Home » Practice, Prep, Play, Rehearse: Allison Kuntz of Stikeman Elliott

Practice, Prep, Play, Rehearse: Allison Kuntz of Stikeman Elliott

by Tess Hutchinson

“The principles of preparation and sharing that work with one of the different actors in the litigation – clients, opposing lawyers, courts or arbitrators – reminds me of why I was first drawn to this career,” says Kuntz. . “You practice, prepare and perform.”

Being further along in her career, Kuntz is also drawn to her practice because it’s constantly challenging and challenging – you can’t get around that even on days you want to, she notes – and she’s had the opportunity to work on a wide range of disputes. She spent her first six years practicing in Toronto, where major class actions, pharmaceuticals, some cross-border insolvencies, D&O liability and oppression claims are the big themes, then moved to Alberta 11 years ago. where oil and gas in the context of joint ventures and audit rights have joined the rotation. Over the years, Kuntz has also conducted an increasing number of arbitrations in the areas of oil and gas, technology, leases and other contractual disputes.

“It’s the constant expansion of the skill set that I find really rewarding and that continues to draw me into practice,” says Kuntz.

From law school to the beginning of her practice and beyond, Kuntz is always struck by how the profession is filled with so many smart, interesting and generous people. Thinking back to the time people gave to help him improve his skills, get through a stressful time of training, or understand for the hundredth time a part of their business that they know so well, “It’s amazing. the effort people put into each other for such a competitive profession, ”she says, adding that it’s hard work but those relationships are what make everything else manageable.

An example of this was a case in which Kuntz was involved where the arbitration clause included an appeal provision. The original decision was overturned and Kuntz went to court to argue that it was not appropriate because the appeal board decided it on the basis of fairness and not the law. It was under the International Commercial Arbitration Act and there weren’t a lot of precedents – “We had an Egyptian case and a German case,” Kuntz recalls – and although they weren’t successful , it made a lot of noise in the world of arbitration.

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