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Kathleen Ryan

Kathleen Ryan K.C.

Counsel
About

Kathleen Ryan is a senior litigator with extensive experience appearing in all levels of courts in the ‎province of Alberta.

Her focus is on consumer litigation, including catastrophic injury litigation and ‎professional malpractice. Kathleen also has extensive experience in commercial litigation, insurance ‎coverage litigation, and employment law. ‎

Kathleen advances plaintiffs’ claims for serious personal injury, including claims for fatality, brain injury, ‎quadriplegia, paraplegia, spinal cord injury, fractures, chronic injuries (including chronic pain and TMJ ‎injury) and disability. Kathleen has dealt with insurers extensively and can help plaintiffs advance their ‎claims to resolution or trial.‎

Kathleen has also represented companies, shareholders, employees and government. She has provided ‎advice and counsel in commercial, corporate and insurance disputes. Kathleen’s representations include ‎disputes respecting commercial insurance coverage, restrictive covenant and fiduciary litigation, ‎interprovincial contractor disputes, and construction litigation. Kathleen has been recognized annually since 2016 as one of the Best Lawyers in Canada (Corporate and Commercial Litigation).‎

In addition to her experience as a litigator, Kathleen counsels clients on and employs appropriate ‎alternative dispute resolution strategies. Kathleen taught or evaluated at the bar admission course in ‎negotiation for over a decade.‎

Kathleen Ryan has volunteered extensively within the legal community. She was an elected Bencher ‎‎(Director) of the Law Society of Alberta for nine years between 2012 and 2021. She is a director of the ‎Alberta Law Reform Institute. She is a past chair of both the Law Society of Alberta’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion ‎Advisory Committee and the Lawyer Competence Advisory Committee.‎

Kathleen has presented at, or chaired numerous seminars and legal education events including: EDI and ‎internationally trained lawyers, ethics in negotiation, advocacy, dealing with insurers, Rules of Court, ‎damages, brain injury, employee evidence, affidavit evidence, and sexual harassment in the workplace.

Bar admissionsAlberta, 1992Northwest Territories, 2009
Languages
  • English
Education
  • LL.B., University of Alberta, 1991
  • B.A., (with Distinction), University of Alberta, 1988

Awards

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Corporate and Commercial Litigation), 2016-2023
  • President's Award, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA), 2019
  • Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Award - Broader Roles, 2017 
  • Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100, 2013
  • Appointed Queen’s Counsel, 2012
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Personal Injury), Repeatedly Recommended, 2010-2012

Legal Profession
  • Director, Alberta Law Reform Institute, 2019-present
  • Adjudicator, LSA 2021-present
  • Elected Bencher, LSA, 2012-2021‎
  • Executive Committee, LSA, 2016 & 2017 ‎
  • Director, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (and past President)‎
  • Director, St. Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Northern Alberta, Director and Auditor (and past President)
  • Frequent Instructor or Evaluator, CPLED Bar Admission Negotiations Course, 2001-2018

Multiple LSA Committees between 2012 and 2021, including Chair, or Vice Chair, of the following ‎‎Committees, or Task Forces: ‎

  • Conduct ‎
  • Audit and Finance
  • Practice Review
  • Assurance Fund Adjudications
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Credentials and Education
  • Continuing Competence
  • Insurance
  • Practice Foundations Task Force
  • Innovating Regulation Task Force
  • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee
  • Lawyer ‎Competence Committee Advisory Committee
Community Involvement 
  • Co-Manager, U19AA Edmonton Elite Ringette, 2020-2022
  • Manager, Team Edmonton Ringette, Alberta Winter Games, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020‎
  • Wood Tournament Co-Director, 2017-2021
  • Kevin Harrison Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Edmonton Ringette Club, 2018‎
  • President, Edmonton Ringette Club, 2013-2017‎
  • Director, St. Andrew’s Seniors Centre, 2012-2016‎
  • Co-Chair, Creating Safe Spaces Breakfast, 2010-2013‎
  • Director, Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities 2009-2014, Vice President 2012-2013‎

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Law Society of Alberta (LSA)
  • Law Society of the Northwest Territories
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Edmonton Bar Association
  • Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (sustaining member)
  • Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
  • St. Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Northern Alberta

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