Melissa Burkett

Melissa N. Burkett holds degrees from New York University (LL.M.), Université de Moncton (LL.B.), and University of Manitoba (LL.B.) and is called to the Bars of Manitoba and Alberta. She is a senior litigator with Alberta Justice, Legal Services Division, based in Calgary. She represents and advises the Crown, ministries, and boards in litigation, administrative, regulatory and arbitral proceedings. She is experienced in matters such as judicial reviews, complex commercial disputes, construction disputes, energy disputes, and environmental liability matters. Melissa has appeared as lead or co-counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta and in Manitoba, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Tax Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and various tribunals and boards. She also acts as Inquiry Counsel appointed pursuant to the Alberta Fatality Inquiries Act.

In addition to her practice, Melissa is a Director of the Advocates’ Society, Vice-President of the Association of Women Lawyers, Vice Chair of the CBA Public Sector Lawyers section, a Civil Procedure Sessional Instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, the coach of the University of Calgary Laskin Moot team, and a volunteer with Calgary Legal Guidance.

Melissa is the recipient of the 2021 Women in Law Leadership Award for Leadership in the Profession (In-House/Government) and the 2022 Calgary Black Chambers Achievement Award in Law.