Kate’s practice focuses on estate litigation, estate planning and estate administration. She also has a broad civil litigation practice and is a member of the Insurance & Risk Management practice group. Kate has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta for chambers applications, trials and appeals. She also has extensive experience, and a keen interest, in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and judicial dispute resolution.
Education
- LL.B. (Distinction), University of Alberta
- B.A. Political Science (Distinction) University of Alberta
Professional Associations and Affiliations
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Wills and Estates Section
Community and Volunteer Activities
- Volunteer Duty Counsel, Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project of Pro Bono Law Alberta
Representative Experience
Estate Litigation
- Acting for personal representatives in a variety of contested matters involving unique and complex family and financial circumstances.
- Obtaining a larger share of the estate for spouses and dependents who are not adequately provided for in the will.
- Monitoring the performance of executors to ensure that beneficiaries receive the maximum benefit from an estate.
- Varying the terms of a trust in a will to obtain a greater benefit sooner for a beneficiary.
- Reviewing the actions of an attorney under a Power of Attorney to protect the assets of a dependent adult.
- Successfully opposing actions to vary the operation of a will.
- Advising attorneys and personal representatives on the nature and scope of their duties.
Trust and Estate Administration and Estate Planning
- Obtaining Grants of Probate and Grants of Administration on contested and non-contested estates.
- Advising testators on all matters of estate planning, including naming appropriate personal representatives, charitable giving and achieving each client’s unique objectives.
- Providing tax-efficient strategies and protect estate assets from creditors.
- Establishing trust mechanisms for employee profit-sharing objectives.
- Advising administrators of pension plans regarding their obligations and potential liability.
Civil Litigation
- Minimizing the exposure of the insurer on automobile and property insurance claims.
- Defending complex lawsuits involving liability issues, numerous Plaintiffs, fatality and catastrophic injury claims.
- Negotiating favourable results through alternative dispute resolution.
- Assessing and analyzing claims accurately at the outset of a file, to minimize need for further litigation.
- Providing recommendations to a municipality regarding legislative reform required to enable administration and management of property taxes.
- Advising property management companies as to their obligations and liability.
