Michael maintains a general civil litigation practice with an emphasis on personal injury, product liability, construction, and first party coverage disputes, including allegations of bad faith.

Although he primarily acts for regional, national, and multinational insurance companies, he also assists a variety of independent adjusting firms, insurance brokerages, property restoration companies, small businesses, and individuals to achieve fast, cost-effective resolutions to their legal problems.

With a passion for the academic and practical aspects of law, Counsel C. Richard Jones, KC, brings a wide range of legal knowledge and experience to Brownlee LLP.

His practice areas include corporate and commercial, environmental law with an emphasis on irrigation and water regulation, municipal governance and planning, and commercial litigation.

Specifically within his environmental practice, Richard focuses on water conveyance, water allocation, water license amendment and transfer, storm and wastewater discharge, contaminated site remediation, and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act offences.

Proficient in his practical and timely advice, he is one of the few lawyers in Alberta who practices water and irrigation law with exceptional knowledge in the regulatory framework and current issues.

After attending law school at the University of Ottawa, I came home to Calgary and articled in house for a large Alberta Municipality. In 2016, following my articles, my municipal experience led me to Brownlee where I officially began my career as a lawyer. As a junior associate I had the opportunity to work with Brownlee’s municipal and insurance litigation departments before joining our Labour & Employment and Education Law team. I now practice as a solicitor and litigator, dealing with a variety of files ranging from drafting employment related documents/policies and providing legal opinions to representing our clients in employment, labour and/or human rights related disputes.

My experience at Brownlee has been characterized by consistent support and mentorship for my career goals. When I initially expressed an interest in labour and employment law, I was provided the opportunity to work on those files and eventually develop a practice I was passionate about. The opportunity to run a file and work with a client independently early in my career taught me a lot about practicing law and the type of lawyer I wanted to be. Similarly, students are empowered to take an active role in files allowing them to gain valuable hands on experience early on, so they can confidently enter the next step of their legal career.

The friendly, inclusive and collegial atmosphere in our firm is one of the main reasons I continue to build my career at Brownlee.  Investing in mentorship and building relationships is imperative to the success and development of junior lawyers and I have experienced the positive impact it can have. In return I am committed to providing our students with an environment where they feel supported and equipped with the tools they need to succeed.

I joined Brownlee’s litigation group in 2022 after serving as in-house counsel for a major Canadian insurer, where I focused on insurance litigation. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional group of lawyers — including some of the most respected litigators in the city.

Brownlee’s Summering and Articling Program stands out for its commitment to providing students with meaningful, practical experience across a wide range of legal areas. From day one, students are encouraged to take ownership of their work and contribute meaningfully to files, whether through research, drafting, or conducting proceedings. The program is designed to ensure that students gain real exposure to the demands and rewards of legal practice.

What makes our firm truly unique is the culture of mentorship that underpins everything we do. Our lawyers — at every level — are genuinely invested in the development of students and junior associates. There’s a shared belief here that our future depends on the success of those just entering the profession, and we take seriously the opportunity to support and guide them.