Doreen Saunderson is a Calgary-based litigator and mediator with more than 30 years’ experience as a lawyer. Harnessing her experience as a litigation lawyer, Doreen helps parties resolve their disputes in creative, meaningful and cost-effective ways either representing parties or as an independent mediator. Doreen has long been a proponent of settlement as the preferred way to conclude disputes and alternative dispute resolution processes as an important settlement tool.

Much of Doreen’s experience has been representing insurers and their insured defendants in various matters, including personal injury, fire losses, construction defects, product liability, pipeline, industrial and energy industry losses. She has also represented plaintiffs in subrogated claims and other actions and handled coverage litigation for both insurers and insureds. Doreen’s trial experience has given her valuable insight into the way the judiciary thinks about and reacts to cases. She has represented a wide variety of parties in many types of litigated disputes, analyzing the facts, law and issues and assisting her client to reach a reasonable resolution as early and cost effectively as possible.  Doreen has participated in hundreds of ADR processes as counsel representing her clients, including private mediations and JDRs, providing an excellent frame of reference for analyzing and evaluating disputes as a mediator.

Doreen’s experience enables her to understand a variety of issues within various sectors, including: Agriculture, Civil Claims, Community, Condominium, Construction / Engineering, Corporate + Commercial, Energy / Oil + Gas, Environment, Estate Disputes, Faith Groups, Family Business, General Practice, Government, Group Facilitation, Healthcare, Insurance Claims, Land Use, Landlord + Tenant, Non-profit Sector / Societies and Real Estate.

With support from the Insurance team at Field Law, Doreen continues to support existing clients handling the defence of insureds, subrogated claims and coverage analysis and litigation.

Value to Clients

“I have long been a proponent of settlement as the preferred way to conclude disputes and alternative dispute resolution processes as an important settlement tool. My trial experience has given me valuable insight into the way the judiciary thinks and reacts to cases. I have learned much about the challenges of proving the theory of a case that I believe can be of value in helping parties and assess their cases and litigation risks and come to a fair and reasonable resolution, including through mediation.”

Outside the Office

"I hike, bike and cross-country and downhill ski. My husband and I sail together when we travel internationally, something that is relaxing and mentally engaging at the same time." Doreen also loves to read including historical novels and an occasional biography.