If you have been charged with a criminal offence, your freedom is on the line. Since you are visiting our website, it is likely that you or a family member have been charged with a criminal offence. In Canada, a criminal conviction can have devastating consequences such as the loss of friends, family, immigration status, employment opportunity, and personal self-worth.

We believe your future is worth fighting for.

While your situation may seem hopeless, remember that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A number of legal options are at your disposal. Our team of experienced criminal defence lawyers are standing by to assist you in navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system.

If you are ready to act, request a free consultation today to speak with a criminal defence lawyer.

If you or a Loved One Has Been Charged with a Crime

Every client and their circumstances are unique. We understand that there is no “one size fits all” approach and are diligent in ensuring every client receives a personalized plan of action to address any criminal charge they are facing.

Our first step with any new client is to listen. Understanding the exact circumstances that led to you receiving a criminal charge is necessary in being able to determine a strategy we believe will most likely result in the best outcome. It is also important that we recognize your goals in addressing the criminal charge which may include avoiding jail time, avoiding a criminal record and/or having a fine reduced.

After we are satisfied we have an in-depth understanding of your situation, we will discuss next steps and outline the strategy we believe would be in your best interest. This may include proceeding to trial, attempting to reach a resolution with the Crown, or pleading guilty to a lesser offence and sentence.

Most importantly, no matter what avenue we take, it will be with your instruction and confidence that it is the right strategy for you.

Focused on Service

Ensuring your rights are thoroughly defended requires more than an understanding of the Criminal Code. Taking the time to understand every detail of your case and the circumstances is equally as important.

We aim to provide top-quality, personalized service for every client, understanding that all clients are different. Taking the time to meet with you, learn about you, ask questions, and recognize all the potential legal arguments in your case forms the foundation of our relationship with you and allows us to ensure we can fight for the best outcome in your case.

Each of our lawyers not only takes the law seriously, but they are also zealous advocates who are genuinely invested in everyone they represent. Having a constant understanding of your interests and needs, paired with an open line of communication allows us to provide a high level of service and a smooth process during an anxiety-ridden and often frightening time in your life.

Flexible Payment Structures

Requiring the assistance of a criminal lawyer is often unexpected and frequently associated with immediate concerns about how and if you can afford legal representation.

Our team seeks to ease those concerns by providing you with a free initial consultation as well as offering flexible fee structures and payment plans with the goal of accommodating every budget.

We offer a diverse legal team with varying fee levels so we can accommodate your budget without compromising your defence. No matter who you retain, our team works together to ensure no stone is left unturned during your case and the best outcome can be reached.

Understanding Criminal Defence Proceedings in Edmonton

Of the many questions swirling in your head after being charged with a criminal offence, it is likely one of the most prominent is “what now?” Hiring a defence lawyer as soon as possible can help alleviate those concerns by taking the weight off your shoulders and allowing your lawyer to guide you through all your questions.

Each of our team members seeks to ensure your process and experience with the criminal justice system proceeds as smoothly as possible. Our first step is to complete a thorough initial consult that gives us an in-depth look into your case, your circumstances in life and who you are as a person. Immediately following, we will ensure all your disclosure is provided. This means any evidence the Crown seeks to use in their case against you.

Once we have completed a detailed review of your disclosure, we will discuss what we believe to be the best avenue moving forward and ensure all questions and concerns are addressed. This may include proceeding to trial, attempting to reach a resolution with the Crown or pleading guilty to a lesser offence.

No matter what, we are committed to ensuring you are fully informed every step of the way and understand all aspects of whatever avenue you decide to proceed with.

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587-930-7877

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Why Choose Us?

Our firm has over 500+ five-star Google reviews.

We are one of the largest criminal defence teams in Western Canada.

Our lawyers have over 60 years of combined legal experience.

We have defended clients in over 10,000 cases.

We offer flexible payment structures and fee plans.

Our team is available 24/7 to provide help and support.

Practice Areas

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving is one of many criminal driving charges that can be filed against drivers in Edmonton. In 2021, 731 adults were charged with impaired driving by Edmonton Police Service alone. This does not consider charges by RCMP in rural areas however all law enforcement agencies are on high alert for these charges.

Domestic Violence

A charge is considered domestic in nature if it involves violence against a family member or a current/former romantic partner. Domestic violence in Edmonton has risen 13.5% from 2019-2020 and although this is thought to be related to the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, Edmonton Police Service will not hesitate to investigate and charge suspects reported for this type of offence.

Violent Offences

Violent offences result from alleged harmful events between people. These include assault, choking and manslaughter. Edmonton Police Service has indicated a 12% increase in violent crimes from 2020 to 2021, suggesting local police will continue to thoroughly pursue charges against these types of crimes.

Drug Offences

Drug charges are offences which arise from an interaction with an illicit drug or substance including possession, trafficking, distribution, and importation. Edmonton is dedicated to uncovering these types of crimes and has significant resources at its disposal to do so including the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement Section.

Youth Offences

Youth offences are primarily addressed through the Youth Criminal Justice Act which aims to rehabilitate young people and reduce youth crime. In Edmonton, programs such as DIVERSIONfirst support youth who have committed their first non-violent offence and support them through restorative justice instead of a criminal charge.

Assaulting A Peace Officer

Administration of justice offences includes Criminal Code violations of failure to comply with conditions, prisoner unlawfully at large, failure to appear, and breach of probation. Given recent concerns over breaches of probation and bail conditions, Edmonton Police Service take these charges seriously and are more likely to lay charges.

Criminal Driving

Criminal driving encompasses multiple motor vehicle offences in the Criminal Code and is different from charges under the Traffic Safety Act of Alberta. In Edmonton, offences such as dangerous driving causing death can have serious repercussions including significant jail time.

Assault & Threats

Assault is a serious charge whereby someone applies force (directly or indirectly) to a person without their consent. The maximum penalty for an indictable offence is 10 years behind bars. 2022 statistics in Edmonton indicate neighbourhoods such as Downtown Edmonton, Norwood and Central McDougall have some of the highest rates of assault charges in the city.

Sexual Offences

Sexual offences include sexual interference, exploitation, and most commonly sexual assault. A sexual offence is committed when the complainant did not consent to the activity that forms the subject matter of the charge. The Sexual Assault Section investigators in Edmonton are dedicated to investigating these crimes and do not hesitate to press charges against those they suspect have been involved.

Property Crimes

Crimes against property are serious charges in Canada. In particular, Edmonton has been noted as having a significantly higher rate of property crimes than the rest of Canada, including breaking and entering, theft of property and vandalism.

Traffic Crimes

Traffic offences and violations are breaches of provincial legislation that can result in significant fines, driving suspensions or jail time. Edmonton statistics from 2018 indicate 378,619 speeding tickets were issued by photo and laser radar.

Fraud

Fraud is a type of non-violent property offence that covers a broad range of acts, such as using another person’s credit card without their knowledge or consent, falsifying insurance or employment-related records, or engaging in complex schemes that result in a substantial financial loss to an individual or a corporation.

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Client Reviews

Ellen did wonderful stuff for me and got my charges stayed she is an awesome lawyer and I would recommend her too anyone thank you so much for your help this past year

S. P.

Ellen Sutherland is an incredible lawyer. Her legal advice was precise and delivered to me in a manner that was easily understood. She helped me reach a decision for an IRS that was best case scenario for me.

Thank you, Ellen!

P. B.

I can not give enough thanks to this firm. Not only did we get walked through every step but they always kept us updated. The office staff is very inviting as well. At the end of a very long and stressful year the charges were dropped.

C. J.

Ellen Sutherland is knowledgable, personable very well versed in the justice system. I would recommend Ellen to anyone looking for a Lawyer.

S. L.
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Successful Cases

Case Number: 55582521 

Our client was arrested after being pulled over for an unrelated incident. The assault and mischief occurred in a different town hours before and the perpetrator of those crimes had driven away in the same vehicle as our client. Despite our client claiming he had not been near either of those incidents, he was charged.

Upon being retained, we reviewed disclosure and discovered a significant issue regarding identification. No eyewitnesses could accurately identify our client and the general description was vague. When we brought the matter to trial, the Crown Prosecutor realized that their likelihood of conviction was low due to the identification issue and they immediately withdrew the charge.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; No Criminal Record 

Case Number: 55592575 

Our client was arrested following an incident in a vehicle with his girlfriend and her two children. Our client had indicated to his girlfriend that he was having suicidal thoughts and previously threatened to drive the car off the road. While in the vehicle, our client attempted to stab his girlfriend with a screwdriver, then tried to force the car off the road. When he eventually jumped out of the vehicle, his girlfriend called police, who later observed him walking on the highway with a screwdriver in hand. The officers arrested him for assault with a weapon.

Upon being retained, we immediately requested disclosure and reviewed it with our client. We assisted our client in obtaining domestic violence counselling and provided documentation of his counselling and treatment history to the Crown Prosecutor. In addition to this, we provided the Crown with our client’s medical records, as well as a personal statement from our client detailing the incident and his mental health background as well as medical records. Based on this, the Crown agreed to withdraw the charge against our client.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; No Criminal Record 

Case Number: 65670015 

Our client was charged with assault with a weapon following a physical altercation with her spouse. During the fight, out client drove her car towards her spouse, nearly hitting him and eventually pinning him to the garage at their home. This incident was recorded on a neighbors’ phone who then called the police. Our client was arrested shortly thereafter.

Upon being retained, we succeeded in helping our client make bail and amended her conditions to ensure minimal disruption to her family. We began negotiations with the Crown Prosecutor and worked to quickly resolve the criminal charge as well as the resulting issues with Child & Family Services. Considering the circumstances around the incident and the wishes of the complainant, the Crown Prosecutor agreed to an extrajudicial sanction and after the completion of counselling, the charge against our client was withdrawn.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; No Criminal Record

Case Number: 55582521 

Our client was arrested after being pulled over for an unrelated incident. The assault and mischief occurred in a different town hours before and the perpetrator of those crimes had driven away in the same vehicle as our client. Despite our client claiming he had not been near either of those incidents, he was charged.

Upon being retained, we reviewed disclosure and discovered a significant issue regarding identification. No eyewitnesses could accurately identify our client and the general description was vague. When we brought the matter to trial, the Crown Prosecutor realized that their likelihood of conviction was low due to the identification issue and they immediately withdrew the charge.

Successful Result: Charge Withdrawn; No Criminal Record 

Case Number: 55542511

Our client faced an Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS: Fail) for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol following a traffic collision. The peace officer issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty (NAP) and presented the client with a verbal explanation of a roadside appeal. However, no written advice about the voluntary nature of the appeal or its implications was provided before the appeal was declined.

The incident began when law enforcement stopped the client after observing them leaving the scene of a collision. The client was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in the back of a police vehicle. Despite the officer mentioning the appeal, the absence of written documentation and clear communication led the client to mistakenly believe that declining the appeal would result in worse consequences, such as criminal charges.

At the review hearing, we highlighted procedural deficiencies in the officer’s conduct. We argued that the failure to provide written advice regarding the voluntary nature of the appeal violated procedural safeguards under Section 88.11 of the Traffic Safety Act. Drawing on key precedents, including Lausen v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads) and Lawrence v. Alberta (Director of SafeRoads), we demonstrated that these deficiencies deprived the client of their right to meaningful access to a roadside appeal.

The adjudicator agreed that the officer’s omissions rendered the process unfair. The NAP was canceled, and no suspension or further penalties were imposed.

Successful Result: IRS Fail Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 15230247

Our client was stopped for speeding. The police issued them a Notice of Administrative Penalty “NAP” for operating a motor vehicle while their blood alcohol concentration was equal to or over 80 mg% within 2 hours of operation and impaired operation.

Upon being retained, we reviewed the evidence provided by the police officer as well as the physical paperwork provided to our client. We presented our client’s side of the story for his erratic driving which was due to a mechanical failure in his car. Further, we argued no written notice of the roadside appeal was provided to him. Although, the officer did make some verbal assertions, however, those alone were not sufficient to meet the legislative onus. Our client provided honest and cogent evidence and asserted that the NAP was given to him at the conclusion of the investigation. Our client was able to provide a lot of details that were missing from the primary investigating officer’s narrative. Due to these details, the Adjudicator decided to believe our client. The adjudicator decided in our client’s favour and their penalty was cancelled.

Successful Result: IRS FAIL Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 55A32435

Our client was pulled over for speeding. They were then issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty “NAP” for operating a motor vehicle while their blood alcohol concentration was equal to or over 80mg% within 2 hours of operation.

Upon being retained, we reviewed the evidence provided by the issuing police officers. We immediately noted a lack of proper procedure followed by the officers which infringed upon our client’s statutory rights. We argued that there was an overarching duty to inform our client of their right to a voluntary roadside appeal and that this awareness must come before our client either agreed or declined to provide a second sample of breath. The adjudicator agreed with us and found that our client was unaware that providing a second sample of breath was voluntary at this critical time. This led to the adjudicator deciding in our favour and cancelling our client’s NAP.

Successful Result: IRS FAIL Cancelled, No Suspension.

Case Number: 15830230

Our client was stopped for speeding. The police issued them a Notice of Administrative Penalty “NAP” for operating a motor vehicle while their blood alcohol concentration was equal to or over 80 mg within 2 hours of operation and impaired operation.

Upon being retained, we reviewed the evidence provided by the police officer as well as the physical paperwork provided to our client. The key argument with respect to the roadside appeal appeared weak in our client’s case as the police asserted, that they issued him the NAP prior to the second test. Our client did not agree with the police report and asserted that the NAP was given to him at the conclusion of the investigation. We presented our client’s side of the story. Our client was able to provide a lot of details that were missing from the primary investigating officer’s narrative. Due to these details, the Adjudicator decided to believe our client. The adjudicator decided in our client’s favour and their penalty was cancelled.

Successful Result: IRS FAIL Cancelled, No Suspension.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on your priorities and the nature of your case, the cost to retain one of our lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton may vary.

The cost of a criminal lawyer ranges based on the experience of the lawyer you retain and the kind of help you require. For example, services rendered prior to or in preparation of trial may cost you from anywhere between $2,500 to $15,000. If your case goes to trial, additional fees may be warranted.

To have a better understanding of our payment structures, it may be of benefit to you to schedule a free consultation. In this 30-minute consultation, we can discuss payment options and payment plans so that money is not the reason you are unable to adequately defend yourself against a criminal charge.

At Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton, our lawyers are dedicated to delivering exceptional legal services. Our team of lawyers have extensive knowledge in criminal law and will be able to help you resolve your criminal case.

Our lawyers can provide you timely advice regarding court processes, your communication with police, navigating any court-ordered sentence(s), or appealing a conviction.

Whether you are charged with fraud, sexual assault, internet-based offences, trafficking, or impaired driving, our lawyers at Oykhman Criminal Defence in Edmonton will thoroughly analyze your case and structure our representation strategy to accommodate your needs.

We are committed to exhausting all options in trying to evade an entry on your criminal record and to attending to your interests every step of the resolution process.

Our lawyers will prioritize the approach that is most appealing to you. For instance, if you do not wish to plead guilty and would like to proceed to trial, we will give the utmost consideration to this instruction while also advising you about the best possible alternatives.

A criminal record in Edmonton can easily be damaging to your social, mental, and physical health. This is because a criminal record may restrict the freedoms you enjoy and can adversely affect your job prospects, your immigration status, and your mobility.

For instance, if you are convicted of a criminal offence, it is possible that you can be given jail time. You may also become a part of the offenders’ lists that law enforcement institutions in Canada utilize. A criminal record may also make it more difficult for you to adopt children or to secure custody over your children.

A prior criminal record may also make it so that you are penalized more severely for any subsequent offences you commit.

This is why we at Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton prioritize not having any criminal charges appear on your criminal record, apart from reducing your sentence if you are given one.

While surface-level criminal background checks will not show charges which you were found to be innocent of, more thorough criminal background checks will list every criminal offence you have been charged with over your lifetime, regardless of whether these charges resulted in convictions.

A Vulnerable Sector Check, for example, can be conducted by Edmonton Police Services. These checks may include information about your involvement with the criminal justice system that is not related to the sentences you have served or the court-ordered penalties you have been subjected to.

You may be asked to have a Vulnerable Sector Check conducted if you are a candidate for an employment position at an organization that services vulnerable individuals, like minors or the elderly.

For these reasons, if you have reason to believe that you will be charged with a criminal offence, it is imperative that you seek out legal advice from a qualified criminal defence lawyer.

Given that being charged for a criminal offence is an overwhelming and stressful ordeal, it is important that you hire the right lawyer for you.

At Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton, we offer a free consultation in which we will be able to provide you with as much advice as we can. This will give you a better perspective about how to resolve your case and the next steps you should take.

This consultation is useful because it will allow you to decide whether the services we offer meet your needs, at no expense to you.

Our focus areas at Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton include fraud, sex crimes like sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference, internet-based offences like child luring and child pornography, drug trafficking and simple possession, domestic assault and violent crime, impaired driving, and robbery.

However, we are not limited to practicing in these areas of criminal law.

Our lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton have successfully represented individuals charged with a variety of criminal offences like firearms and weapons offences, domestic violence, aggravated assault, criminal driving, traffic crimes and traffic violations, breaking and entering, and breach of probation.

Yes! Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton does provide legal aid services to those who are eligible. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. This means that not every application that is submitted is guaranteed to be accepted. Referrals are also required for our legal aid programs.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility for legal aid, you can schedule a free consultation which will provide you with a better understanding about the application and evaluation process.

Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton does offer payment plans and payment options for trial costs. For instance, if you choose not to plead guilty and would like to challenge the criminal offence you have been charged with, your case will likely proceed to trial. The fees for this service can be paid to us in monthly instalments, which may alleviate the burden of having to pay for trial all at once.

Our philosophy at Strategic Criminal Defence in Edmonton is that money should not be the sole reason an individual is unable to obtain criminal defence counsel.

This is why we try our best to match clients with the lawyer that meets their budget requirements without foregoing or compromising on the quality of legal service that is provided. For instance, we may refer a client to a junior-level lawyer whose fees are lower than mid-level associates and senior partners.

In retaining our junior lawyers, you will still have behind you the expertise and knowledge of our entire firm.

Fortunately, our lawyers use a flat rate system as opposed to charging on an hourly basis. The benefit of this is that there is increased transparency: you will know very early on the entire costs of our services. These fees will not be subject to change regardless of how long it takes us to fulfill the specified service.

We serve the Edmonton area and all the communities in the Greater Edmonton Area including but not limited to Beaumont, Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, and Spruce Grove.

Our services are also available to individuals residing in Red Deer and Fort McMurray.

Our Edmonton office is conveniently located downtown which means that we are accessible to all communities in northern Alberta.

We also service every court center across Alberta.

You can also give us a call at (587) 930-7877 to speak to one of our representatives directly.

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