Dean M. Rask - B.A., LL.B.
Dean has been practising law since graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in 1991. He is the founding partner of Rask Law and has worked in numerous areas of law, with an emphasis on corporate, small business and real estate law. He has worked extensively with First Nation communities, both at the leadership and individual levels, in the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Dean’s keen interest in taxation led him to attend many tax conferences throughout Western Canada during the early years of his career. Cultivating a solid foundation in this area has helped him deliver solid corporate and business advice to his clients.
In 2019, Dean completed the mortgage broker courses and, in addition to offering legal services, he has since provided and continues to provide mortgage broker services to numerous clientele and people in Cochrane and surrounding communities. In this capacity, he works with the Sky Financial Corporation brokerage, located here in Alberta. To learn more, please go to this site: www.raskmortgage.com.
As a Cochrane resident for the past several years, Dean has served on various boards and enjoys spending time in the community and at his nearby cottage.
Maira Hassan - B.A., LL.B.
Maira, a Partner at Rask Law, has been practising law since being called to the Bar in Ontario in 2001 and then in Alberta in 2005. She graduated from the University of Ottawa’s LL.B. program in 1999 after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto with a specialized multidisciplinary major in “Ethics, Society & the Law”.
Maira has worked with private law firms, provincial government agencies in Ontario as well as Alberta Justice’s Civil Litigation department. She has worked extensively in the areas of family law, child welfare and civil litigation and has developed a unique ability to handle complex cases skillfully, efficiently and compassionately for her clientele.
Maira’s deep interest in social justice and human rights issues was cultivated further through her prior volunteer work for Lawyers Without Borders. She has also placed emphasis on maintaining close community connections through activities such as teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) evening classes to newcomers to the Calgary area. As a Cochrane resident, Maira is an active hockey mom and enjoys travelling with her family in her spare time.
John A. Elliott - B.A., J.D.
Student-at-Law
John was born and raised in and around the lush, green countryside of County Cork in the Republic of Ireland, and in July 2015, having just graduated with a first-class joint honours degree in English and Sociology from University College Cork (National University of Ireland), he left his beloved Emerald Isle behind and emigrated to Calgary.
While studying at University College Cork, John excelled at writing and won the Faculty of English Undergraduate of the Year Award for his final-year dissertation on James Joyce’s Ulysses. During his final year, John was also identified as an outstanding academic at the international level by The Undergraduate Awards as a Highly Commended Entrant.
Upon arrival in Canada, John immediately applied to study Law at the University of Calgary. He also began work as a pipeline inspection field technician at that time and gained valuable insight into the Canadian oil and gas sector in the process. Through his positions as a “pig-tracker” and cathodic protection surveyor, he worked all over this great country and progressed in his work to the position of job-lead on various large projects.
John honed his ability to focus and work hard in difficult conditions for many hours at a time while working out on the pipeline, and this stood him in good stead when he began his Juris Doctor studies at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law in September 2016.
While studying at U of C Law, John volunteered with Student Legal Assistance and Pro Bono Students of Canada (Emergency Protection Order Project), and providing legal assistance to those in need was an invaluable experience and top-class training for John’s burgeoning legal career.
John’s passion for achieving the best possible outcome for his clients became evident at SLA where he dedicated himself to working on files in various legal fields (Family Law; Criminal Law; Civil Law; Landlord-Tenant Disputes; By-Law matters), and he made numerous types of Court appearances, including: Criminal and Civil Law Trials; Summary Dispositions; Family Law Case-Flow Conferences; Judicial Dispute Resolutions; Mediations; etc.
John joined the team at Rask Law LLP in January 2024 as a Student-at-Law and feels extremely grateful that he gets to progress through his legal training and career in the beautiful Town of Cochrane, nestled beneath the majestic Rocky Mountains. His passion for the Law grows by the day as he gains experience in areas such as: Commercial/Corporate Law; Family Law; Wills and Estates; Real Estate; Employment law; Civil Law; and many other legal fields, and he is very excited to provide legal services to this wonderful community in the coming years.
Sherry Rask
Real Estate Paralegal & Office Manager
Since 2006, Sherry has played an integral part in her role as Office Manager and Real Estate Paralegal. With her invaluable experience, Sherry takes great pride in ensuring that each client's experience is positive and gratifying. She moves each file to its successful conclusion efficiently and professionally.
