She was a senior partner at Bennett Jones, co-head of its health practice
McCarthy Tétrault LLP has announced the appointment of Valerie Prather – a senior litigator with over three decades of experience, including in representing physicians sued for malpractice – as a partner in its litigation and dispute resolution group in Calgary.
“Valerie is a standout litigator whose expertise as lead counsel at all levels of court complements our national platform,” said Brett Anderson, McCarthy Tétrault’s Calgary regional managing partner, in a news release. “Her addition reinforces our ability to provide clients with sophisticated, practical solutions in complex disputes.”
“She deepens our bench strength and enhances the value we deliver to clients across Canada,” added Tom Sutton, McCarthy Tétrault’s national litigation and dispute resolution practice group leader.
“I’m thrilled to join McCarthy Tétrault and work alongside a team that shares my commitment to client-focused advocacy,” Prather said in the firm’s news release. “The Firm’s collaborative culture and national reach create an ideal environment to continue delivering exceptional results for clients.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Prather worked at Bennett Jones LLP from August 1988 to November 2025. There, she served as a senior partner and co-head of the firm’s health practice.
She represented and advised physicians in medical negligence proceedings before the courts, hospital tribunals, and medical licensing authorities, including the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, according to her biography on McCarthy Tétrault’s website.
Lexpert has featured Prather as a leading lawyer in professional liability matters and in representing defendants in medical negligence cases.
At Bennett Jones, she also focused on energy litigation and education law. She acted on behalf of oil and gas companies, post-secondary educational institutions, and professionals. Her experience covered disputes involving contaminated sites, pooling agreements, oil and gas facilities, breaches of fiduciary duties, and natural gas marketing.
Prather joined the Alberta bar in 1989.
Beyond firm work
According to her LinkedIn page, Prather served as founding director of the Calgary Medical Legal Society and a member of the Health Law Institute Management Board. She is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
According to her firm bio, Prather taught as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary, where she earned her LLB. She also lectured at Grand Rounds and at medical conferences across Canada.
