Dana Nowak

Partner

Edmonton

Image for Dana Nowak

Education & Qualifications

  • Alberta Bar (2011)
  • LLB (Alberta, 2010)
  • MA (Calgary, 2003)
  • B.Sc. (Calgary, 1999)

Dana Nowak practises civil litigation with a focus on commercial bankruptcy and insolvency, personal property security law, construction law, suretyship, and real property disputes.

Dana has extensive experience acting as counsel in numerous restructuring proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. She also acts on behalf of court-appointed officers in insolvency proceedings, including receivers, monitors and trustees.

In the area of construction law, her experience includes advising on builders’ lien legislation, construction projects, and she has acted for owners, general contractors and sub-contractors.

Dana has represented clients before the Alberta Provincial Court, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, the Court of Appeal of Alberta, Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, the Yukon Supreme Court and the Yukon Court of Appeal.

Dana is fluent in French.

  • Member, Alberta Bankruptcy Practice Committee (since 2018)
  • Pro Bono Law Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Amicus Project – Firm Representative and Volunteer (since 2015)
  • Pro Bono Law Alberta Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project – Firm Representative and Volunteer (since 2011)
  • Canadian Bar Association, Creditors’ Rights Subsection – Co-Chair (since 2014); Executive Committee Member, Legislative Review (2013-2014)
  • Rotary Club of Edmonton Urban Spirits – Director (since 2011), President-Elect (2018)
  • Alberta Law Review – Editor (2008-2010)
  • Student Legal Services – Volunteer (2007-2010)
  • Presenter, “Exemption Entitlements,” Canadian Bar Association, Northern Alberta Creditor and Debtor Law: Seminar (November, 2022).
  • Presenter, “Exemption Entitlements,” Alberta Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals: Seminar (October, 2022).
  • Guest Lecturer, “Intersection of Judgment Enforcement and Insolvency,” University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, Judgment Enforcement (October, 2022).
  • Co-presenter, “Construction Liens: Trustees, Put on Your Hardhats,” Annual Review of Insolvency Law Conference: Podcast (February, 2022).
  • Co-presenter, “Liens and Insolvency,” Canadian Bar Association, Northern Alberta Creditor and Debtor Law: Seminar (June, 2020).
  • Co-presenter, “Protecting Against the Risk of Default and Insolvency From the Get-Go,” The Canadian Institute, Managing Risk in Construction Contracts and Projects Conference (January, 2019).
  • Co-presenter, “Annual Cross-Canada Update,” Canadian Bar Association National Insolvency Conference (September, 2017).
  • Co-presenter, “Managing Difficult Players,” Annual CAIRP Forum (May, 2017).
  • Presenter, “High Income Tax Debtors in Bankruptcy,”, Edmonton CPA Club (September, 2016).
  • co-présentatrice, “La négociation des créances fiscales: un art,” Conférence Annuelle de L’ACPIR, (août, 2016).
  • Presenter, “Builders’ Liens and Surety Bonding as Options to Secure Payment from Insolvent General Contractors”, Edmonton Construction Association (May, 2015).
  • Co-presenter, “Bankruptcy Discharge Applications,” University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, Bankruptcy Law Class Seminar (October, 2015).
  • Co-presenter “Risk Allocation in Construction Contracts,” Alberta Colleges Symposium 2015 (October, 2015).
  • Guest lecturer, “Advocacy in the Insolvency Context,” University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, bankruptcy and insolvency class (October, 2015).
  • Presenter, “Surety Bonds,” Canadian Bar Association, Alberta North Construction Law Subsection (January, 2015).
  • Guest lecturer, “Director’s Liability,” University of Alberta, Faculty of Law, bankruptcy and insolvency class (March, 2015).
  • Presenter, “The Laws of Competitive Bidding,” Edmonton Construction Association (October, 2014).
  • Presenter, “Builders’ Liens and Surety Bonding as Options to Secure Payment from Insolvent General Contractors,” Saving Companies from Distress (Edmonton Construction Association, 2014).
  • Presenter, “Mid-Market Technical Update,” Insolvency and Restructuring Forum (Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, 2013).
  • Co-author and presenter, “A Review of Landlord Issues, Rights, Remedies, and Best Practices in Managing Issues Related to Tenant Insolvency,” BOMA Legal Series (2011; 2012; 2013).
  • Presenter, “Landlord Rights on Tenant Default,” BOMA Legal Series (2012; 2013).
  • Co-author, “Recruiting Foreign Students: Risks and Implications,” CASS Connection 2009.
  • Calgary Zoological Society Scholarship (2001)