Biography
Sarah is an Associate at Carbert Waite LLP. She summered and articled with the firm before being called to the Alberta bar in 2018. Prior to attending law school, Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing from the University of Calgary.
Sarah practices primarily in the areas of health law and estate litigation and has worked on matters before all levels of the Alberta Courts. In her health law practice, Sarah represents healthcare institutions and other health professionals on a wide range of complex issues, including medical malpractice defence. In addition to her litigation practice, Sarah also assists clients with their estate planning and administration needs.
Outside the office, Sarah volunteers with a number of organizations including the Canadian Bar Association and Pro Bono Law Alberta.
Education
- Bachelor of Commerce, University of Calgary (2013)
- J.D., University of Calgary (2017)
Professional Memberships
- Law Society of Alberta (2018)
- Canadian Bar Association
- Calgary Bar Association
- Association of Women Lawyers
Community
- Volunteer, Pro Bono Law Alberta Civil Claims Duty Counsel
- Vice-Chair, CBA Alberta Health Law (South)
Blog Posts
Estate Planning Documents: 10 Reasons to Revisit
May 6, 2020
While everyone’s situation is different, we’ve rounded up a list of 10 life events that should trigger a re-visit to your estate planning documents.
Continue ReadingEstate Planning During COVID-19
April 9, 2020
When it comes to estate planning, being armed with the right information is key. To help, here are answers to some common questions about estate planning, including some special considerations in light of COVID-19.
Continue ReadingLimiting Language: Is Your Termination Clause Actually Effective?
May 27, 2019
When the difficult decision is made to terminate an employee, one of the first things employers often turn their mind to is how much notice or pay in lieu of notice they need to provide to the employee.
Continue ReadingNo Contest Clause in Wills: MaWhinney v Scobie, 2019 ABCA 76
March 21, 2019
A no contest clause in a will is intended to discourage the beneficiaries under it from challenging the will. The clause does this by creating a condition that, typically, the beneficiary’s bequest under the will is forfeited and becomes part of the residue of the estate if they challenge the…
Continue ReadingLimits of Accommodating Marijuana Use in the Workplace
December 4, 2018
In February 2018, Canadian Family Physician, a peer-reviewed medical journal and the official publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) issued new simplified guidelines for when primary care physicians should grant a licence for medical marijuana.
Continue ReadingTestamentary Gifts and Inter Vivos Gifts, A Distinction: Seguin v Pearson
June 13, 2018
In its recent decision in Seguin v Pearson, 2018 ONCA 355 [Seguin], the Ontario Court of Appeal has clarified the distinction between the tests for challenging testamentary gifts versus inter vivos gifts (those made while a person is still living) on the basis of undue influence.
Continue ReadingGoudge Report Summary
May 22, 2018
At the request of Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Honourable Stephen Goudge, Q.C. (“Mr. Goudge”), former Justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal, conducted a review of the Ontario civil justice system as it relates to medical liability cases.
Continue ReadingWhen a Will Does Not Represent Free Will: the Kozak Estate Case and the Law of Undue Influence
April 16, 2018
What happens when a Will appears not to be the expression of the testator’s own free will, but instead, the will of another? The Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Kozak Estate (Re), 2018 ABQB 185 recently explored just such an issue.
Continue ReadingTesting the Limit: Suncor v Unifor
October 17, 2017
Alberta employers considering random drug and alcohol testing in unionized and safety sensitive environments have been waiting for the Alberta Court of Appeal’s (“ABCA”) decision in Suncor Energy Inc. v Unifor Local 707A (“Suncor”).
Continue Reading