Kelly Dawson

IF IT SUFFICES TO ACCUSE what will become of the innocent?

DDSG Criminal Law provides 24/7, after-hours legal advice and assistance. Call today!


Dawson Duckett Shaigec & Garcia (DDSG Criminal Law) is one of Canada’s largest, most experienced and respected firm of criminal defense lawyers. We will defend you against all criminal charges, in all trial and appeal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. From our offices in Edmonton and Fort McMurray, our lawyers travel across Alberta, as well as N.W.T., Nunavut and beyond to represent our clients.

Our lawyers belong to the Canadian Council of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Criminal Trial Lawyers Association.

Criminal Law, Professional Discipline & Liability, Appeals, Assault, Theft, Fraud, DUI, Impaired Driving, Sexual Assault

You don’t stay in criminal defence for 40+ years unless you’ve got thick skin, good instincts, and a sense of humour about human nature. I started back in '84, when mullets were popular and fax machines were high-tech. Fast forward to now, I’m still standing—Managing Partner at Dawson Duckett Garcia & Johnson, where we tackle the serious stuff: murder, sexual assault, major fraud, and the kind of charges that make your palms sweat just reading the disclosure.

I’ve defended cases in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and BC—back when you had to carry ten pounds of paper into every courtroom. These days, the paper hasn’t gone away, but the stakes are even higher. Crown gets smarter, tech gets slicker, but human behaviour? Still just as messy and unpredictable as it was in the '80s.

You learn fast that no two cases are the same. I had a client once accused of embezzling seven figures from a pipeline company. Everyone thought he was guilty—until we pulled financial data the Crown hadn’t touched. Case collapsed like a bad soufflé. That one felt good. You don't forget those wins.

We’ve had 400+ homicide files through the firm since I started. Not all went to trial, but the ones that did? Each one could fill a book. I’ve cross-examined forensic pathologists for six hours straight and had jurors fall asleep during Crown’s closing argument. Sometimes justice is less Law & Order, more Kafka meets Monty Python.

I also spent time leading the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association, which basically means I got volunteered into solving other people’s problems while juggling murder trials. But it mattered. We pushed for better disclosure standards, fought mandatory minimums, and pushed back on lazy policing.

When I’m not in court, I lecture for the Legal Education Society of Alberta. I still remember when I gave a talk titled “Cross-Examining Like You Mean It” and someone asked if sarcasm was allowed. (Answer: if you can land it without contempt, go for it.)

Degrees? Sure, I got a BA and an LLB from U of A. But the real education came in holding cells, trial courts, and late-night phone calls from frantic clients. I’ve probably logged over 50,000 courtroom hours by now. That's about 5.7 years of my life spent standing, arguing, and occasionally begging a judge to see reason.

If you're new to the game, my advice is simple: listen more than you talk, never underestimate your opponent, and for the love of God, triple-check your exhibit tabs. Nothing kills momentum like flipping to the wrong page mid-exam.

Anyway, I’m still doing the job. Still showing up. Still fighting like hell for my clients. And as long as the system keeps throwing curveballs, I’ll be here with a glove, ready to catch—or throw back harder.

You want to talk war stories, legal reforms, or why every criminal lawyer secretly dreams of a quiet day? Shoot me a message.