Nnewi Born Kene Ilochonwu became the first Black Bencher at the Law Society of Alberta Province in Canada after 113 years.
Ken who began his legal career in Nigeria before first moving to Scotland for his Master’s degree, then to Canada where he re-qualified for practice, scored 1026 votes to become the first Black bencher to be elected to the Law Society of Alberta.
Kene Ilochonwu is a legal counsel with Parkland Corporation where he focuses on strategic business initiatives and commercial agreements relating to the safe transportation and marketing of hydrocarbon commodities.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Kene obtained his law degree from Abia State University in 1997 and licensure from the Nigerian Law School Abuja in 2000, when he started his legal career. He went on to obtain a Master of Laws degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland in 2004.
Kene relocated to Canada and prior to requalifying as a lawyer in Alberta, he worked as a supply chain professional for oil and gas corporations in Fort McMurray and Calgary. Kene completed his composite articles at DLA Piper Canada and Imperial Oil. He then joined Blake, Cassels and Graydon as an Associate in 2017, before moving on to his current role.
Kene is deeply involved in volunteering and giving back to his community. He is currently a member of the Law Society of Alberta’s Bencher Election Task Force, and volunteers at the Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project with Pro Bono Law Alberta. He serves as a mentor to law students through the Canadian Bar Association mentor program, and to internationally trained lawyers in Calgary through Global Lawyers of Canada. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Global Lawyers of Canada, Calgary Black Chambers, and Our Saviour Anglican Church.
Outside of the legal profession, Kene is an avid soccer fan, and enjoys bike riding, exploring new places, and spending time with his family.
Kene’s background and experiences provide him with a personal appreciation of the challenges facing in-house counsel, early-career lawyers, internationally trained lawyers, and racialized lawyers in Alberta. Given his professional and personal experiences, he believes that he will make meaningful contributions to the work of the Bencher table. It would be an honour to contribute to the diversity of thought at the Bencher table.
*What you need to know about the Law Society of Alberta*
The Law Society of Alberta derives its authority from the Legal Profession Act of Alberta and set out standards through a Code of Conduct and the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta.
The Law Society views its core purpose as an active obligation and duty to uphold and protect the public interest in the delivery of legal services.
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The Alberta Law Society board is made up of 24 members who are called benchers. Twenty of the board members are lawyers who are elected by profession while the remaining four are members of the public appointed by the Minister of justice
Kene Ilochonwu was sworn in on February 25, 2021, for a three-year term.
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