Overview
Private sector and public sector organizations rely on Gerald (Gerry) Chipeur to navigate the rules that regulate business and government. He has provided legal advice to industry associations, advocacy groups, political parties and elected officials in Canada.
As a trial and appellate lawyer, Gerry has pleaded over 130 reported cases before administrative tribunals and every level of court in Canada, including two dozen matters before the Supreme Court of Canada. The legal issues Gerry has dealt with are diverse and include: access to information, charities, the Constitution, education, elections, freedom of information, corporate governance, healthcare, human rights, Indigenous, lobbying, municipalities, natural resources, privacy and information management, professional duties and responsibility, privacy and public safety. His scholarship includes more than 100 articles on these topics and others.
Gerry serves on the Criminal Code Review Board and teaches the Negotiation of Indigenous Rights at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. As well, he is a Centre Associate with the University of British Columbia Centre for Constitutional Law and Legal Studies.
Gerry is also active as Honorary Consul of Korea with jurisdiction for Alberta.
Professional achievements & leadership
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Litigation—Regulatory and Public Law
- LLB (1984) and LLM (1990), University of Alberta Faculty of Law
- Past Chair and Co-Chair for a number of Canadian Bar Association committees, including the national Constitutional and Human Rights Law Section and the Canada for Tomorrow Committee of the Alberta Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
- Adjunct professor at Canadian University College (now Burman University), 1993-1997
- Member, Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Alberta, 2006-2008
- King’s Counsel (appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006)
- Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for public service to Canada
- Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for public service to Alberta
- Sessional instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law
- Centre Associate of the University of British Columbia Centre for Constitutional Law and Legal Studies
Notable matters
Gerry has represented clients in cases addressing a wide range of public policy issues in Canada:
- Charity regulations
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Constitution of Canada
- Controverted elections (federal, provincial and municipal)
- Corporate governance
- Election advertising and campaign finance laws
- Environmental review and assessment
- Health care regulatory bodies and professional ethics enforcement
- Hospitals and health care privileges
- Human rights and labour relations
- Indigenous governance
- Lobbying
- Media regulation
- Municipal bylaws and administrative decisions
- Provincial and federal jurisdictional disputes
- Public health
- The regulation and funding of K-12 schools
- University accreditation and regulation
Thought leadership
- Co-Author, "Understanding rights of those with severe mental illness, substance use issues, part two" Law 360 Canada, August 4, 2023
- Co-Author, "Understanding rights of those with severe mental illness, substance use issues, part one" Law 360 Canada, August 3, 2023
- Co-Author, "Changes to Canada's Lobbyists' Code of Conduct: What to know," June 27, 2023
- Author, "Federal Lobbying and Undue Influence Rules," October 14, 2022
- Co-author, "Alberta Court of Appeal to health profession regulators: Do not unnecessarily damage reputation of a professional until all appeals have been exhausted," December 16, 2021
- Author, "A judicial weapon to fight cyber terrorists: The privacy injunction," The Lawyer's Daily, October 8, 2021
- Author, "Privacy injunctions, the judicial response to cyber ransom demands," September 30, 2021
- Co-author, "Canada Elections Act: What you can do without registering," August 20, 2021
- Co-author, "Doing Business with Government," Business Laws of Canada, 2021 Edition, Chapter 23
- Co-author, "Alberta Health Services v Farkas: Balancing the interests of freedom of information and solicitor-client privilege," Miller Thomson Health Communiqué, May 7, 2020
- Co-author, "COVID-19: The power of the government in a public health emergency," Miller Thomson Health Communiqué, March 20, 2020
- Co-author, "EY Report on Alberta Health Services," Miller Thomson Health Communiqué, February 3, 2020
- Presenter, “Legal Issues Relating to Affordable Housing and Homelessness and Municipal Law,” Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Municipal Law Section Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, December 3, 2019
- Presenter, "Treaty Right to Healthcare and Jurisdiction Over Healthcare on Reserves - Webcast," Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Administrative Law Section Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, January 10, 2019
- Co-author, "Doing Business With Government," Business Laws of Canada, Chapter 23, 2019
- Author, "Fair Recognition of Newcomer Qualifications,” Labour and Employment Communiqué, June 25, 2019
- Presenter, "Principles of Termination & Constructive Dismissal," Human Resources Management for Indigenous Organizations Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, September 19, 2018
- Presenter, "Export to Korea: Cultural, Legal and Political Considerations and Opportunities," Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership Korea Export Seminar, Regina, Saskatchewan, March 23, 2018
- Presenter, "Medical and Recreational Cannabis in the Health Industry," Miller Thomson Health Law Webinar, December 13, 2017
- A
- Author, "Alberta Health and Alberta Doctors Partner to Improve Patient Care," Miller Thomson Health Communiqué, 2016
- Author, "Changes in the Criminal Code: Employee Rights in a Time of Legal Chaos," Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, January 18, 2016
- Author, “Check List for Legislators: Towards a Canadian Approach to End of Life Choice,” 2016
- Author, “Constitutionality of the Extra-Provincial Application of Securities Law,” Exempt Edge, 2015
- Author, “Physician-assisted Suicide: Drafting Memo for Parliament,” Charter and Human Rights Litagation, 2015
- Author, “Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments in Arizona and Alberta,” Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 13, 2015
- Author, “Co-operative Federalism Reinforced: Workers’ Compensation Rules Clarified,” Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 8, 2014
- Author, “Supreme Court of Canada on Adequate Labour Tribunal Reasons,” Canadian Labour and Employment Law Blog, April 1, 2013
- Author, “The Protection of Freedom of Expression is not Just the Responsibility of the Courts,” Miller Thomson Article, 2013
- Author, “Parliament acted legally when it passed Bill C-18,” Globe and Mail, January 5, 2012
Corporate directorships
- Member, Criminal Code Review Board
- Member, Board of Directors, Harvest Operations Corp.
- Member, Board of Directors, Sherwood Care
- Member, Board of Directors, Korean War Veterans of Canada Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors, Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary
- Chair, Advisory Council, School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, 2018-2024
- Chair, Board of Directors, Calgary Homeless Foundation, 2018-2021
- Member, Board of Trustees, Canadian University College, 1985-2001
- Member, Board of Directors, Calgary Distress Centre, 2000-2001
- Member, Advisory Board, Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine, 1997-2000
- Presiding Officer, Non-profit Private Colleges Foundation, 1996-1999
- Member of the National Council of the Canadian Bar Association, 1995-1998
- Member, Board of Directors, New Home Immigration Service, 1994-1995
- Advisory Member, Board of Directors of the Greater Edmonton Foundation, 1992-1994
Bar admissions & education
- Alberta, 1985
- British Columbia, 2018
- LLM, 1990
- LLB, 1984
