OUR TEAM
André Wilkins
André grew up in South Africa, where he obtained his B. Proc, LL.B and LL.M from the University of Pretoria. He did his articles as a lawyer in Pretoria, where he qualified and was admitted as a solicitor in 1992. The focus of his practice as a solicitor was criminal defence and civil litigation.
André then left the solicitor's profession and commenced practise as a barrister at the Pretoria Bar in 2002, where he quickly developed a busy and successful general litigation practice. Over his career of 30 years as a litigator, he has appeared as counsel in numerous trials, applications and appeals before courts and other tribunals at all levels in South Africa (and here in Alberta).
As an internationally trained lawyer, André was required to demonstrate competence in nine areas of the law unique and particular in Canadian jurisdiction through the National Committee on Accreditation, a committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. André obtained a passing grade in all his examinations, and a Certificate of Qualification was issued to him on December 5, 2009.
André moved to Canada in July 2011 with his wife Juanita and two daughters. He served a 19-month stint with NSWB Law Firm in Weyburn, SK, before settling in Drumheller, AB, with Herman, Kloot & Company as an associate in 2013. André was a founding partner of Kloot, Wilkins & Associates in January 2018. When the firm dissolved on October 31, 2021, André opened Valley Law Chambers, focusing on serving the community with a wide variety of practice areas, including real estate, civil litigation, family law, wills and estate administration.
André is a member of the CLF (Christian Legal Fellowship) and the ACTLA (Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association) and past president of the South East Alberta Bar Association.
André is an ardent landscape photographer and underwater videographer. He has a keen interest in sports and enjoys swimming, adventure bike riding, scuba diving, skiing and the odd workout in the gym.
