Derek Cranna
Derek Cranna
KC
Partner,
Executive Committee Member
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Derek Cranna, KC is a member of Field Law’s Professional Regulatory and Labour and Employment practice groups, with a focus on administrative law in the context of professional regulation, policing, labour, and occupational health and safety.

Derek acts as counsel to Alberta regulatory organizations and municipal police services, particularly in the investigation, disposition and prosecution of disciplinary matters, as well as acting as independent legal counsel to disciplinary tribunals. In the policing context, he represents leaders of police and peace officer services in all matters involving professional discipline, civil litigation, employment and human rights issues. His practice includes representation of major Alberta post-secondary educational institutions in providing labour relations, human rights, policy and governance advice. Derek also provides both policy advice and representation to governmental organizations and private entities in occupational health and safety matters.

He is a member of the Alberta bar and has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta, as well as before the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also has considerable experience acting as a Presenting Officer in police disciplinary proceedings, before the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board, and before the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Derek was a member of the Board of Directors for Legal Aid Alberta from 2011 - 2017 and was the Board Chair from 2013 - 2015. He was formerly the President of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors (2020-21), and previously acted as a director for the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and of the Edmonton Inner-City Housing Society. He has been a member of Field’s Executive Committee since 2019. Derek was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) for the Province of Alberta in 2020.

Canadian Association of University Solicitors
Member
2008 - Present
Law Society of Alberta
Member
2001 - Present
Edmonton Bar Association
Member
2001 - Present
Law Society of Saskatchewan
Member
1999 - Present (non-practicing)
Canadian Bar Association
Member
1998 - Present
Administrative and Public Law
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada
2025
Labour and Employment Law
The Best Lawyers™ in Canada
2025
Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS).
President
2020 - Present
Legal Aid Alberta
Board of Directors
2011 - 2017
Legal Aid Alberta
Chair of the Board
2013 - 2015
Legal Aid Alberta
Vice-Chair of the Board
2012 - 2013
Glendale Golf and Country Club
Member, Mens Sports Committee
2006 - 2015
Pro Bono Students Canada
Volunteer Mentor
2004 - 2010
Edmonton Inner-City Housing Society
Director
2002 - 2004
University of Saskatchewan, Alumni Association
Director
2000 - 2002
University of Saskatchewan, Alumni Association
Member Communications & Finance Comm.
2000 - 2002
Conlin v. Edmonton (City) Police Service, 2021 ABCA 287
Campeau v Knecht, 2018 ABQB 504
Alberta v. Suncor Inc, 2017 ABCA 221
Deluca v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2017 ABCA 252
Deluca and Paulino v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2017 ABLERB 003, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Kozina v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2017 ABLERB 020
Engel v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2017 ABLERB 014, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Downing v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2016 ABLERB 020, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Alberta v. Suncor Energy Inc, 2016 ABQB 264
Kozina v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2016 ABLERB 022, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
GH v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2016 ABLERB 006, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
IJ v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2016 ABCA 234
Echavarria v. The Chief of Police of the Edmonton Police Service, 2016 AHRC 005, Alberta Human Rights Commission
MF et al v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2016 ABLERB 018, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Simic v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2015 ABLERB 014, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
RE v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2015 ABLERB 009, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Tibu v. Camrose (Police Service), 2015 ABLERB 008, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Allard-Bourque v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2014 ABLERB 044, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
MacDonald v. Camrose (Police Service), 2014 ABLERB 055, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Kozina v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2014 ABLERB 046, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Law Society of Alberta v. Charnock, 2014 ABLS 17
Kozina v. Kemp, 2014 CanLII 31052 (AB LERB), Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
RL v. Edmonton (Police Service), 2014 ABLERB 016, Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Kozina v. Kemp, 2014 CanLII 10796 (AB LERB), Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Camrose (Chief of Police) v. MacDonald, 2013 ABCA 422, Alberta Court of Appeal
Bergmann v. Neumeier, 2013 CanLII 48827 (AB LERB), Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
MacDonald v Chief of Police, 2013 CanLII 27265 (AB LERB)
Law Society of Alberta v. Venkatraman, 2013 ABLS 29
Addow v. Johnson, 2013 CanLII 27271 (AB LERB)
Land v. Law Enforcement Review Board, 2013 ABCA 435
Camrose (Police Service) v MacDonald, 2013 ABCA 225
Fitzgerald v. Knecht, 2013 CanLII 27266 (AB LERB)
Land v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2013 ABCA 68
Smith v Chief of Police of the Edmonton Police Service, 2013 CanLII 78548
Gulaga v. Hove, 2013 CanLII 48775 (AB LERB), Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
Addow v. Johnson, 2013 CanLII 60926 (AB LERB)
Heidebrecht v. M.N.R., 2013 TCC 113
Gulaga v. Neufeld, 2013 CanLII 48818 (AB LERB), Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board
J.M. v. Cst. S.M., 2012 CanLII 104615 (AB LERB)
Wasylyshen v. Edmonton Police Service, 2012 ABQB 406
J.M. v. Cst. S.M., 2012 CanLII 104617 (AB LERB)
Edmonton (Police Service) v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2011 ABCA 288
TBM Transportation Ltd. v. Tri-Star Transport Ltd., 2011 ABCA 358, Alberta Court of Appeal
Moore v. Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 2010 ABCA 009
Edmonton (Police Service) v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2010 ABCA 241, Alberta Court of Appeal
Mitzel v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2010 ABCA 336, Alberta Court of Appeal
Mitzel v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2009 ABCA 288
Horseman v. Horse Lake First Nation, 2009 FC 368
Sawridge Band v. R., 2008 FC 322, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. Canada, 2007 FC 768, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. Canada, 2007 FC 1054, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2007 FC 657, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. Canada, 2006 FC 1218, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. Canada, 2006 FC 1179, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2006 FC 656, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2006 FCA 228, Federal Court of Canada
Sawridge Band v. R., 2006 FC 1467, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2006 FCA 52, Federal Court of Canada
Sawridge Band v. R., 2005 FC 1501, Federal Court
Horseman v. Horse Lake First Nation, 2005 ABCA 214, Alberta Court of Appeal
Horseman v. Horse Lake First Nation, 2005 ABCA 15, Alberta Court of Appeal
Sawridge Band v. R., 2005 FCA 259, Federal Court of Canada
Sawridge Band v. R., 2005 FC 1476, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2005 FC 607, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2004 CF 1705, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2004 CF 1653, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2004 CF 1436, Federal Court
Sawridge Band v. R., 2004 CF 1721, Federal Court
University of Alberta v. Penny Lane Communications Inc., 2003 ABQB 807
Horseman v. Horse Lake First Nation, 2002 ABQB 765
Moss v. TransCanada Pipelines Ltd.
Education
University of Saskatchewan, 1998, Bachelor of Laws
University of Saskatchewan, 1993, Bachelor of Arts
Admissions
Alberta,2001
Saskatchewan (inactive),1999