An Alberta judge has temporarily frozen more than $8.5 million in assets belonging to lawyer Jeffrey Rath and his law firm following allegations that funds entrusted to him by Tallcree First Nation were improperly handled.

The Alberta Court of King's Bench issued a Mareva injunction, an uncommon legal order used to prevent assets from being moved or dissipated while a court case is ongoing. The freeze will remain in effect until a scheduled hearing, where the court will decide whether to extend the order.

The legal action stems from claims by Tallcree First Nation, which is seeking to remove Rath as trustee of a trust valued at approximately $15 million. The trust was established after the First Nation reached a settlement with the federal government in 2017, with funds intended to benefit community members upon reaching adulthood.

According to court filings, the First Nation alleges that Rath transferred more than $8.5 million from the trust to his professional corporation in late 2025 and has not disclosed where the money is currently held. The band also alleges that millions of dollars were charged in administrative and professional fees over a two-year period.

Rath has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that all payments were made in accordance with the trust agreement. His legal counsel has declined to comment on the court's latest decision.

The case has drawn additional public attention because Rath is a prominent supporter of Alberta's separatist movement and has played a leading role in campaigns advocating for a provincial independence referendum.

Earlier court rulings had already removed Rath as trustee and appointed an independent trust company to oversee the remaining funds. The latest asset freeze follows further financial reviews that raised concerns about the movement of trust assets.

The legal proceedings remain ongoing, with the court expected to hear further arguments before deciding whether the asset freeze should continue.