Aaron Martens, KC

Partner

Aaron is a family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator and Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer. He joined Dunphy Best Blocksom in 1998 and is a partner in the firm.

Aaron’s experience in family law matters includes being counsel on a wide variety of family and special chambers applications. He has represented clients in trials at Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench, and has made appearances at the Court of Appeal of Alberta. Aaron also does adoption work.

Aaron has also conducted numerous mediations and arbitrations in family law matters.

He is the Past-Chair (2010) of the Canadian Bar Association’s Family Law Section for Southern Alberta and sat on the Executive of this Committee from 2003 until 2010.

Aaron has Chaired panels for the Legal Education Society of Alberta on Spousal Support (2008), the Family Law Refresher Course (2013) and the Family Statutes Amendments Act (2019). He taught the Bar Admission Course (CPLED) for the Legal Education Society of Alberta from 2002 to 2017 and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Calgary Law School and has lectured on family law Issues in Calgary high schools.

Aaron sat on the Board of Directors for the Legal Education Society of Alberta until 2020 and was Chair of the Executive Committee from 2016 – 2018. He has been a Dispute Resolution Officer since 2009, assisting people with family law issues at the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Justice – Family Division.

His personal interests include hockey, basketball, football, golf, hiking, travelling and wine collecting/tasting.

Mandatory Family Alternative Dispute Resolution in Alberta

Aaron is experienced in family law alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and can help parties fulfil the court-mandated requirement to participate in an ADR process before their matter can be brought before the Court.

As a skilled ADR practitioner, Aaron understands the impact parenting conflict and family violence can have on children and their development. As a result, he can also assist parties to meet the court-required ADR which must be completed before their family matter may proceed to Court.

Practice Areas

  • Family Law
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration
  • Collaborative Law
  • Adoption

Memberships

  • Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – Alberta Chapter
  • Member, Association of Collaborative Family Lawyers
  • Member, Law Society of Alberta
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association

Education

  • University of Alberta, LL.B, 1994
  • University of Calgary, B.SC. in Psychology (With Distinction), 1990

Publications

  • Martens, A. “To Disclose or Not Disclose: That is the Question”. Family Law Refresher Course. May, 2019
  • Martens, A. “Crusading for the Holy Grail: obtaining timely disclosure from your clients and the opposing party”. Financial Disclosure in Family Law Matters. Legal Education Society of Alberta. 2016.
  • Martens, A. “Determining income”. Child Support Fundamentals. Legal Education Society of Alberta. 2012.
  • Martens, A. Income determination for support purposes. Legal Education Society of Alberta. 2010
  • Martens, A. “Client relations”. Family Law for Legal Support Staff. Legal Education Society of Alberta. 2003.

Awards

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada™ in 2021