History
After having arrived from her legal work in Toronto, Ontario, Renee opened her own firm, RENEE DEFENCE in May of 2019. Renee has represented people charged with various types of Criminal Code offences at every stage of the criminal justice system.
Renee fearlessly defends people’s rights. She successfully defended adults and youth across Alberta and Ontario charged with all types of crimes including attempted murder, sexual assault, drug offences, robbery, theft, fraud, and impaired driving. Renee has also conducted appeals regarding alcohol and drug Administrative Licence Suspensions before the Alberta Transportation Safety Board.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
~Martin Luther King Jr.
RENEE PUGH
From working under the tutelage of a prominent defence counsel in Toronto, Ontario, Renee gained extensive experience in criminal defence law. After leaving Toronto, she opened her own practice, RENEE DEFENCE in downtown Edmonton, Alberta in 2019.
Prior to law school, Renee graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Political Science (honours). She later attended one of Canada’s top law schools, Osgoode Hall Law school, where, amongst other activities, she was chosen to represent the Canadian student contingent at the prestigious International Criminal Law Moot competition, in New York and at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands. Renee worked throughout law school at the Community Services Legal Clinic and at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic representing criminal and family law cases. Renee shadowed and assisted Judges at Old City Hall Court, in Toronto and gained an enriched perspective with regard to criminal proceedings and sentencing from a Judge’s point of view.
Renee is honoured to have the privilege to be a criminal defence lawyer. She considers it her duty to defend and uphold her client’s Charter Rights and Freedoms. Renee has defended the basic rights of her clients and brought Charter applications, where her client’s Charter rights, have been violated, breached, and denied, minimized by the police. This resulted in the evidence being not admissible and the charges withdrawn.
If you are an individual who believes you have been treated unfairly by the police, the Courts, or by other citizens, I am in a position to review your dilemma and advise you of your legal rights. With me as your lawyer, you will not be alone in this process. I will be your advocate. I understand the proceedings and will insist that you be treated fairly. I will exercise all legal avenues to ensure that your rights are not violated and that you are treated with respect and dignity by police officers and court officials during the legal proceedings.
If the matter is one that involves parallel proceedings that touch upon family law concerns and attendance to Family Court, I can also represent you. Sometimes criminal charges have a rippling effect and impact the families of those charged. Sometimes appearances in the Family court will be required. I can defend matters in that venue as well.
Bar Admissions
Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Ontario
New York State Bar Association
Education
Osgoode Hall Law School
Juris Doctor, 2017
University of Nevada Las Vegas
B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2013
Renee Pugh| Founder of RENEE DEFENCE
Criminal Defence & Family Litigation Lawyer
Activities & Affiliations
• Alberta Criminal Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Ontario Criminal Trial Lawyers Association, Past member