Birdsell Grant LLP History

The firm opened its doors in July, 1984 when Michael Birdsell and his assistant Kim Marshall (now office manager) established a sole practice in the same location on Main Street in Stony Plain now occupied by Birdsell Grant LLP.

In May of 1985, less than a year later, Mike was joined by Alastair Grant and the two law school classmates first operated their partnership under the name “Birdsell Grant” with Kim now secretary and manager for 2 lawyers. Alastair and Mike practiced in all areas of law for 6 more years until they were joined by Charles Gardner in 1991. The firm was known as Birdsell Grant Gardner and began to develop its expertise working with families, family businesses and municipal governments in Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County and Edmonton.

During this period (and continuing to today) the partners of the firm were very active in community service and volunteer organizations, holding leadership positions in the Stony Plain and Spruce Grove Rotary Clubs, the Stony Plain Chamber of Commerce, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, the Heritage Agricultural Society, the Alberta Summer Games, the Alberta Winter Games and a host of other local and provincial volunteer and professional organizations.

In 2001 partner Ray Frayne emigrated from South Africa and joined the firm, first as a student, then as an associate lawyer and finally, in 2005, as a partner of the firm. Ray has continued the firm’s tradition of volunteer community service, serving as President of the Stony Plain Chamber of Commerce and as a director of the Alberta Winter Games Society and member of the Parkland After Dark Rotary Club.

In 2010, after 19 years as a partner, Charlie Gardner received an appointment to the Provincial Court of Alberta, where he now sits. His chair was soon filled by Ziad Sheena, who became a partner on January 1, 2011. Ziad first worked at the firm as a student during law school, then as an articling student and eventually as an associate lawyer before joining the partnership. The firm reverted to its original name “Birdsell Grant” in 2010.

From July, 1984 the firm of one lawyer and one assistant has grown to be a firm of 36 individuals, with 8 lawyers, 3 students and a staff of 25. We are proud to continue serving many of the businesses and families (and their children and grandchildren) who were clients more than 25 years ago, and we continue to volunteer our time and services to a wide range of community, service and professional organizations.