Tel: (403) 266-4440 Cell: (403) 714-7757
Fax: (403) 234-0337 Email: gregjanzen@so-law.ca
About Greg Janzen
I am a lawyer at Savage Oykhman Law, a full-service criminal defence law firm, and am based at our Calgary Branch. Like everyone at Savage Oykhman Law, I practice exclusively in Criminal Defence Law. In that capacity I have successfully defended hundreds of individuals and have conducted numerous trials, including those in Provincial Court and the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta.
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Approach to Advocacy
I am genuinely passionate about the work I do, and am proud to be part of a team-oriented firm that works collectively to ensure that its clients are given the best defence possible. In most cases, I find a way to resolve my client’s matter to his or her satisfaction without the need for a trial, but I am also highly adept at case preparation and courtroom litigation.
Education and Awards
I graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2016, specializing in human rights law and criminal law. While in law school I was fortunate to be the recipient of several academic awards and honours, including:
- The Honourable Wallace Nesbitt Memorial Scholarship, and
- The National Association of Japanese Canadians & Roger Sachio Obata C.M. Prize in International Human Rights Law (for highest standing in the course “International Human Rights Law”).
Prior to law school, I obtained a PhD in philosophy from the University of Calgary. In my pre-law career, I was a philosophy professor at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary, teaching a wide variety of courses at both introductory and advanced levels. I consistently received very positive student evaluations.
I also published extensively, mainly in the philosophy of mind and psychology, but also in ethics. See some of the works I have published here:
After law school, I articled at Savage Oykhman, where I have remained to continue providing legal assistance to my community.
Community Involvement and Outreach
I have always been eager to give back to the Alberta legal community through teaching. Following an invitation to teach jurisprudence at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, I seized the opportunity to give back. I taught Philosophy of Law in the winter semester of 2020, and I look forward to returning to teach the course again in the winter semester of 2021.
What I can do to Help
Fortunately, my rates are very competitive, and occasionally I even assist those who cannot afford counsel through Legal Aid. Although I represent clients charged with any type of criminal offence, I have a particularly strong focus on:
- Criminal driving offences, including impaired driving and dangerous driving;
- Violent offences, including assault and domestic violence;
- Property crime; and
- Drug offences.
With the support of our Savage Oykhman Law network of lawyers across the country, there is no file too small or too large for me to handle.
If you have been charged with a criminal offence, contact me for a Free Consultation and give me the opportunity to explain what I can do to help.
K B
20:42 08 Feb 21
I can't begin to describe my gratitude for Michael and his team! Having never been in a position like this before, I... couldn't have asked for a more professional team that delivered results beyond my expectations. They prepare you for the worst but truly strive for the best, which is what the outcome ended up being. Because of their team, I was able to get my life back and there's absolutely no price you can put on that! Thank you SO SO SO much Michael and team!read more
Ayden Coulson
16:08 05 Feb 21
I highly recommend Micheal Oykman Criminal Defense Lawyers!!! I had the pleasure of Joseph Beller taking on my case and... helping me easily understand the choices I had and we quickly came to a resolution and my charge was dropped!! He was very caring and if I had any questions he would answer them for me and making me feel better about the situation I was in. I'm really impressed with how fast it was solved they are also very reasonable with price ranges varying and will work with you so you can afford it. Once again I am over the moon happy with how my case turned out. Thank you Joseph and the rest of the team for being there when I needed it most.read more
Reemon Soro
19:55 02 Feb 21
Being my first time in a legal situation things seem to be heading for the worst but, thanks to Crystal everything was... resolved in the best way possible. In general I was treated very well and everything was explained to me perfectly. Would definitely choose to work with them again if need be.read more
kamyar jooya
06:46 13 Jan 21
My son was fined with a speed ticket close to Calgary during a summer trip and ordered to appear in court. We are... residing in Edmonton. I just accidentally found Oykhman law office during a google search and decided to give them a shot. My son’s speed at the time of event was unusually high. That was our first experience dealing with such a situation and were very uncertain about the outcome. We received a very professional, responsive and cost effective service, and finally a great result. Joseph Beller was the young, motivated and exact Oykhman firm’s lawyer who accepted and represented our case. During the case follow up, communication with Joe was smooth, right to the point, on time and flawless.read more
way barrows
16:53 04 Jan 21
Can’t say enough about this firm and Greg Janzen. They were so amazing and professional on every end. From the first... time I sat down with them until trial and the finish was one of the best experiences I have ever had. The final outcome full acquittal. I would highly recommend Greg and this firm for your council needs. They are beyond Awesome.read more
Tim Ngo
18:07 29 Dec 20
I am reviewing Elena Ryland’s services for me as my criminal lawyer for a DUI and refusal charge. She was very... professional and helped me out a lot. She was considerate of my situation and did everything in her power to reach our desired outcome. She was very thoughtful and helpful and considerate of my financial situation going into this case as well. I highly recommend her to people who have to go to court for a driving offence; she was very well prepared. Words cannot describe how much she had done for me and has saved my life in a sense. I appreciate Elena’s every effort to help me clear my name.read more
beth bold
01:47 23 Dec 20
Moira McAvoy thank you for your compassion and hard work.I appreciate your diligence, integrity and your good advice... around complicated matters. You were available when we needed you anytime, any day. I would highly recommend you and your firm to anyone who needs legal advice and a lawyer that would back them up.Thank you again.read more
Black Mesa
02:55 21 Dec 20
I was facing a criminal charge. So I googled up criminal defense Calgary, and this business came up. No regrets, best... decision ever. As soon as I paid my retainer. All my problems disappeared! I hired Joseph Beller. Very professional, very polite, and wants to help. He made sure, I got on all my important legal things. He made sure I was on time with all my appointments. But most importantly, he made all my charges go away! So happy now ☺️👍 Give these guys a chance like I did. You'll be happy like I am 😊read more
Aaron Bidochka
17:32 17 Dec 20
Mr Oykhman was clear and concise with me with concerns I had about our situation. He made us feel well taken care of,... and we were in good hands. We will be back if the services are neededread more
Adam M
23:06 14 Dec 20
Michael is an outstanding man, and an even better lawyer. His professionalism and knowledge of the law is matched by... none. He successfully defended my case and I would definitely recommend him to anyone who is in need of a lawyer.read more
Cory Hoskin
00:53 11 Dec 20
Michael was a pleasure to deal with. He was very quick to respond and answer all my many questions. Michael was very... understanding and easy to deal with. I would recommend him to anyone.Thanks so much Michael for all your help.read more
Mike Vukic
18:58 28 Nov 20
I'm a firearms owner who ran into a little trouble with a wrongful accusation concerning me and my firearms.I... contacted this firm and retained Crystal McGraw (My new hero) . Crystal defended me excellently and tactfully and had the judge see the truth and rule in my favor.This could have turned out to be a huge negative life changing experience for me had the judge ruled in favor of the crown. I am extremely happy that I retained Crystal and the firm, they made me feel safe and supported.I highly recommend this firm, and especially if you need help with any firearms related issues.. 👍👍read more
A G
22:24 16 Nov 20
I am beyond thankful for Crystal McGraw professional quality services and extremely satisfied with all the hard work... and doing an excellent job. Special thanks for the wonderful team/staff..ie Amie Watkins. Highly recommended for my friends and family. Thanks for everything Crystal! Kudos!!!read more
Rodney Tetreault
18:20 10 Nov 20
I have had Mr. Oykhman or others in his firm represent me three times now and on all occasions the issues were fully... resolved and in my favor. On the first on any pending charges were withdrawn, on the second one I received the results I was hoping for and on the third one the results far exceeded any expectations I had and the charges were withdrawn. This review is especially for the third charge which was for a DUI I was charged with in December of 2019. I retained Mr. Oykhman to represent me directly due to the severity of the situation. In the Spring of 2020 Mr. Oykhman and I went over the evidence files. The information was very incriminating, and the 911 reviews were damming and embarrassing. My original trial was for June 2020 but because of COVID it was postponed till Nov 2020. I was on my way to Calgary via the bus as I expected to have my license pulled again after the trial. Michael called me on the way to Calgary and informed me he had negotiated with the crown prosecutor and that the charges would be dropped, I was completely shocked at this! His service throughout this case was second to none. He always replied in very short order to any queries I had. I have confidence that once Mr. Oykhman is retained everything will be resolved and more than likely in a favorable way because he understands the issues at hand and how to use the technical areas to his/my advantage. I highly recommend Mr. Oykhman or any others in his firm to anyone that wants hands off and stress-free legal services. In my experiences with him and the firm the outcome in all 3 events were extremely favorable, far better than I deserved. Mr. Oykhman is extremely versed and VERY WELL TIED IN with the judicial system. I will never think of hiring another criminal lawyer again.read more
Takara Seki
17:05 11 Sep 20
Elena was amazing with helping my father and his DUI charges. Even though my father’s English isn’t very strong she... explained everything as clearly as possible and was calm throughout the entire process. She made us feel like everything was going to be okay and responded very quickly to any questions or concerns we had. We really appreciate her help throughout this difficult time and would highly recommend her to other clients with similar issues.read more
Jonathon Himann
20:19 13 Jul 20
I have nothing but praise for Oykhman. Their customer service was top notch. Joseph Beller was able to phone me back... within minutes of me leaving a message on their machine. He explained the possible consequences and calmed me down mightily. The whole conversation was extremely professional, from the receptionist to the email follow up. I would have no hesitation recommending them.read more
Tianda Praud
02:53 01 Jul 20
With the assistance of Elena Ryland, my charges have been withdrawn! Elena is compassionate and incredibly... understanding. Despite being charged during a pandemic, she made the whole process so simple. I strongly encourage anyone to retain Elena and trust in her and the rest of the team at Savage Oykhman!read more
Brittany Collins-Berthelot
14:43 26 Jun 20
Elaine was amazing from the start, she made me feel very comfortable and trusting of her. The staff was very... professional and caring. I would highly recommend Elaine to my family and friends.read more
Brendan Mcdonald
16:15 16 Jun 20
I have had Mr. Oykhman represent me twice now and on both occasions the issues were fully resolved having all charges... withdrawn. His service is second to none. I know once Mr.Oykhman is retained that everything will be resolved and in a favorable way because he will take care of the issues at hand. I highly recommend Mr.Oykhman to anyone that wants a stress free encounter and piece of mind knowing their issues will be takin care of, and in the end the outcome will be favorable. I would never think of ever hiring another lawyerread more
Chey Panda
21:27 28 May 20
I highly recommend Crystal McGraw's services as she is very professional, non-judgmental & reliable. Crystal will keep... you updated every step of the way & will work hard to get you a positive outcome for your case. Thank you for all your help!read more
Conrad Taupert
15:08 28 May 20
Elena Ryland was compassionate and empathetic. She immediately validated my emotions and calmed me down.I found her to... be extremely motivated. She got all my charges dropped. I highly recommend her.read more
classified666 .
19:42 27 May 20
I Had an accident right before Christmas last year an ended up getting a handful of criminal charges. Michael an his... team worked hard an got all charges dropped including an impaired. I’m thankful for his effort an would highly recommend!read more
Mark Paolo Ramos
16:23 04 May 20
After months of dealing with Crystal Mcgraw, Ryan P and Amie I have nothing but utmost respect for their... professionalism and hardwork. I was dismissed from my case and now can breathe normally as I can get my life back to normal. I would definitely recommend these folks to take care of your cases and you will be satisfied with the work that they will put into your case.read more
Kevin Murphy
00:35 24 Apr 20
Thanks to Ryan for doing a great job, and for providing a sense of support and professionalism. My charge was stayed,... which is about the best result I could have hoped for, and better than I expected. Thanks to Crystal as well for everything she did, and for delivering me only good news, and to Amie for the communications she provided. All around very happy with everything, hopefully I never require their services again. 😉read more
Craig Stange
15:35 23 Apr 20
I am going through an extremely difficult divorce and my ex made a power move by making an allegation against me that... involved the police and the start of a three month investigation. Upon the advise of a former RCMP member who is a good friend I engaged the Services of Michael to help with the investigation phase and contact by the city police. His services in dealing with the investigation and guiding me through this is beyond value. I would highly recommend his team. I am pleased to report that with his guidance the matter was dropped before charges, money well invested. If you get contacted by police your first call should be to his office.read more
Daniel Araia
00:55 22 Apr 20
If anyone is looking for professional legal lawyer I’m hardly recommending to anyone to Michael Oykhman with his... team. Trust me you will get quality service with professionalism from Michael Oykhman and all his team. Thanks to you all for your time and commitment I’m totally satisfied with all your hard work keep doing good job guys cheers.read more
David Prosser
14:42 08 Mar 20
After two years of dealing with Greg Janzen on my charges I have nothing but the highest regard for the... professionalism, expert knowledge, guidance, and personal courtesy. I would highly recommend him to my closest friends and family. A great job well done. Thank you.read more
Haifaa Rofail
23:06 05 Mar 20
5 stars, Everything worked out very well, very timely in dealing with my matter. All responses fromGreg Janzen and his... assistant where professional and helpful. I would highly recommend him. A really good lawyer ! Very happy with my outcome. All my charges was withdrawn.read more
Josh Hawryluk
01:24 27 Feb 20
Very satisfied of the service I received getting off my charge. Looking for a criminal lawyer? Theses are the guys, I... did not have to appear in court, I only had to make one visit to the office, and the rest was all handled my by lawyer (Elaine). They did an awesome job for me and excellent customer service,read more
Marty Maksymetz
02:51 31 Jan 20
I highly recommend going with this team. From the moment that I stepped into their offices, I knew that I was in good... hands. I had the privilege of working with Elena Ryland as my attorney and I couldn't be happier. She was extremely professional and well-educated on the subject matter. She was able to negotiate a deal that favoured all parties involved.read more
jay xu
01:06 29 Jan 20
Words cannot express my gratitude to Michael, he helped me out of a difficult situation and resolved the matter... unbelievably quick. Michael provided quick professional insight, and showed great compassion working to resolve my matter over the past year. The knowledge, experience, and compassion Michael is clearly the best in Calgary. Michael also has a vast network of grade A lawyers and recommended a fantastic criminal lawyer to help me with my case. I would highly recommend his services.read more
R G
18:39 11 Dec 19
I got in touch with Michael Oykhman directly based on the complexity of the legal matters I was facing. He was... incredibly professional and gave me a great deal of confidence and knowledge that it would be handled to his best efforts. The results were exactly that, the best desired outcome and a huge weight taken off me during a dark time. I would highly recommend Michael and his team to anyone looking for the best outcome possible!read more
Jessica Rafuse
22:50 15 Nov 19
I was first able to speak to Michael Oykhman himself and felt understood and confident that his staff would take care... of my legal matters. I am happy to report that not only have my matters been resolved but they were exactly in line with my desired outcome. I never felt like I had to compromise my position regarding the events that lead to needing legal services. While my initial junior associate couldn't oversee my file to completion, my gratitude goes to Greg Janzen who took on my case midway through and advocated for me and saw my charges withdrawn in a timely matter. Greg went the extra mile to show up for my appearances even when they were outside the initial legal matter at hand, which surprised me and made my life so much easier. I was out of province for 5 months of the year and thanks to Greg was able to focus on my priorities instead of being limited and interrupted. If your considering a lawyer or in doubt about the value of legal services, do yourself a favor and consult this firm. While there are many names to consider, if you find yourself needing criminal defense lawyers, I am so thankful I made the decision to have this firm represent me.They have been supportive, understanding and expedient. I also saved money and appreciated that I wasn't hit with hidden fees and wasn't footing a bill that was inflated or unwarranted. You definitely get great value! I also super appreciated the face time and timely communication at each turn. Not only were my charges withdrawn but so too were my fingerprints and photos with police destroyed so it's like nothing ever happened. A dream come true. Excellent customer service from start to finish on top of the legal support! Thank-you all so much, and while I hope not to need you in the future, I know I will be in good hands and will refer anyone in similar circumstances to your firm in the future. Cheers!read more
