Ricki-Lee Gerbrandt

Ricki-Lee is a civil litigator and researcher focusing on constitutional, media, and defamation law, and matters pertaining to freedom of expression and access to information. She recently represented a global social media platform in a novel intermediary liability case, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation in defamation, SLAPP-suit, and publication ban cases, and successfully represented the leading Canadian ISPs and telecoms in a constitutional challenge concerning telecommunications regulation, which won a national case impact award. She regularly provides advice to government departments, corporations, and individuals concerning access to information and freedom of expression matters. Ricki-Lee previously was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law where she taught Tort Law, an Editor of Law Matters, published by the Canadian Bar Association National Magazine, and Summer Academic Fellow at Harvard Law School.

Education

• Cambridge University, Faculty of Law, PhD Candidate, 2022-2026
• Harvard Law School, LL.M., 2016
• University of Calgary, J.D., 2014
• Western University (BA Hon), 2010

Doctoral Awards

• Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship, 2022-2026
• University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law John Hall Studentship, 2022-2025
• Law Society of Alberta Viscount Bennett Scholarship, 2022-2023

Other Awards (Selected)

• Harvard Law School Summer Academic Fellowship, 2016
• Harvard Law School Entrance Scholarship, 2015
• The Right Honourable Viscount Bennett Scholarship, Law Society of Alberta Graduate Award, 2015-2016
• University of Calgary Faculty of Law Dean's List, 2011-2014
• Osgoode Legal History Prize, 2014
• Miller Thompson LLP Legal Ethics Prize, 2014
• W. Bernie Kelly, QC Memorial Prize (legal ethics), 2014
• Tavender Family Scholarship (awarded for academics and initiative and leadership), 2012
• Jason Lang Scholarship/Alberta Government Scholarship (academic acheivement), 2012
• Alberta Law Foundation Scholarship (academic achievement and extra-curricular involvement), 2013
• Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Scholarship (academic acheivement), 2013
• Maloney Family Scholarship (academic acheivement), 2013