DBB Law Lawyers Recognized in 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™, Jason Wilkins, KC Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in Calgary

DBB Law is pleased to announce that several of its lawyers have been honoured in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™. First published in 1983, Best Lawyers has earned a reputation as one of the most respected guides to legal excellence.

Phillip Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers, stated:

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions. It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers has established itself as a reliable and impartial reference tool for the legal profession, the media, and the public. Since expanding globally in 2006, the publication now highlights outstanding lawyers in more than 75 countries.

Selections for The Best Lawyers in Canada™ are made by practice area and region, based on nominations and extensive peer review. Candidates are assessed on their professional abilities and undergo a verification process confirming active practice and good standing.

Best Lawyers: Four Decades of Trusted Recognition

As the oldest and most highly regarded legal rankings publication worldwide, Best Lawyers has spent four decades connecting clients with top lawyers across numerous jurisdictions and fields of practice. Its rankings are regularly featured in leading local, national, and international media outlets.

Nominees are reviewed through confidential peer surveys completed by lawyers already recognized in the same field and region. Those who receive consistently strong feedback are further vetted to confirm active practice before being named Best Lawyers honourees.

About Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP

The firm of Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP (DBB Law) was recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ as Family Law Firm of the Year for Canada. The firm was also awarded the Women in Law Leadership Award for Alberta law firms in 2017.

Wendy E. Best, KC: Recognized for Family Law

Wendy E. Best, KC has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for her work in Family Law.

Wendy joined DBB Law in 1982, became a partner in 1986, and was appointed as King’s Counsel in 1994. She represents high-net-worth individuals and families and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her leadership in family law. A Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2008, she has been listed annually in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ since 2006, named Calgary Family Lawyer of the Year twice, and consistently ranked in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. In 2018, she received both the Canadian Bar Association/Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award and the Women in Law Leadership Award.

A frequent speaker and author, Wendy has presented to leading legal and judicial organizations across Canada and has published numerous papers. She has also served extensively in professional and community leadership roles, including with the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Alberta, the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family (President 2009–2016), the Alberta Securities Commission, the Law Society of Alberta’s Family Law Advisory Committee, and the boards of Heritage Park Society and University of Calgary Student Legal Assistance.

Patricia Blocksom, KC: Recognized for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Family Law

Patricia Blocksom, KC has been named to the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Canada™ list for her work in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Family Law.

Patricia has been with DBB Law since 1987 and is a senior family lawyer recognized for her experience in resolving complex property, support, and parenting matters. Her current practice focuses on family and estate law mediation and arbitration, as well as advising on and drafting domestic contracts, including pre-nuptial, cohabitation, and post-nuptial agreements.

A respected educator, Patricia co-instructed the Legal Education Society of Alberta’s family mediation training for over 20 years and has written and lectured extensively on mediation, equality issues, and family law. She was appointed as King’s Counsel in 1998, inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2001, and has been recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for her leadership in family law.

Patricia has been listed annually on The Best Lawyers in Canada™ list for many years and has been named Lawyer of the Year in Calgary several times in both family law and alternative dispute resolution. She has also earned numerous awards for her professional and community contributions and has served on national legal committees addressing gender equality and access to family justice. Since 2017, she has been a director of CUPS, a Calgary nonprofit that supports families in overcoming poverty. In recognition of her enduring service, she received the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2011 and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022.

Fulvio Durante: Recognized for Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates

Fulvio Durante has been listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for his work in Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates.

Fulvio joined DBB Law in 1994 and maintains a practice focused on business law and estate matters. His work spans corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, trusts, banking, and estate planning and administration, including issues of incapacity. He also contributes to the legal profession as a mentor and educator, having instructed bar admission courses and taught at the University of Calgary Law School. Fulvio is an active member of the Articling Committee and oversees the firm’s in-house training program.

He is a trained collaborative lawyer and an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Wills and Trusts subsection. Fulvio holds the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Calgary. He frequently presents to professional and community groups on topics such as buying and selling businesses, succession planning for family enterprises, trust structures, directors’ and officers’ liability, shareholders’ agreements, private lending, and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

Caroline Lee, KC: Recognized for Family Law

Caroline Lee, KC has been named in the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Canada™ rankings for Family Law.

Caroline is a senior family law practitioner with extensive experience in family law and alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. She joined DBB Law in 1989, became a partner in 1994, and served as managing partner for six years. In 2004, she was appointed as King’s Counsel. Caroline has also contributed as an instructor and lecturer with the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, the Law Society of Alberta’s Bar Admission Course, and the National Family Law Program.

Caroline has held leadership roles within the legal community, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Association of Collaborative Family Lawyers and as chair of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch – Family Law Section (South). Her commitment extends to volunteer work with organizations such as the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, Calgary Sexual Assault Centre, and Y.W.C.A., and she was a founding member of The Missing Children’s Association. Recognized as a leading practitioner, she has been featured in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ since 2006 and in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Aaron Martens, KC: Recognized for Family Law and Family Law Mediation

Aaron Martens, KC has been honoured in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for his work in Family Law and Family Law Mediation.

Aaron is a family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator, and Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer. A partner at DBB Law since joining the firm in 1998, he has acted as counsel on a wide range of family and special chambers applications, including trials in the Alberta Court of Justice and Court of King’s Bench and appearances at the Court of Appeal of Alberta. His practice also includes adoption work and conducting numerous mediations and arbitrations in family law matters.

Deeply involved in legal education and professional service, Aaron chaired the Canadian Bar Association’s Family Law Section for Southern Alberta and served on its Executive from 2003 to 2010. He led panels for the Legal Education Society of Alberta, taught its Bar Admission Course for 15 years, and lectured at the University of Calgary Law School and local high schools. Aaron also sat on the Legal Education Society of Alberta’s Board of Directors until 2020, serving as Chair of its Executive Committee from 2016 to 2018. Since 2009, he has served as a Dispute Resolution Officer, helping families navigate legal issues in Alberta’s courts. In 2010, Aaron was appointed as King’s Counsel.

Mark Sawyer: Recognized for Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates

Mark Sawyer has been named in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for his work in Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates.

Mark joined DBB Law as an articling student in 2003 and became a partner in 2010. His practice focuses on business and commercial law, real estate, and estate planning. He advises privately held businesses on corporate, financing, contract, and shareholder matters, and assists clients with the incorporation of new businesses and the purchase and sale of existing companies. Mark also represents clients in residential and commercial real estate transactions and provides guidance in preparing and administering wills and estates.

Committed to supporting the legal community, Mark volunteers as an evaluator with the Bar Admission (CPLED) Course and has previously contributed his time to Calgary Legal Guidance. A graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in History, he earned his law degree from the University of Alberta.

Gordon Sterchi, KC: Recognized for Family Law and Family Law Mediation

Gordon Sterchi, KC is named in the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Canada™ list for Family Law and Family Law Mediation.

Gord joined DBB Law as an articling student in 2001 and became a partner in 2010. His practice focuses on family law, where he acts as both a litigator and a mediator/arbitrator. Gord is active in the legal and broader Calgary community, serving on the executive of the Calgary Bar Association and as its President in 2022. He is a member of the Calgary Flames Ambassadors and previously served on their Board of Directors, as well as on the Board of The Distress Centre. In recognition of his contributions, Gord was appointed as King’s Counsel in 2022.

Dedicated to mentorship and education, Gord volunteers with the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) as an Instructor and Evaluator for the Bar Admission Course. He has authored and presented for the Legal Education Society of Alberta’s Family Law Bootcamp in Calgary and Edmonton and has taught as a coach and facilitator at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law.

Sandy Vander Ziel: Recognized for Family Law and Family Law Mediation

Sandy Vander Ziel has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for her work in Family Law and Family Law Mediation.

Sandy joined DBB Law in 2013 and has practiced family law exclusively since 2002. A registered collaborative lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, and dispute resolution officer with the Court of King’s Bench, she brings extensive experience in collaborative law, mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. Sandy advises clients on all aspects of family law, including separation and divorce, parenting matters, support, matrimonial property, and domestic agreements. She is also a Parenting Co-ordinator and is recognized for her knowledge in family violence matters, with specialized training in family violence screening. In addition to her work with families, she has represented children through the Legal Representation for Children and Youth Advocacy Program, appearing regularly before the Court of King’s Bench, Provincial Family Court, and the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Beyond her legal practice, Sandy is deeply committed to professional education and community service. She has served as Chair of the Association of Collaborative Professionals, President of the Canadian Bar Association Family Law Section, and an instructor and evaluator with the Legal Education Society of Alberta and CPLED. Her community leadership includes past roles as Chair of the Calgary Youth Justice Society, where the Heart of Change Award was established in her honour, and as President of Sonshine Community Services, where she helped launch North America’s first children’s centre for victims of family violence. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and is an executive on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Women’s Foundation. In 2016, Sandy received the Women in Law Leadership Award for service to the community, and in 2024, she received the Distinguished Service Award for service to the community from the Law Society of Alberta.

Jason Wilkins, KC: Recognized for Family Law and Labour and Employment Law; Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in Calgary

Jason Wilkins, KC has been listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for Family Law and Labour and Employment Law. He also has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for 2026 for Family Law in the Calgary area, an award he also received in 2022.

Jason articled with DBB Law in 2001, became a partner in 2010, and was the managing partner for 10 years. His practice focuses on family and employment law, representing both employers and employees, as well as clients in property disputes, spousal support, custody, and child support matters. He has a particular interest in Hague Convention cases involving international child abduction. In addition to his litigation work, Jason is an experienced mediator and arbitrator, with advocacy experience at all levels of court in Alberta, including significant trial and appellate work. His career highlights include appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada on a solicitor-client privilege issue and serving as Commission Counsel to the Alberta Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry.

Jason is also committed to giving back to the community. A long-time volunteer with Calgary Legal Guidance, he received the Allan D. Hunter Volunteer of the Year award in 2008. He has also served on the Board of Cause Canada, contributing to fundraising efforts for international development initiatives, along with supporting other community-focused causes. Jason was appointed as King’s Counsel in 2024.

Beth Younggren: Recognized for Construction Law and Corporate and Commercial Litigation

Beth Younggren has been honoured in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™ for her work in Construction Law and Corporate and Commercial Litigation.

Beth is a partner in DBB Law’s civil litigation and dispute resolution group, where she has practiced since 2015 following her experience as counsel at a large multinational law firm. She advises clients on a wide range of civil litigation matters, with a focus on construction disputes, builders’ liens, contractual issues in the oil and gas and real estate sectors, shareholder disputes, and collections. Beth has represented clients at all levels of the Alberta courts and has extensive experience with arbitration, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Dedicated to access to justice, Beth has contributed significant time to pro bono work as a former Director and Executive Committee member of Calgary Legal Guidance, as well as through Student Legal Assistance and Pro Bono Law Alberta.

David F. Younggren, KC: Recognized for Corporate and Commercial Litigation

David F. Younggren, KC has been named to the 2026 The Best Lawyers in Canada™ list for Corporate and Commercial Litigation.

David has been with DBB Law since 1988, following his articles with Chief Justice Laycraft at the Alberta Court of Appeal. He built a broad civil litigation practice, representing clients in corporate and contractual disputes, shareholder conflicts, wrongful dismissal claims, real estate litigation, builders’ liens, and collection matters. David has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has also acted as Ad Hoc Discipline Counsel for the Law Society of Alberta. David was appointed as King’s Counsel in 2010.

Beyond his legal practice, David has held numerous leadership and community roles. He is a past Chair of both the Alberta Association of Police Governance and the Legal Aid Society of Alberta, and served over five years on the Calgary Police Commission. He has also been a Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary and remains active with the Canadian Bar Association as a speaker, organizer, and contributor to the profession.

DBB Law: Calgary Lawyers Providing Top-Tier Legal Service Across Alberta

Congratulations to the DBB Law team members recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada™, and to Jason Wilkins, KC for being named “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in Calgary!

Based in downtown Calgary, DBB Law has proudly served clients across Alberta for more than 40 years. Our firm delivers trusted, forward-thinking legal services across a broad spectrum of practice areas for individuals, families, and businesses alike. To book a consultation with a member of our team, please contact us online or call 403-265-7777.