A Career of Consequence

Honouring Doug McGillivray, K.C.

After more than five decades in law, Doug McGillivray, K.C. leaves a legacy defined by advocacy, mentorship, service and an enduring commitment to the profession.

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Doug McGillivray, K.C. built more than a distinguished litigation practice. He helped shape a profession, through his advocacy, mentorship, service and belief that a lawyer’s legacy is measured not only in cases, but in the people supported along the way.

As Doug steps away from practice on June 30, 2026, his colleagues, mentees and peers across Alberta’s legal community are reflecting on the example he set at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP and across the profession.

The Lawyer's Lawyer

Before the law, there was sport. Doug was the national junior singles badminton champion three times, in 1970, 1971 and 1972, and national mixed doubles champion in 1971 and 1972. He competed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where badminton was an exhibition event. The discipline, composure and respect for opponents forged in competition would follow him into every courtroom he entered.

Over more than fifty years, Doug built a distinguished litigation practice grounded in preparation, civility, and a measured courtroom presence that left a lasting impression on everyone who worked with him. Known for his precision and effectiveness in oral advocacy, particularly in cross-examination, he set a standard that shaped generations of BD&P litigators.

"Doug's oral advocacy, including cross-examination, was always first rate and gave many young BD&P litigators a firsthand example of how to do it effectively. Doug’s reassurance was simple: ‘David, people are sore losers, and until you have been sued, had a Law Society complaint, and submitted a matter to insurance, you aren’t a real litigator.’"
— David de Groot, Partner, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

Doug's approach to law was never transactional. Guided by a principle as plain as it is profound, "Don't be a jerk," he led with integrity in every interaction. Although litigation is adversarial, Doug regularly organized dinners with lawyers from both sides after major cases, reinforcing the idea that beyond the courtroom, counsel are colleagues whose relationships matter.

He also brought that sense of responsibility to complex, high-stakes matters, including securities fraud and developing areas of law, while never seeking recognition for the work.

"Doug has been one of the leading litigators in Alberta for the vast majority of his active practising years. He would have received many more accolades if those were things that mattered to him. Instead, Doug spent an inordinate amount of time mentoring younger lawyers and improving our profession through his work with the Law Society."
— Jeff Sharpe, K.C., Partner, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

A Mentor Who Shaped Careers

Ask anyone who has worked alongside Doug what they will remember most, and the answer is often the same: his mentorship. Not only the formal kind, though he contributed to the Law Society of Alberta's Mentorship Committee, but the kind that happens in a hallway, over coffee or in a quiet conversation after a difficult hearing.

Doug has spoken openly about how his own mentors shaped him. His father, a powerful counsel who led with humility, and Jim Palmer, a named partner at BD&P and a straightforward advocate, instilled in him values he would spend a career passing on.

For lawyers at every stage of their careers, Doug has been a steady presence. He advocates for taking the high road, often quoting Michelle Obama’s motto, "When they go low, we go high," and he has offered development sessions for lawyers in the community on effective practice and maintaining peace of mind. One phrase in particular has become a touchstone for those he has guided:

"Perfection is not required, excellence will do."
— Doug McGillivray, K.C.

"Doug has a unique ability to make even the most junior lawyers feel seen, heard and respected. His words, ‘perfection is not required, excellence will do,’ serve as a daily mantra for me and a quote I have shared with many of my own mentees."
— Kylan Kidd, Partner, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

"Doug has been a constant source of support and a wealth of information. His door is always open, and we all, from articling students to senior partners, go to Doug when we need a gut check we can count on."
— Alison Scott, Partner, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

Doug has also been recognized for his advocacy for women in law and racialized lawyers, through deliberate sponsorship, genuine encouragement and the kind of support that opens doors.

"I have seen his true commitment to helping women, including racialized women, in our profession and admired his ability to act as a spokesperson for less privileged persons and mentor to many, including me."
— Lillian Y. Pan, K.C., Partner, Dentons Canada LLP

"Doug was a rock to me through a very stressful and difficult period of my life, spending hours of his time supporting me, coaching me and many times just being a listening ear when I felt like I had nowhere to turn. I can’t convey how deeply grateful I am to him."
— Julia Lisztwan, Partner, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

Leadership at BD&P and Across the Profession

 Across the legal profession, Doug's record of service is significant. He served as President of the Law Society of Alberta in 2005 to 2006 and as a bencher for seven years, chairing the Conduct Committee and the Civil Practice Advisory Committee. After his bencher term, he continued as a Conduct Adjudicator for more than a decade, a role that reflected his deep sense of professional responsibility.

"Doug was a Bencher for a number of years and then President of the Law Society. He was sufficiently well respected as an adjudicator that he was asked to stay on in that capacity after he retired from the Bencher table. As a measure of respect for his abilities, he was named Chair of a high-profile Hearing Committee and wrote an excellent and memorable judgment that many of us as Benchers relied upon."
— Cal Johnson, K.C., Counsel, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

At the national level, Doug chaired the Federation of Law Societies of Canada's Judicial Appointments Committee and served on its Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Committee. He contributed to The Advocates' Society, lectured through the Canadian Bar Association and the Legal Education Society of Alberta, and provided counsel on civil procedure, insurance and alternative dispute resolution.

Service to Community

Doug's sense of service has never been confined to the courtroom or the boardroom. He has served on the boards of the Simon House Recovery Centre and the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary and has volunteered at the Calgary Drop-In Centre. These commitments reflect his belief in the relationship between legal privilege and social responsibility.

His long-standing support for the recovery community reflects a deeply personal commitment to service, encouragement and dignity. For more than a decade, he sent a "Daily Thoughts" email offering encouragement and support to others.

These contributions reflect who Doug is. He does not separate his professional identity from his civic one. Service to the law, the firm, the people around him and the broader community has been a constant throughout his career.

A Legacy Written in People

When Doug was asked about his legacy, he spoke about relationships. Not cases. Not outcomes. Relationships, and the careers of the lawyers he had quietly and humbly influenced.

He did not mention that he had represented Canada at the Olympics. He did not lead with his years as Law Society President. He spoke of people and of the belief that true accomplishments speak for themselves.

That instinct, to measure his career by the growth of others, is the defining quality of his leadership and a powerful testament to what a life in law can look like.

"Doug has served as an example to me of everything that is noble and honourable about being a lawyer. He is open-minded, committed to knowledge and personal and professional growth, and is the type of lawyer that makes me proud to be a member of the profession."
— Tamara Prince, Partner & General Counsel, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

The BD&P community congratulates Doug McGillivray, K.C. on an extraordinary career and wishes him every happiness in this well-earned next chapter. His legacy is one of humility, integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people, clients, colleagues and community who make this profession worth practising.

Thank you, Doug, for everything you have given, for every lawyer you have shaped, and for the standard you leave behind.