacy, as well as criminal law, respectively. He is also the Board Chair and a long-term volunteer at Student Legal Assistance at UCalgary Law, and was recently appointed as an inaugural member of the Dean's Community Council. Rob is also an appointed Program Advisory Committee Member at SAIT, for a three year term. Rob was a volunteer adjudicator of Interviewing, Negotiating and Advocacy with CPLED for several years; and is a guest speaker for CBA Alberta, UCalgary Law and LESA on prosecutions and ethics. Rob is a passionate mentor to law students and young lawyers within his office, with the CBA Alberta Mentoring Program, and with the Law Society of Alberta Mentor Express Program. Rob is a member of The Glencoe Club, where he enjoys exercising and spending time with his family, friends and colleagues. In 2022, Rob was nominated for The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) for outstanding contributions to serve Alberta, the community and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General.
Edmonton
Christopher Samuel
Biography
Christopher Samuel is currently the Director of Legal Research and Writing at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Chris obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and his law degree from the University of New Brunswick. He was elected as the valedictorian of his graduating class. After graduating from law school, Chris obtained a clerkship at the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench. He completed the remainder of his articles at the federal Department of Justice and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2011. Before joining the Faculty of Law as the Director of Legal Research and Writing, Chris worked as a crown prosecutor in the Edmonton office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Chris maintained both a trial and appellate practice and has appeared at all levels of Court in Alberta. He began teaching as a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law in 2014 and has coached the Clinton J Ford, Wilson, Gale Cup, Bowman Tax Moot, and Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law upper-year competitive moots. Currently, he teaches legal research, writing, and advocacy, criminal law, and is also responsible for coordinating the Faculty's Competitive Moot Program. Throughout his career, Chris has been actively involved in his community and in the Canadian Bar Association. He has served on the executive committees of the CBA Alberta Young Lawyers Section and the Criminal Justice Section (both provincially and nationally) and served as co-chair of the Edmonton Law Day Committee. He has also served on the Board of Rapid Fire Theatre, an award-winning local improvisational theatre company, various City of Edmonton municipal tribunals, and as the President of his community league. When he's not working, Chris can be found happily spending time with his two young children.
Calgary
Sarah Vincella Coderre
Biography
Sarah Coderre is a partner and co-founder at Bow River Law LLP in Calgary, where she primarily practices employment law, labour law, and human rights. Prior to starting her own practice, she worked for firms from boutique offices to one of the largest firms in Canada in both Calgary and Edmonton. Born and raised in Alberta, Sarah completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta, and her bachelor of laws at the University of Calgary, and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2012. Sarah has been an active CBA member for much of her career and volunteered extensively with the association in that time. She most recently served on the CBA Alberta Board of Directors from 2000 – 2022 as the young lawyer(south) director. She has also served as the vice-chair of the Labour & Employment Section, vice-chair of the Inns of Court (south) Committee, and a member of the Agenda for Justice & Advocacy Committee. A passionate advocate for civility, mentorship and diversity in the profession, Sarah is also known as a leader in the legal community outside the CBA. Among her many other roles, she is involved with the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association, served as the President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Alberta Chapter, is a director for the Association of Women Lawyers, is involved with Lawyers for Equity, Access and Diversity Alberta. Beyond her practice and volunteer work, Sarah is also the mother of two young children.
Edmonton
Kathy M. Briere
Biography
Kathy Briere is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP and serves as a member in the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. She has a highly-regarded practice focusing primarily on personal injury law, ranging from minor injuries through to catastrophic injuries. Having spent the majority of her career representing Plaintiffs in personal injury claims, Kathy has developed strong relationships with healthcare providers, allowing her to assist with her clients’ recovery and treatment. She has been recently recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada rankings for her work in Personal Injury Litigation. She also represents auto manufacturers with respect to product liability claims, and has maintained a robust real estate practice over the course of her career. She completed mediation training at Harvard University in 2012, providing her with in depth experience and tools for effective claims resolution. To complement her law practice at Dentons, Kathy is committed to giving back to the community in which she lives and works. She is heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity and provides legal counsel to the organization in the capital region and Northern Alberta. For the past several years and to present, Kathy is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Auto Insurance Working Group, advising on auto insurance reform in Alberta. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada (DRIFCan), an Alberta-based charity to fund cure-based diabetes research.
Edmonton
Kyle Kawanami
Biography
Kyle Kawanami is a partner at Emery Jamieson LLP in Edmonton where he primarily practices in civil litigation and creditors’ remedies. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law where he received his LL.B. with distinction in 2006 and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2007. Kyle first joined the CBA as a law student in 2003 and has been an engaged member ever since. An active Section member, Kyle has served as an executive member for several north Sections including Junior Lawyers (2007-08) and Creditor & Debtor Law (2008-13). He then went on to the role of North Section Coordinator in 2017-18. Apart from Sections, Kyle has also volunteered for the Edmonton Law Day Committee and the Engagement Task Force. Then in 2019, Kyle was elected to serve as one of the initial members of the CBA Alberta Board of Directors. Kyle is active within the legal community in Alberta, having served on the Law Society of Alberta Retention and Engagement Task Force, volunteering as a coach for the University of Alberta Court of Appeal Civil Moot team, and presenting a numerous seminars delivered by the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association and more. Outside of his legal practice, Kyle is also active in Edmonton’s arts community, having served on the board of directors for the Workshop West Playwrights Theater from 2009 – 2015. Kyle is also an avid sports fan, and a keen supporter of the Edmonton Elks and Edmonton Oilers.
Edmonton
Yoko Azumaya
Biography
Yoko Azumaya obtained her Law Degree from the University of Alberta in 2007 after achieving a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience and a second Master’s Degree in Psychiatry. A career path in law seemed to be the obvious choice as it is a profession that combines analytical skills and a passion for customer service. Yoko has focused her practice in Family Law, dealing with issues affecting both married and unmarried couples, including divorce, parenting, support, and division of property issues. Her goal is to help families transition through this difficult period. With this objective in mind, she is diligent in explaining not only the law but the process to her clients to reduce the emotional and psychological stress of the breakup. Yoko emphasizes the importance of negotiation and settlement to bring the fitting result to clients. However, if no other reasonable solution can be reached, she is prepared to litigate to advance the clients’ needs. She stays current with changes in the law by regularly attending legal education courses and Canadian Bar Association seminars, which enables her to provide the very best possible service to her clients. She joined Barr Picard Knisely (formally Barr Picard) in 2013 and became a partner in 2015. Barr Picard Knisely is highly regarded for its quality service in Family Law. Yoko is proud to be a part of a Family Law group that has a wealth of knowledge and years of expertise from which to draw. Yoko’s mother tongue is Japanese, having moved to Edmonton from Hiroshima, Japan in 1998. Yoko is actively involved in the Edmonton Japanese Community Association as a board member. Much of Yoko’s free time is dedicated to volunteering. She has been a member of the Law Day committee since 2008 and was responsible for organizing the Family Law Mock Trial in 2015 and 2016.
Phone: (780) 414-5400Email: yazumaya@barrpicardlaw.com
Legal Assistant: Victoria Nguyen vnguyen@barrllp.com
Admitted to the Bar: Alberta, 2008Education: 2007 LL.B. (University of Alberta)2004 M.S.C. (Psychiatry) (University of Alberta)1998 M.Sc. (Neuroscience) (University of Hiroshima)1995 B.S.C. (Physiology) (University of Hiroshima)
Member: Law Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, ADRIA
Practice Areas: Family LawWills and Estates
Lethbridge
Vancouver
Sania Chaudhry
Biography
I am an investigator and lawyer, as well as doing consulting on legal expert work related to harassment, discrimination, and bullying in the workplace and antiracism in the workplace. I obtained my JD in 2017 at UBC and my LLM in 2023 at U of C. I was formerly an employment, labour, and human rights lawyer at Forte Law, also conducting workplace investigations and respectful workplace training. Prior to that, I was Conduct Proceedings Legal Counsel at the Real Estate Council of Alberta, where I practice in administrative and regulatory law. I was prior to that in private practice, practicing in family, immigration, employment, and wills and estates, with a primary focus in administrative law, appearing before the Federal Court of Canada, Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, Provincial Court, and immigration tribunals. I have a passion for research and learning. I have published articles on legal education in anti-racism, race, policy, ongoing colonization, missing and murdered women, sexuality, islamophobia, homophobia, and power in society as well as power dynamics in small groups, in peer-reviewed journals based on my social science and legal research.
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
Nerissa Young
Biography
I graduated from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2011 with a Juris Doctor and from Western New England School of Law, in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a Master of Laws in Closely Held Businesses in 2014. I completed the National Committee on Accreditation exam process in 2015 and was called to the bar in Alberta in June 2017. I have a general practice dealing with a variety of legal matters, including, Litigation, Immigration, Family, Business (corporate and non-profit), Real Estate (residential and commercial), Administrative, Adult Guardianship and Wills & Estates. I am of Jamaican descent and travel there often. Please do not hesitate to contact me with regards to your legal concerns. Education and Recognition: University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts, 2006 Michigan University Cooley Law School, Juris Doctor, 2011 Western New England School of Law with a Master of Laws, 2014 Called to the Alberta Bar, 2017 Areas of Law: International Law and Immigration Law Family Law Corporate/Business Law Litigation Administrative Adult Guardianship & Trusteeship Real Estate Wills & Estates
Calgary
