Matthew Deshaye
Matthew Deshaye is a partner at Ross Lutz Dunn & Deshaye. His practice is exclusive to criminal defence and focuses on serious indictable matters and contested trials.
Since his call to the Alberta Bar in 2011, Mr. Deshaye has represented clients in a broad range of criminal trials, including but not limited to: murder; manslaughter, serious violent crimes, sexual assaults, drug and firearms offences and criminal driving charges, often involving bodily injury or death.
Mr. Deshaye appears regularly in the Alberta Court of Justice and the Alberta Court of King’s Bench across the entire province. He also appears in trial courts across the western provinces, including Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
His focus is advancing structured methodically prepared defences in complex proceedings that routinely involve challenges to the admission of evidence and complex Charter of Rights and Freedoms litigation. Each file is approached to ensure every legal avenue of defence is canvassed and that the rights of his clients are properly protected.
Education and Early Court Experience
Mr. Deshaye graduated with a degree in Justice Studies from Mount Royal College in 2006, earning placements on both the Dean’s and President’s lists for top academic performance.
He then obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Manitoba in 2010. During law school, he was awarded the Irvin Goldman Prize in Criminal Law, a prize awarded to the student at the top of the class in criminal law courses.
Prior to law school, Mr. Deshaye gained extensive experience as a clerk in Calgary’s Provincial Criminal Courts. That experience provided early insight into courtroom procedure, judicial reasoning and the operational realities of criminal litigation in Alberta.
Professional Involvement
In addition to his practice, Mr. Deshaye has served as an executive member of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association (CDLA) in Calgary and continues his involvement with the CDLA. He is also an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers and the Calgary Bar Association. Mr. Deshaye routinely attends events and seminars relative to these memberships as a tool to stay on top of current legal issues and innovative approaches into the present.
Approach
Criminal allegations carry significant legal and personal consequences. Mr. Deshaye provides clear advice, disciplined preparation, and steady courtroom advocacy at every stage of proceedings.
Contact directly 403-233-0443
How Matthew Approaches Your Defence
Matthew approaches criminal defence with disciplined preparation, steady courtroom advocacy, and a clear focus on the facts and legal issues that shape a case. His work is built around preparing every serious matter with contested proceedings in mind.
Tactical Evidence Review
The defence begins before the first court appearance. Matthew prioritizes early disclosure review and evidentiary analysis to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Constitutional Litigation
Where police overstep their boundaries, Matthew works to identify Charter issues and procedural problems that may affect the admissibility of evidence or the fairness of the prosecution.
Trial-Ready Advocacy
From pre-trial motions to contested hearings and trial, Matthew's approach is structured, practical, and focused on the advocacy required to defend serious allegations.
Areas of Focus
Mr. Deshaye has defended clients charged with offences including:
- Impaired and dangerous driving
- Drug possession, trafficking, and production
- Weapons offences
- Sexual offences
- Aggravated assault and serious personal injury matters
- Homicide-related allegations
Mr. Deshaye prepares each matter with trial in mind. He is experienced in contested hearings, pre-trial motions, and jury and judge-alone trials.
