MEET OUR LAWYERS
Kenneth Heintz
Partner
Areas of practice
Civil Litigation, Corporate, Contract, Insurance and Agricultural Law.
Education
1983: Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction), Economics and Political Science, University of Alberta
1987: Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta
Professional Experience
1988-1991: Articling Student and then associate lawyer at Lavallee Buchanan
1991-1996: Partner at Lavallee, Rackel and Heintz
1996-present: Partner of Venture Law Group LLP
Practice
Mr. Heintz has a general practice with an emphasis on Civil Litigation. He has conducted cases on behalf of clients before various Administrative Tribunals in the Province of Alberta as well as the Provincial Court of Alberta, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the Court of Appeal of Alberta and the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Heintz deals regularly with corporate commercial, contract, real estate, insurance and agricultural law matters as well as personal injury and fatal accident claims. He has a ranching background and he represents many participants and stakeholders in the cattle industry in Alberta.
Professional & Community Activities
Member of the Law Society of Alberta
Member of the Canadian Bar Association
Member of the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
Shelley Smith
Partner
Areas of practice
Estate Planning, Estates, Real Estate, Corporate, and Family
Education
1987: Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy, Andrews University
1990: Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta
Professional Experience
1990-1992: Articling Student and then associate lawyer at Rowand Lopatka & Savich
1992-1996: Associate with Lavallee, Rackel & Heintz
1996- present: Partner of Venture Law Group LLP
Practice
Shelley practices the areas of law that impacts her clients personally.
Professional & Community Activities
She has assisted various local charities and her church for many years. She has recently given seminars at South East Edmonton Senior's Association, served on the board of KARA for 13 years, served as a board member for Coralwood Adventist Academy for 14 years and is presently serving on the board of her local SDA church.
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Member of the Law Society of Alberta
Member of the Canadian Bar Association
Inga Mikelioniene
Lawyer
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Wills and Estates and Family Law
Education
2001: Master of Laws, Vilnius University, Lithuania
2020: Certificate of Qualification from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation
Professional Experience
2020-2021: Articling Student at Venture Law Group LLP
2021-Present: Associate Lawyer at Venture Law Group LLP
Practice
Inga Mikelioniene practiced as a lawyer in Lithuania from 2001 until she moved to Canada in 2013. In Lithuania Inga started her legal career in a legal consulting firm where she acted for creditors and trustees in a variety of insolvency and debt recovery proceedings. Later Inga worked as in-house counsel at an insurance company. Her experience included advising on a broad range of subjects including commercial transactions, shareholder matters, development and implementation of internal policies and guidelines, defence and subrogated actions for property and injury matters under automobile, property and commercial general liability policies, debt recovery and judgment enforcement for debt actions. Inga also served as an executive assistant for the company’s Board of Directors.
In 2017 Inga joined Venture Law Group LLP as a legal assistant. After completion of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation process, articling and admission to the Alberta Bar in 2021, she joined Venture Law Group LLP as an associate lawyer and specializes in Personal Injury, Real Estate, Wills and Estates and Family Law matters.
Professional and Community Activities
Member of the Law Society of Alberta
Treasurer of the Canadian Lithuanian Society of Edmonton
Outside of work, Inga enjoys travelling, gardening, playing violin and piano.
Languages
English, Lithuanian and Russian