Dana Nowak

Partner

Edmonton

Image for Dana Nowak

Education & Qualifications

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

Dana 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 King’s Bench, the Court of Appeal of Alberta, Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench, the Yukon Supreme Court and the Yukon Court of Appeal.

Dana is fluent in French.

  • Member, Alberta Bankruptcy Practice Committee (2018-present)
  • Firm Representative and Volunteer, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Amicus Project, Pro Bono Law (2015-present)
  • Firm Representative and Volunteer, Alberta Civil Claims Duty Counsel Project, Pro Bono Law (2011-present)
  • Co-chair, Creditors’ Rights Subsection, Canadian Bar Association (2014-present)
  • Executive Committee Member, Legislative Review, Canadian Bar Association (2013-2014)
  • Director, Rotary Club of Edmonton Urban Spirits (Edmonton, 2011-present)
  • President-elect, Rotary Club of Edmonton Urban Spirits (Edmonton, 2018)
  • Editor, Alberta Law Review (2008-2010)
  • Volunteer, Student Legal Services (2007-2010)
  • Presenter, “Exemption Entitlements,” Northern Alberta Creditor and Debtor Law: Seminar, Canadian Bar Association (November 2022)
  • Presenter, “Exemption Entitlements,” Alberta Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals: Seminar (October 2022)
  • Guest Lecturer, “Intersection of Judgment Enforcement and Insolvency,” Judgment Enforcement, University of Alberta (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,” Northern Alberta Creditor and Debtor Law: Seminar, Canadian Bar Association (June 2020)
  • Co-presenter, “Protecting Against the Risk of Default and Insolvency From the Get-Go,” Managing Risk in Construction Contracts and Projects Conference, The Canadian Institute (January 2019)
  • Co-presenter, “Annual Cross-Canada Update,” National Insolvency Conference, Canadian Bar Association (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 (August 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,” Bankruptcy Law Class Seminar, University of Alberta (October 2015)
  • Co-presenter “Risk Allocation in Construction Contracts,” Alberta Colleges Symposium 2015 (October 2015)
  • Guest Lecturer, “Advocacy in the Insolvency Context,” Bankruptcy and Insolvency Class, University of Alberta (October 2015)
  • Presenter, “Surety Bonds,” Alberta North Construction Law Subsection, Canadian Bar Association (January 2015)
  • Guest Lecturer, “Director’s Liability,” Bankruptcy and Insolvency Class, University of Alberta (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)
  • Zoological Society Scholarship (Calgary, 2001)