We are pleased to announce that Brynne Harding of the Calgary office of Law Firm Bennett Jones, is NSRLP’s latest Access to Justice All-Star!
Lawyer Brynne Harding
Brynne has over 7 years of experience in general commercial litigation practice, advising and defending clients in commercial disputes, tax disputes, and challenging administrative decisions. She also teaches Administrative Law and has been an instructor of Trial Advocacy and Legal Research in the Law school at the University of Calgary.
Brynne is a passionate Access to Justice advocate. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Bar Association of Alberta, is an active volunteer with Pro Bono Law Alberta, and represents individuals and organizations on a pro bono basis in cases of high public interest.
Brynne has done a remarkable job working with Colin Feasby of Osler Hoskin Harcourt in our recent intervention in Jonsson v Lymer at the Alberta Court of Appeal. This was a landmark case for self-represented litigants (SRLs), addressing the issue of vexatiousness, and just how careful courts should be when deciding to designate a litigant “vexatious” and restrict their future court access. As Brynne says, “The decision may well strike that needed balance between ‘maintaining reasonable access to the court, while… shielding other litigants from abusive behavior’ that the Court describes.”
The Lymer decision is a wonderful step forward for SRLs, and would not have been possible without Brynne’s dedication and hard work.
Ian Holloway, Dean of Calgary Law, had the following to say about Brynne and her work:
“Brynne Harding represents all that is good about U Calgary Law. She is an absolutely first-rate technical lawyer, but she blends that with a deep vein of empathy and compassion. I’m honoured to know her – and to be able to continue to work with her on such an important project as this!”
Thank you Brynne for your amazing work, and congratulations!