Ms. Keela Johnson is an equity shareholder in our Family Law group. Ms. Johnson concentrates her practice in all areas of domestic relations and matters that impact the family. She serves as a court appointed guardian ad litem and parenting time coordinator in complex parenting time and custody matters, often in the middle of a contentious divorce. She also handles guardianships and conservatorships for children and adults. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Johnson was a mental health therapist for more than seven years. This experience allows her to bring a different perspective to emotionally charged and high conflict cases. Ms. Johnson cares about her clients and their concerns about the legal process. She understands that divorce is a time of transition and strives to help her clients understand the process from beginning to end. Ms. Johnson is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Family Law Section and Adoption Law Sections; Oakland County Bar Association, where she served as Chair of the Family Court Committee; the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; and the Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce and the Family, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. Ms. Johnson received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Upper Iowa University, her M.S. from University of Wisconsin-Stout, and her J.D., cum laude, from Western Michigan Cooley Law School.

Debbie is a member of the Alberta Bar, having been admitted in June 2006 in Calgary Alberta. Debbie is active within the Canadian Bar Association, being co-chair after starting the Child Welfare subsection at the Calgary office with a fellow colleague. Debbie was also co-chair of the Calgary Bar Association Health Section. Debbie is a regular volunteer at the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and the Calgary Women’s Center and provides legal advice to women in need. This is a third career for Debbie, previously having had a successful business on mainland China and worked in the medical field as an Ophthalmic Assistant as well as performing research in diabetes for over 20 years. Author Patricia Morgan portrayed part of Debbie’s life story in pages 75 to 78 of her book “From Woe to Wow” How Resilient Women Succeed at Work. If you are interested in reading this book, you can find out more at http://www.solutionsforresilience.com/products2.html. In law school, Debbie was the class winner of the Grant McKibben Prize; and recipient of the R.A. Mackimmie O.C. Q.C. Award for Outstanding Contribution; Howard Tidswell Memorial Award in Law, Alberta Law Foundation Bursary and Millennium Scholarship. Debbie was the President of the Society of Law Students, worked in Student Legal Assistance, an editor of the Alberta Law Review, co-producer of the Law Show (ragtag band of amateur actors) and organized a law student soft ball team called the Paisley Snails to play against other faculties at the University. Debbie has made presentations on family law, specifically the Family Law Act, on behalf of the Action Committee Against Violence, Calgary Coalition on Family Violence and the Violence Information and Education Centre. Debbie’s practice focuses on all aspects of Family and Children Services and Family Law. The dissolution of the family, regardless of whether it is domestic violence or the participation of Alberta Justice by Children and Family service, amicable separation or high conflict, all require guidance in resolution. Debbie has favourably resolved numerous cases involving parenting arrangements, child and spousal support and the division of property. Debbie drafts and provides advice with respect to Prenuptial and Cohabitation Agreements and has successfully appeared in all levels of the Alberta Courts on contested matters.