Professional Regulatory Law

Hansma Bristow Finlay LLP’s provide comprehensive advice to numerous professional regulatory organizations and associations in the following areas:

• Governance, administration and management matters including potential college and council liability, interpretation and analysis of governance models, jurisdictional and policy compliance and overall risk management as well as assisting in responding to Ombudsman investigations and complaints.


• All aspects of legislative drafting, interpretation and implementation including scope of practice, restricted activities, title usage, supervision, delegation, registration and renewal requirements and the provision of member services.


• Drafting and amending Bylaws, Policies, Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice and terms of reference for committees and personnel.


• Lead counsel and independent legal counsel in discipline and registration hearings and appeals (including investigations and all steps that precede a hearing or appeal), judicial reviews and alternative complaint resolution matters.


• Initial registration, practice permits and renewals, registration reinstatement and related appeal processes generally and regarding whether qualifications or extra-provincial registration in another jurisdiction are equivalent or substantially equivalent to Alberta registration requirements.


• Extensive involvement in the development and assessment of Continuing Competence programs and Practice Visit programs including advice on jurisdictional, implementation and enforcement aspects of those programs. This encompasses analyzing both traditional continuing competence models as well as new and more transparent skillsbased models for demonstrating ongoing core competencies.


• Appearing in court regarding unauthorized practice, illegal use of restricted titles or both and obtaining both interim and permanent injunctions.