In his 26 years with McLeod Law, Neil is proud to have had a hand in steering the firm through the growth and transitions that have made it the success it is today.

By 2005, McLeod had grown rapidly enough that, as Neil recalls, “It was apparent that if we wanted to keep growing, we needed to get serious about how to do that.” Neil was one of the writers of the original business plan that established the new management structure and a future growth strategy. “We built a big-firm infrastructure while retaining our trademark small-firm attention to clients.” He continued to help shape the firm’s direction by sitting on the management committee for 16 years.

Currently, Neil heads up the firm’s Professional Development program, where he’s committed to nurturing the talents of junior lawyers. “Mentoring our young lawyers has been very rewarding,” he says. He enjoys watching them grow their practice and become partners.

Of all the cases he’s worked on, Neil takes the most pride in the dispute between his client, the University of Calgary Students’ Union, and the University of Calgary over the ownership and use of MacEwan Hall, which houses the Students’ Union and its related businesses. This highly complex project spanned five years and as many Students’ Union Presidents. Through the negotiation of two unique milestone agreements, the Students’ Union acquired definitive and perpetual rights in MacEwan Hall. “For me, it was incredibly gratifying to realize the effort resulted in such an important achievement for the Students’ Union and the undergraduate students.”

Neil is married to the law another way: his wife, Laurie Kiedrowski, is also a partner at McLeod. They love to travel; while, at home, Neil has a passion for gardening and wine.

In celebration of our milestone anniversary, 40 Years 40 Stories celebrates the diverse expertise, personalities and points of view that have helped our firm grow with the Calgary community since 1980.