Meet the lawyers who made our firm what it is today
Our firm has been home to some incredible legal professionals and they tend to stick around! Our alumni practiced with our firm for many years. We are grateful for their mentorship, collegiality, and the invaluable service they provided to our clients. Each has left an indelible mark and significantly influenced how we approach our work and how we operate as a firm.
William (Bill) Hendsbee, K.C.
Bill joined our firm in 1996 and practiced law with us until June 30, 2024, when he moved into a new role as a Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice. During his tenure at the firm, Bill garnered a reputation for thoughtful, clear communication with clients and thorough, tenacious action as an advocate as he helped them resolve their injury claims. He was appointed a K.C. in March 2020 and took steps to become a trained mediator. This skill set benefited the firm’s clients and people involved in other legal disputes. In addition, Bill made it a priority to contribute to the Edmonton community through his involvement in various organizations devoted to young athletes. He was also fully committed to fostering the ongoing development of the legal profession in Alberta through his involvement in legal education and as a Bencher and recently President of the Law Society of Alberta.
Frances (Fran) Zinger
Fran, a dedicated advocate and a genuine “people person,” joined CAM LLP in 1994 and practiced with our firm until her retirement at the end of 2019. Throughout her years with our firm, Fran’s focus was on helping clients with serious head trauma and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, serious fractures, and other life-altering injuries. She enjoyed a reputation in the personal injury bar as knowledgeable, fair, reasonable and determined to pursue her client’s best interests. Her commitment to educating clients about the injury claim process is a hallmark of our firm. Fran also spent many years volunteering for the the Sherwood Park Minor Hockey Association, Hockey Alberta, and Hockey Canada.
George Somkuti
George, a forward-thinking legal professional, joined CAM LLP in 1990 and worked primarily with people who were seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents, including cases involving brain and spinal cord injuries. His keen interest in technology led him to develop software used in the real estate and legal professions, and he was a proponent of using technology to help our firm run efficiently. In addition, he had experience running small businesses. He thoroughly understood the financial implications of a severe injury for business owners. Our firm was fortunate to have him as a colleague for almost 30 years. George retired in early 2019.
Ron Cummings, K.C.
Ron Cummings, K.C. is the founding member of our firm as it is currently known, and the partner responsible for hiring and mentoring the current generation of lawyers here at CAM LLP. A graduate of the University of Alberta Law School, Class of 1960, Ron joined the firm in 1962. He was instrumental in establishing a litigation department that would ultimately set the course for our firm. In 1965, he conducted the firm’s first personal injury trial involving a catastrophic injury, and our plaintiff’s injury practice grew from there.
Ron and Don Andrews, K.C. were counsel on two of the three precedent-setting personal injury cases in the Supreme Court of Canada that form what is known as “The Trilogy.” The Trilogy continues to guide how personal injury damages are assessed in Canada’s courts to this day.
Ron has dedicated his life to helping people with serious injuries, and it comes as no surprise that he is the proud recipient of the University of Alberta Honourary Award for years dedicated to representing and serving catastrophically injured clients. After 50+ years of practice, he is happily enjoying his retirement.
Don Andrews, K.C.
After graduating from law school at the University of Toronto, Don moved to Edmonton and joined Ron Cummings, K.C. and Frank Mackay in founding the current iteration of our firm. All who knew him appreciated his friendly manner, courteous demeanour and sense of fun. Don’s intellect and skill as counsel led to his involvement (along with Ron Cummings, K.C.) in establishing precedent-setting decisions in personal injury law that continue to positively benefit injured Canadians to this day. Don had a great sense of obligation to those less fortunate and actively participated in many charities. The annual Cross Cancer Institute Golf Tournament benefited greatly due to his participation. Sadly, Don lost a battle with cancer in 2005, but the significant contributions he made to our firm and to injured people live on.
Frank Mackay
Frank Mackay was the third member of the triumvirate that established Cummings Andrews Mackay. He earned his LL.B. from Dalhousie Law School in 1970 and joined Ron Cummings, K.C. and Don Mackay, K.C. as the solicitor at the firm in 1971. After 43 years of practice focused on business, real estate, and wills and estates, he joined the offices of Stillman LLP and carried on practicing until the end of 2019, when he retired. Like his colleagues, his knowledge, friendly manner and collegiality made him a pleasure to work with and helped to set our workplace culture and inform how our lawyers approach dealings with clients and opposing counsel alike.