Phone // 403-750-2592
Fax // 403-269-6785
Email // swhitehead@wiselegal.ca
Assistant // Amy Janssen, 403-750-2578
Email // ajanssen@divorceinc.com
Associate
Stephen returns home to Wise Bickman Barkauskas after commencing his articles with the firm in 2016, and is excited to be back.
Stephen litigates and has been successful at the Alberta Court of Justice, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, and the Alberta Court of Appeal, as well as in Arbitration. While Stephen takes a practical and purposeful stance as a litigator he is focused on achieving the most practical and efficient solution for his clients while ensuring their goals are met. With extensive experience in high conflict matters, Stephen is adept at litigation, but clearly understands and values a resolution focused approach and a deep knowledge of ADR processes. Stephen has achieved a lot of success in both financial and parenting matters that are profoundly complicated by difficult personalities, safety concerns, and complex litigation approaches. Above all Stephen seeks to simplify complicated situations for his clients, and give them the ability to push forward with their lives in a way that gives them the greatest chance for success, whatever that means to them.
Stephen is “Canadian-Bilingual” and can help clients in both French and English. He has practiced and has experience in Criminal and Regulatory Law but has been focused on Family Law since he first started his legal career. Stephen now practices exclusively in Family Law. Stephen has a wide array of experience including, but not limited to drafting agreements, complex financial analysis, parenting matters, support, and litigation.
Stephen has a profound connection to British Columbia, particularly the Shuswap lake area and North Vancouver Island where he spends much of his free time fishing for chinook salmon and ling cod. Stephen knows how to “dig deep” arising form his background as a football player in Alberta and BC. Stephen also has a deep connection to music where he was a classical cellist for 10 years, and the lead singer in his law school band “The Dissent”. Finally, he is a dedicated foodie and can be found on summer weekends at local farmers markets where he is always planning a new culinary adventure.
