OUR PEOPLE

Kris specializes in the creation and implementation of corporate compliance programs in the areas of domestic and international anti-bribery and corruption laws, privacy and data protection laws, utility market conduct regulations, energy trading regulations and business ethics. Her practice focuses on corporate governance and compliance as a vital risk management tool as well as the legal aspects of corporate crisis management.

Kris regularly assists clients in complying with the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and other anti-corruption regulations. Her practice includes a comprehensive collection of specialized services to address business corruption, including internal compliance program development and implementation for multinational companies, drafting and implementing workable compliance policies, procedures and internal financial systems and controls; developing and conducting training for company management and employee personnel; internal and external reporting; benchmarking and auditing programs for best practices and effectiveness; conducting anti-corruption due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, third-party relationships, and other transactions; developing risk-mitigation strategies; conducting internal corporate investigations, audits, and risk assessments; dealing with parallel proceedings; and representing clients before enforcement agencies and bodies.

Kris has an extensive background in criminal and quasi-criminal litigation. She started her career as a criminal defence lawyer and subsequently moved to corporate compliance as a mechanism for her clients to avoid litigation. She has conducted hundreds of criminal and quasi-criminal trials. Kris has also acted for Alberta's Information and Privacy Commissioner as an investigator and in that role, has written several investigation reports and Commissioner's orders dealing with novel and pressing legal issues under Alberta's private sector privacy law. This background assists Kris greatly in her current representation of companies that are subjected to audit, investigation or prosecution by a regulator or other enforcement agency.

In addition, her extensive previous experience as in-house counsel in both the oil and gas and electric utility sectors brings a practical business approach to her practice. Her clients include domestic and foreign exploration and production companies, energy marketing and trading companies, pipeline companies, utilities, oilfield services companies and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) firms.

Kris is fluently bilingual.