In Memoriam - Phil Ponting, K.C.

We honour the life and legacy of Phil Ponting, K.C., a retired partner of the firm and a foundational figure in our Calgary office. Phil was a key member of Alberta’s legal community, who took pride in caring for his family and tirelessly supported the arts in Alberta.

Phil was one of the early developers of the McLennan Ross Calgary office. He and Neal McLennan moved from Edmonton to Calgary to help build the office, after Dave Ross, Damon Bailey, and Tom Ross opened the office in 1996. Phil’s leadership, foresight, and enduring commitment to exceptional client service helped the Calgary office to thrive. Phil’s social nature helped maintain the firm’s culture, and the values that he embodied continue to define our firm today.

Phil’s legal career was marked by distinction and integrity. He earned degrees from the University of Alberta and Queen’s University, was appointed King’s Counsel, and obtained his Chartered Arbitrator designation. Phil was widely respected for his work in administrative, labour, and employment law, regularly acting as management counsel before labour boards and arbitrators and bringing exceptional skill to collective bargaining matters. This professional excellence was recognized through Martindale‑Hubbel’s highest “AV” rating, designation as a “Leading Practitioner” in the Canadian Legal LEXPERT Directory, and inclusion in Best Lawyers in Canada for labour and employment law.

Phil’s influence extended far beyond the legal profession. A steadfast supporter of the arts, he held key leadership roles with the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation, the Edmonton Symphony Society, and the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation, helping create the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, which has become an internationally acclaimed concert hall

Phil’s commitment to arts and culture extended to The Banff Centre, where he served as Chair of the Board of Governors and was named a Fellow, the Centre’s highest honour. He also served on the Canada Council for the Arts, the Alberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund, and numerous other civic and cultural organizations. These deeply impactful contributions were recognized through many honours, including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, induction into the City of Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame, and the receipt of national and provincial commemorative medals

Phil Ponting will be remembered as an exceptional lawyer, a community leader, and a devoted advocate for the arts. He was a generous colleague and was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren. His legacy lives on through the firm and institutions he helped build, the clients he served, and the many people he mentored and inspired.

We extend our deepest condolences to Phil’s wife, Arlene, family, friends, and colleagues, and we share their loss.