The Honourable Anne McLellan joins Bennett Jones LLP

28 June 2006

Bennett Jones LLP is delighted to announce that The Honourable Anne McLellan has joined the firm as Counsel in its Edmonton office.

Ms. McLellan will provide strategic advice to the firm and to its clients. Ms. McLellan has also joined a number of leading Canadian public companies as a corporate director and was recently appointed Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Alberta and the first Distinguished Scholar of the Institute for United States Policy Studies.

"I am delighted to be joining Bennett Jones, a law firm with a long and distinguished history in the province of Alberta," stated Ms. McLellan from Washington D.C., where she is attending various meetings.

"Ms. McLellan's exceptional experience dealing with cross-border developments, public security matters and issues impacting on our legal and social infrastructures will no doubt be of great benefit to our clients," says Hugh MacKinnon, the firm's National Managing Partner.

Peter Lougheed, who has been counsel to the firm since retiring as Premier of Alberta, says, "We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding Canadian public figure join the firm. I'm confident that she'll make very substantial contributions to our national progress."

Edmonton Managing Partner James Heelan further states, "The lawyers of the Edmonton office of Bennett Jones are delighted to have such a leading citizen join their team. We expect that the former Deputy Prime Minister will be of invaluable assistance to our clients."

Anne McLellan completed a distinguished career in federal politics serving four terms as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre from 1993-2006. She was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. In addition, she chaired two Cabinet committees: the Operations Committee and the Security, Public Health and Emergencies Committee.

Ms. McLellan also served as Minister of Health, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians.

Prior to entering politics, Ms. McLellan was a professor of law at the University of Alberta where she served at various times as Associate Dean and Acting Dean.

Bennett Jones is an internationally recognized Canadian law firm focused and founded on principles of professional excellence, integrity, respect and independent thought. Our firm's leadership position is reflected in the law we practice, the groundbreaking work we do, the client relationships we have, and the quality of our people.

For further information: Hugh MacKinnon, National Managing Partner, Tel: (416) 777-1200, Email: mackinnonh@bennettjones.ca

Source: newswire

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