In Memoriam -  Rod McLennan, K.C.

The legal community mourns the passing of Rod McLennan, K.C., a giant in the Alberta legal profession whose impact on Alberta's legal landscape will echo for generations. An esteemed individual who earned national acclaim for his extraordinary skills as a lawyer, Rod was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected litigators in Alberta for decades.

Rod presided over many high-profile assignments for decades. He represented clients before all levels of the Canadian judiciary with unparalleled proficiency. He had a command of the law, a strategic approach to legal issues, and employed innovative arguments which together made him a formidable advocate.

Rod was counsel on numerous high-profile litigation matters, including many of the most significant constitutional questions that came out of Alberta, and typically made their way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Rod was counsel for federal and provincial commissions of inquiry, which were very high profile and significant assignments.

In addition to his achievements as legal counsel, Rod possessed a broad business background. This allowed him to fully appreciate, understand, and hone in on the important issues for major commercial clients who had large complex issues to resolve, which often brought to bear more than just legal principles.

Rod exhibited the finest values of the legal profession. He had a comprehensive knowledge of the law, unquestioned integrity and honesty before the Court, and would turn away no client who needed his services.

Rod was appointed as King’s Counsel in 1974 and was awarded a fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1985. Rod’s community involvement included a volunteer lecturer for a number of years on advocacy at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law, co-chairing the first Law Campaign 75 to raise funds for the Faculty of Law, and he was inducted to the Faculty of Law Builders Wall in 1999.

Rod also found time for community service, including membership on the President’s Council of the University of Alberta, the President’s Circle of the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Olympic Trust of Canada, the United Way, Grant MacEwan College, and the Alberta Foundation for Environmental Excellence.

We commemorate the life of Rod McLennan, K.C., which was devoted to the advancement of the legal profession, unwavering integrity, and the pursuit of justice. His legacy will endure in the countless lives he touched, the pivotal cases he championed, and the principles he held dear. He leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations of lawyers to come.

We extend to his family, friends, and the McLennan Ross team our sincerest condolences. May the cherished memories we hold dear, bring us solace amidst this trying period.