William (Bill) McElhanney

About William

William (Bill) McElhanney, K.C. is a partner at Ackroyd LLP who has practised law for more than four decades since earning his LLB from Queen's University in 1983 and being called to the bar in 1984. He holds an honours BA with distinction from the University of Alberta. He serves as general counsel to several Alberta Metis Settlements and represents First Nations communities and freehold landowners before Alberta courts and administrative bodies including the Surface Rights Board, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and the National Energy Board. Early in his career he helped draft the legislation, enacted in 1990, that created local government structures, a land registry system, and co-management of mines and minerals for Alberta's eight Metis Settlements. He continues to focus on Indigenous human rights and cultural preservation and has lectured at Queen's University and to petroleum industry associations on Indigenous resource development.

Practice areas

Indigenous Law Administrative & Regulatory Law

Education & credentials

Law school

Queen's University

Undergraduate

University of Alberta, BA Honours with Distinction (1980)