Category: Lunch With a Leader – Upcoming

We are thrilled to host one of Canada’s most respected voices in professional negligence law, Valerie Prather, for an exclusive lunch.

For three decades, Valerie has built a reputation as a trusted advocate for physicians navigating some of the most difficult moments in their careers. As a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at McCarthy Tétrault’s Calgary office, she represents doctors in medical negligence cases and appears before regulatory bodies such as the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, offering the steady strategic counsel clients need when their professional standing is on the line. Her work has earned her a Band 1 ranking from Chambers and Partners, placing her among the top litigators in the country.

Beyond her courtroom practice, Valerie shapes how physicians understand legal risk long before it becomes a dispute. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cummings School of Medicine, she teaches medical-legal risk management, and she’s a regular speaker at Grand Rounds and medical conferences across Canada.

Her career has brought recognition on nearly every front including, Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Women in Law Leadership Award, an appointment as King’s Counsel, the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Most recently, she was Axis Connects’ recipient of the Calgary Influential Women in Business award for Professional Services. She’s also a consistent name in Chambers Canada, Benchmark Litigation, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, and Martindale-Hubbell.

Come hear from a litigator whose career sits at the intersection of law and medicine and who has spent thirty years helping physicians protect what they’ve worked so hard to build.

Secure your seat today!

• • • Date: September 23, 2026
    • Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
    • (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
    • Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
    • Room: Trophy Room
    • Cost: $50 + fees and GST
    • Attendee limit: 14

Valerie Prather

Valerie Prather is a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at McCarthy Tétrault based in the Calgary office. 

With three decades of experience in complex litigation and a Band 1 ranking from Chambers and Partners, Valerie is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading advocates in professional negligence law. She represents physicians in court on medical negligence matters and provides counsel in proceedings before medical licensing authorities, including the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as hospital tribunals. Clients rely on her insight, strategic skill and steadfast support in matters that profoundly affect their careers and professional reputations. A recognized authority in her field, Valerie serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Cummings School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, where she focuses on medical legal risk management. She is also a frequent lecturer at Grand Rounds and medical conferences across the country. 

Valerie’s leadership and excellence in advocacy have been recognized through numerous distinctions. She was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2013, received the Women in Law Leadership Award for Leadership in Private Practice, and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2016. In 2025, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her significant contributions to the community. Most recently, in 2026, she was the recipient of the Calgary Influential Women in Business awards for Professional Services. 

Consistently recognized by Chambers Canada, Benchmark Litigation: Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, and LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, Valerie is known for her exceptional advocacy, judgment, and commitment to advancing the medical profession through the law. 

Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, Valerie was a senior partner with a large Canadian law firm and served as co-head of its health practice. 

Valerie received her LLB from the University of Calgary in 1988 and was called to the Alberta bar in 1989.

In an era where sustainable practices, community heritage, and food security are at the forefront of global conversations, visionary leadership in agriculture and civic life has never been more critical. We are thrilled to host Cherie Copithorne-Barnes for an exclusive afternoon exploring the intersection of western legacy, environmental stewardship, and industry-shaping innovation.

As CEO of CL Ranches Ltd. and First Vice Chair of the Calgary Stampede, Cherie is a powerhouse of leadership, community impact, and advocacy. A fourth-generation rancher, she carries forward a 139-year-old family legacy in the Alberta foothills, leading a sprawling operation that includes cattle, a feedlot, and mixed grain farming. She brings unparalleled insight into what it takes to balance deep community roots with long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth.

Cherie’s influence extends far beyond her ranch and the Stampede grounds. She has been a trailblazer in shaping agricultural policy and sustainability standards on both a national and international scale. As the founding chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and a former member of the Executive Committee for the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Cherie played a pivotal role in developing global beef sustainability goals. Her unique perspective—forged by raising livestock in both Alberta and Uruguay—bridges the gap between traditional ranching heritage and the future of global food systems.

What truly sets Cherie apart is her passion for elevating the community and shifting the public narrative around agriculture. Beyond her leadership with the Calgary Stampede, she sits on the Board of Governors for Olds College of Agriculture and Technology and previously co-chaired the Government of Alberta’s Red Tape Reduction Panel for Agriculture, Food, and Bio-Industrial sectors.

In recognition of her extraordinary work advancing the agricultural industry and championing sustainable beef production, Cherie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary in 2025.

Whether you are looking to understand the future of sustainable food production, the power of community leadership, or seeking inspiration from an executive who seamlessly blends heritage with cutting-edge innovation, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

• • • Date: September 16, 2026
    • Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
    • (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
    • Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
    • Cost: $50 + fees and GST
    • Attendee limit: 14

Cherie Copithorne-Barnes

Cherie is a 4th generation rancher and CEO of CL Ranches Ltd., a 139-year-old ranching operation consisting of cattle, a feedlot, and mixed grain farming operations. Cherie is also the First Vice Chair of the Calgary Stampede and sits on the Board of Governors for Olds College of Agriculture and Technology. Cherie has held many roles in the past such as co-chair of the Government of Alberta’s Red Tape Reduction Panel for Agriculture, Food and Bio-Industrial, founding chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef as well as a member of the Executive Committee for the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef as they developed global beef sustainability goals. She is passionate about not only telling her story about raising livestock in Alberta and Uruguay, but also about informing the public of the often-neglected, positive impact that agriculture accomplishes here in Canada. In 2025, Cherie was recognized with an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary in recognition for her work in advancing agriculture.