Virginia practices as a partner at Peacock Linder Halt & Mack LLP in civil litigation, with an emphasis on the areas of commercial litigation, professional negligence defence, and insurance defence litigation. She has appeared as Counsel in all of the Courts in both British Columbia and Alberta, and as well in the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Recognitions and Rankings
• Distinguished Service Award for distinguished service to the profession – Law Society of Alberta and Canadian Bar Association – January 2017
• Best Lawyers, in Canada, for Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice, 2008 – 2020, including Lawyer of the Year 2017 and 2011, Best Lawyers, Legal Malpractice Law in Calgary
• Martindale Hubbell – Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
• Benchmark Litigation – Local Litigation Star
• LEXPERT – 2013 Zenith Award Recipient Celebrating Leading Women Lawyers
• Women in Law Leadership Award for Leadership (Broader Roles) November 2011
• Recognized by the Women of Influence as an outstanding Senior Executive, November 2011
• Invited Fellow-Litigation Counsel of America, Member of Diversity Law Institute, and Member of The Trial Lawyer Institute
• Louis St. Laurent Award – CBA National – August, 2008
• Recipient of Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of distinguished service to fellow citizens and the legal community in Canada – January, 2003
Representative Cases
• Counsel for a number of insurers involved in a variety of cases including professional negligence, directors and officers, oil and gas subrogation matters, products liability and coverage opinions.
• Counsel in a number of oil and gas disputes some involving claims exceeding $50 million with clients throughout North America.
• Counsel in tax litigation including matters exceeding $20 million.
• Counsel for several national and international pharmaceutical corporations.
• Counsel for landowners in a major provincial land expropriation.
• Counsel for several large accounting firms involving a variety of lawsuits.
Memberships and Activities
CBA Financial Services (CBAF) a not-for-profit organization which provides investment and savings products designed specifically for, and available exclusively to, the legal profession.
• Past-Chair 2015 – 2016
• Chair 2013 – 2015
• Vice-Chair 2011 – 2013
• Prior Director 2005 – 2008
Canadian Bar Insurance Association (CBIA) a not-for-profit corporation controlled and directed by lawyers which arranges for the provision of a wide range of insurance products to the members of the legal community. The Board of Directors is comprised of 24 lawyers from across Canada, which oversees all activities to ensure that they are in the best interest of the legal profession. More than 30,000 Canadians are policy holders.
• Director 2003 – 2013
• Elected Table Officer 2007 – 2013
• President 2009 – 2011
Chancery Reinsurance a Captive Reinsurance Company directed in Barbados which is used to re-insure several of the insurance programs offered by CBIA. Chancery is a 100% owned subsidiary of the CBIA.
• Director 2008 – 2013
Canadian Bar Excess Liability Association (CBELA) a subsidiary corporation of the Canadian Lawyer Insurance Association (CLIA) which is a marketing conduit owned by CBIA to facilitate the sale of excess professional liability insurance to lawyers in non-CLIA jurisdictions.
• Director 2003 – 2013
Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association (CLIA) a reciprocal insurance exchange founded by 8 Canadian Law Societies which provides professional liability coverage to the members of the participating Law Societies, including Alberta.
• CBIA appointee to the Advisory Board 2009 – 2013
Canadian Bar Association (Branch and National) a volunteer organization which is the provincial and national voice of the legal profession, speaking on issues which affect the judiciary, the administration of justice and the legal profession along with providing professional development for lawyers and public legal education.
• Elected Member of CBA Alberta Branch Executive 1998-2003 (President 2001 – 2002)
• Elected Member of Branch and National Council 1990 – 2010
• National Communications Committee 2003 – Chair – 2008 – 2009
• National Awards Committee 1997 – 2001; Chair in 2000 and 2001
• Section Coordinator 1995 – 97
• Mid-Winter Committee 1995-96
• Co-Chairperson Futures Committee 1995-96
• Futures Committee 1993-96
• Co-Chairperson, Strategic Planning Committee 1993-94
• Insurance Section Chair 1994-95
• Insurance Section Executive 1991-96
• Civil Litigation Section Chair (B.C.) 1989-90
• Civil Litigation Executive (B.C.) 1985-90
Law Societies:
• Law Society of Alberta 1990 – current
• Law Society representative member of the Joint Committee of the Law Society with the College of Physicians & Surgeons/Alberta Medical Association 1996 – 2002
• Law Society of British Columbia 1984 (non-practicing) – current
Law Society Committees:
• Bench & Bar 2003 – 2011
• Communications 2001 – 2003
• Civility Initiative 2000 – 2002
• Media training Seminar 2000 – 2002
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) an organization committed to promoting the advancement, equality, interests and well being of women in the legal profession.
• Member and Patron – current
• Steering Committee – 1994-95
• Elected President June, 1996 – December, 1997
Educational and Professional:
• Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and Member of Diversity Law Institute, Member of The Trial Law Institute
• Chair of LESA Annual Refresher Courses and Panelist;
• Canadian Institute – Instructor/Lecturer;
• Trial Advocacy Instructor/Judge
• Panelist at the Inaugural Women in Law Leadership Conference – October, 2011
