Andrea M. Urquhart, KC

Practices through an independently owned and operated Professional Corporation

Andrea (Andi) Urquhart has established herself as an elite and highly effective criminal defence lawyer. Known for her strategic precision and commanding advocacy, she has established herself as one of the preeminent defence lawyers in her field.

Andrea has extensive experience defending clients facing the most serious criminal allegations, including murder, complex drug offences, firearm charges, sexual offences, and domestic assaults. She is routinely retained on high profile, complex matters where the stakes for her clients are the highest. Her work has been the subject of major national and provincial media outlets, including CBC, the Calgary Herald, the National Post and Vice Magazine.

Andrea was named “Lawmaker of the Year” in 2025 by the Criminal Defence Lawyer’s Association (Calgary) in recognition of her contributions to the law, and in 2023 was recognized by Avenue Calgary as one of the city’s Top 40 Under 40.

In 2026, Andrea was appointed King’s Counsel (KC) an honour reserved for lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional advocacy, professional excellence, and leadership within the bar.

In addition to her criminal defence practice, Andrea represents clients in professional regulatory proceedings across a range of disciplines including regulated professional bodies such as accountants (CPA Alberta), realtors and mortgage brokers (Real Estate Council of Alberta), doctors, nurses (Health Professions Act), teachers and engineers (APEGGA).

Andrea obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calgary in 2010, graduating on the Dean’s List. Before starting her career in criminal law she served as a Law Clerk to the Provincial Court of Alberta from 2010 to 2011 where she was articled to the Honourable Judge A.A. Fradsham.

Defence Lawyer

R.v. B, May 2020 (Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench)

Offence: First Degree Murder
Result: Ordered released on the charge of first degree murder

R v. A.A., September 2019 [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: First Degree Murder
Result: Ordered released on the charge of first degree murder.

R. v. J.Y. July 2021 [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Result: Not Criminally Responsible.

More Cases of Interest

R v. A.A. April 2021 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: First Degree Murder
Result: First degree murder charge withdrawn.

R v CH June 2020 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Second Degree Murder
Result: Not guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter.

R v JH February 2020 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Conspiracy to Commit Murder
Result: Not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.

R v HN May 2018 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Conspiracy to Commit Murder
Result: Not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.

R v DC May 2017 [Alberta Provincial Court]

Offence: Second Degree Murder
Result: Murder charge withdrawn. Plea to the offence of robbery was tendered.

R. v LT June 2021 [Alberta Provincial Court]

Offence: Carrying a loaded 9mm handgun
Result: Stay of Proceedings.

Education & Background

Andrea completed an Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta where she focused her studies on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian Politics. In 2010 she graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor in Laws. In her graduating year Andrea was on the Dean’s List, an academic ranking generated by the Faculty of Law, that recognizes the top 10 students in each year for their academic achievement.

While in the Faculty of Law Andrea volunteered at Student Legal Assistance, a non-profit legal assistance clinic, that provided legal services to economically disadvantaged individuals. In 2010 she was elected by her peers to the role of Student Director of the organization. In 2010 she was also awarded with the Provincial Court Judges Award for her work with SLA.

Professional Affiliations

Andrea is a member of a number of professional organizations including the Law Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Criminal Defence Lawyers Association and the largest organization for Criminal Defence lawyers in the United States the National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers (NACDL). Through these organizations Andrea attends numerous conferences to learn innovative ways criminal cases are being defended in both Canada and the United States.

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Recent Criminal Cases

Our past cases prove the practical and effective results in successfully defending and negotiating criminal charges. We will provide you with a step-by-step plan to defend your charges and ideally resolve before trial. Our criminal defence lawyer’s goal is to protect your criminal record and your freedom.

Andrea Urquhart

R v J.Y. [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Result: Not Criminally Responsible

The Accused was charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. The Defence argued that the Court should find the Accused not criminally responsible as a result of a mental disorder. Specifically it was argued that he was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack that made it impossible to form the requisite intent. In July 2021 Justice Hall found the Accused not criminally responsible and directed that he appear before the Alberta Review Board for further assessment.

R v L.T. [Alberta Provincial Court]

Offence: Carrying a loaded handgun

Result: Stay of Proceedings

The Accused was charged with carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun. He was arrested by the Calgary Police Service. At the time of his arrest the handgun was located in the Accused’s waistband. During the arrest CPS utilized a police dog to apprehend the accused. The police dog caused significant injury to the Accused’s arm. The Accused while in police custody asked repeatedly to see a doctor. His requests were ignored for hours by Calgary Police Officers. At trial it was argued that the Accused’s Charter rights were breached as a result of the treatment of the Accused by multiple members of the Calgary Police Service. In agreeing with the argument of the Defence Judge H.A. Lamoureux found that CPS demonstrated a “lack of empathy toward a fellow human being, a lack of professionalism and ultimate disregard of their duty to protect the accused while he is in their custody”.

R v A.A. [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: First Degree Murder

Result: First degree murder charge withdrawn

A.A was charged with first degree murder. The allegation was that she planned and participated in a murder when she was 15 years of age. Before the commencement of trial a number of pre-trial motions were made where Andrea argued that key pieces of evidence including a journal and statement made by the RCMP were obtained in violation of the young persons rights. The Court agreed and excluded from evidence a journal and a statement A.A had given to the RCMP. After the evidentiary rulings Crown counsel agreed to withdraw the charge of first degree murder if the young person entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit murder. The young person was ultimately sentenced to time served (1 year in custody plus probation).

R v S.W. [Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench]

The client was found guilty of 1st degree murder. Tonii Roulston and Andrea Urquhart represented the client. Despite a Mr. Big confession, the jury took 3 days to render their verdict.

The matter is currently under Appeal.

R v C.H. [Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: Second Degree Murder

Result: Not guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter

CH was charged with second degree murder with respect to the death of a patron in a nightclub in downtown Calgary. After trial Justice Wilson found the Accused not guilty of second degree murder and convicted him of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

R v B. [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

Offence: First Degree Murder

Result: Ordered released on the charge of first degree murder

The accused was charged with first degree murder. A lengthy show cause hearing was conducted in the Court of Queen’s Bench where the Crown argued for the accused’s detention on the basis that the Accused was a risk to reoffend in the community and that his detention was necessary to maintain the public’s confidence in the administration of justice. After lengthy submissions were made by Andrea attacking the strength of the Crown’s case and arguing that the release plan addressed the Crown’s concerns Justice Mahoney ordered the Accused released.

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Andrea M. Urquhart, KC

Defence Lawyer

R.v. B, May 2020 (Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench)

R v. A.A., September 2019 [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

R. v. J.Y. July 2021 [Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench]

R v. A.A. April 2021 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

R v CH June 2020 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

R v JH February 2020 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

R v HN May 2018 [Court of Queen’s Bench]

R v DC May 2017 [Alberta Provincial Court]

R. v LT June 2021 [Alberta Provincial Court]

Education & Background

Professional Affiliations

Recent Criminal Cases

Offence: Two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Result: Not Criminally Responsible

Offence: Carrying a loaded handgun

Result: Stay of Proceedings

Offence: First Degree Murder

Result: First degree murder charge withdrawn

Offence: Second Degree Murder

Result: Not guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter

Offence: First Degree Murder

Result: Ordered released on the charge of first degree murder

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