Katherine Cooligan

Partner

Ottawa
[email protected]
613.787.3565

Katherine is a specialist in family law as certified by the Law Society of Ontario.

Katherine has extensive litigation experience in all aspects of family law including custody, financial issues including corporate and business issues arising out of separation, income determination, and child and spousal support.

In addition to her litigation practice, Katherine negotiates, drafts and reviews all forms of domestic contracts, including marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements and separation agreements.

Katherine has appeared before all levels of court, including the Superior Court of Ontario and Ontario Court of Appeal.

Experience

  • Katherine has acted for clients in Ottawa and surrounding regions in complex matters including custody and access, division of property and spousal cases for almost 30 years. She is widely recognized as one of Ottawa’s pre-eminent family law lawyers and has acted for many high profile and high net worth clients.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, The Advocates’ Society, Canadian Bar Association, County of Carleton Law Association and Women's Law Association
  • Frequent Chair and Speaker, continuing legal education programs on advocacy skills and substantive family law and estate litigation issues
  • Former Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Former Member, Regional Law Day Committee
  • Former President, Young Lawyers Division, Ontario Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Chair, Women for Mental Health, 2019
  • Member, International Women's Forum, 2018-present
  • Member, Ottawa Board of Trade, 2018-present
  • Member, Women's Business Network, 2018-present
  • Executive, CHEO Foundation, June 2017-present
  • Member, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation Board, 2015-2018 and 1997-99
  • Member, Ottawa Build Task Force, 2018 & 2019
  • Organizing Committee, The Royal, Breakfast for Mental Health, 2018
  • Annual Volunteer for over 20 years, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Telethon and Teddy Bear Picnic
  • Leader, United Way
  • Spark Member, United Way

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recipient of the Order of Ottawa, 2019.
  • Winner, Businesswoman of the Year, Professional Category, April 2019.
  • Order of the Good Bear, 2019, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The highest honour the hospital can bestow in thanks for longstanding and significant volunteer contributions.
  • Named Business Women of the Year (Professional Category) 2018, by the Women’s Business Network.
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition (and since 2010) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Family Law) and recognized in 2012 as the Ottawa Family Law Lawyer of the Year
  • Recipient Spark Ignite Award, 2018. Awarded to a woman in Ottawa who has made a significant impact in the areas of leadership, philanthropic giving, advocacy and volunteerism.
  • Profiled, "Family law a true calling for leader of BLG Ottawa," Ottawa Business Journal, September 11, 2018.
  • Mentioned, "Building the Capital - City-Builders Team Up to Transform Ottawa," Capital Magazine, May 15, 2018.
  • Profiled, "Ottawa's Top Female Lawyers," Ottawa Life Magazine, January/February 2017.
  • Included in Top 25 People in the Capital, Ottawa Life Magazine, September 2016.
  • Finalist, Businesswoman of the Year, Professional Category, April 2016.
  • Featured as a Distinctive Woman, Ottawa, 2015 and 2014 editions of Distinctive Women, Profiles of Distinction.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1991
  • LLB, University of Ottawa, 1989
  • BA (combined major) in Law and Psychology, Carleton University, 1986
  • Certificate, Cornell University, 2018 Women in Leadership
  • Executive Education Leadership in Law Firms, Harvard Law School, 2016