Katherine Cooligan, Ottawa Divorce & Family Law Specialist

Katherine Cooligan, Ottawa Divorce & Family Law Specialist She has over 32 years of experience in Ottawa and outside areas.

As an Ottawa Divorce and Family Law Specialist, Katherine has extensive advisory and litigation experience in all aspects of family law including the most complex issues.

Here we grow again!We are excited to welcome Jasmine D**g to our firm! đź’« Jasmine is an associate whose practice focuses ...
10/07/2024

Here we grow again!

We are excited to welcome Jasmine D**g to our firm! đź’«

Jasmine is an associate whose practice focuses primarily on family law matters.

Jasmine received her J.D. from the University of Ottawa and graduated with magna cm laude distinction. She also holds a B.Sc.(Hons) and M.Sc. in medical science from McMaster University. During law school, she volunteered within her community and was a first- and second-year summer student at Canada’s largest national law firm.

Prior to joining Cooligan Yehia LLP, Jasmine completed her articles as a judicial law clerk with the Superior Court of Justice where she assisted judges in the Central South region and was exposed to all areas of law including family law, estates law, criminal law and civil disputes.

Following this, Jasmine had the exceptional honour of spending a year in the UK as a recipient of the Harold G. Fox Scholarship, where she worked in top barristers’ chambers in London specializing in complex litigation and international arbitration files and received extensive advocacy training provided by the Inns of Court.

It is hard to believe that three-quarters of the year of our new law firm is already behind us. It has been an exciting ...
09/12/2024

It is hard to believe that three-quarters of the year of our new law firm is already behind us. It has been an exciting 9 months, filled with growth and gratitude. We started this journey as experienced experts in our respective fields, and inexperienced entrepreneurs, running a boutique law firm. With the incredible support of so many people in our networks, we have navigated challenges, celebrated milestones, and learned invaluable lessons.

With each step, we have grown as lawyers, business partners, and business owners. Today we stand stronger in our resolve to create an exceptional boutique law firm to provide excellent client service, strategic advice and advocacy for our clients on the complex and emotional issues that arise in family law and estate law. It is in these practice areas that we have the most significant impact on the lives of our clients, and we are continually honoured and appreciative of the trust our clients put in us.

One simple fact remains - we did not get here alone, and we will not continue alone. We are greatly indebted to so many colleagues, family and friends, who have provided encouragement, including many lawyers who have paved this path before us and who have so graciously given their time to answer our questions, provide guidance and advice, and share many tips and tricks to creating this firm. Most importantly, our achievements thus far, and the great joy we experience as part of our firm, are a testament to our team's hard work, dedication, and resilience. We are grateful for their patience with our learning curve, and for teaching us so much along the way!

Looking ahead, we are eager to build on this foundation and continue to grow as professionals, entrepreneurs, and as part of a dynamic team. The future is bright with opportunities, and we are enthusiastic about what is next. Q4 is underway, and it’s poised to be a great one!

- Katherine Cooligan and Ziad Yehia, Founding Partners

On the occasion of my 60th birthday this month, I was reminded of the depth and breadth of the friendships I have been b...
07/30/2024

On the occasion of my 60th birthday this month, I was reminded of the depth and breadth of the friendships I have been blessed with throughout my life. I received cards, calls, video messages, visits and celebrations from friends from kindergarten to new ones made this year, from near and far. Through all of life’s ups and downs, the best of life is experienced through friendships. My career has blessed me with many of my friendships that grew out of business encounters, former students and mentees in law, former colleagues and former clients. On this International Day of Friendship I acknowledge the profound importance of both new and long-time friends. To all the friends who have been by my side through thick and thin, your presence, support, wisdom, encouragement and kindness mean more than words can adequately express. Here’s to celebrating the enduring power of friendship at every stage of life. 🌟

I had the privilege of attending this private audience with Jelly Roll for the patients, staff and board at The Royal Me...
07/10/2024

I had the privilege of attending this private audience with Jelly Roll for the patients, staff and board at The Royal Mental Health Centre. His message of real life experience was motivational and inspirational.

It’s a long busy day at the CHEO Telethon. My first telethon answering phones was 27 years ago when my son, Justin, was ...
06/08/2024

It’s a long busy day at the CHEO Telethon. My first telethon answering phones was 27 years ago when my son, Justin, was in NICU at CHEO and featured as one of the last live NICU babies following his third surgery at 3 weeks old. Sadly, he passed away a few months later. My kids and I have supported the fundraising efforts at CHEO ever since. Make your donation today. Call me at the telethon…

My son, Justin, was born 27 years ago today. His sister, Jade, was 3 years old then. I was in my 6th year of practice an...
04/29/2024

My son, Justin, was born 27 years ago today. His sister, Jade, was 3 years old then. I was in my 6th year of practice and eligible for partnership. On September 19th of the same year, I was elected to the partnership at Gowlings, but I was not in attendance for the firm-wide retreat when it was announced. Justin died that morning, and when I returned home from the CHEO and received congratulatory calls from partners at the firm, I was numb. The juxtaposition of those two life-changing events happening on the same day left me debilitated, and uncertain about my future. My hard work to achieve partnership as a woman and family law lawyer in Big Law suddenly meant nothing, but as the main breadwinner of my family, I had to return to work. The journey of fighting for Justin’s life, with 3 surgeries in the first 3 weeks of life, sitting at his bedside day and night, and then grieving his death started my engagement of mental health services, and other support systems that helped me cope through the worst tragedy of my life.

Tomorrow, the story of my journey of grief as a lawyer, along with many profound personal stories of members of the legal profession coping with mental health issues will be released in the book "The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession." One of the editors describes the book as “a collaboration among legal and medical professionals passionate about mental health advocacy, sheds light on the often overlooked topic of speaking out about mental illness in the legal profession and other corporate environments and the implications staying silent has. Navigating mental health challenges in the workplace can be a complex and delicate matter, and our book aims to provide insight, guidance, and encouragement for those who may be struggling or supporting others through similar experiences. By sharing our stories, perspectives, and professional insights, we hope to empower individuals to speak up, seek help, and foster a culture of understanding and support within the legal profession and other corporate settings.”

Tomorrow morning, Beth Beattie, one of the editors, will be interviewed on CTV Morning Live Ottawa at 7:50 a.m., and I will be interviewed on CBC Ottawa Morning with host Hallie Cotnam at 7:50 a.m. to promote the book’s release date. Order your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gJzqepu7

All royalties are being donated to CAMH.

In a world that often emphasizes personal success and achievement, is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of vo...
04/15/2024

In a world that often emphasizes personal success and achievement, is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of volunteering - to our communities, and to the next generation by instilling valuable lessons in empathy, compassion, and civic responsibility. My children had the privilege of being front and center while I volunteered at CHEO telethon. They were at the desk with CHEO Foundation CEO for the grand finale balloon drop when they were 5 and 7 years old. As soon as they could add value they volunteered along with me every year - delivering pledge forms, splitting pledge forms, answering phones for pledges, dressing up as the theme characters and even the mascot CHEO Bear (that's Jasmyn in the Bear - behind the desk years later) and casting teddy bears at the Teddy Bear picnic at Rideau Hall. They learned the importance of empathy and understanding towards others. Hearing the stories of families who used CHEO throughout the days of the telethon, they understood that their role as a volunteer, no matter how small, had a positive impact on someone else's life. When we teach and when we give, the rewards are exponential.

I celebrate my Irish heritage with the legacy of the name "Cooligan" in the practice of law. My uncle, and Godfather, G...
03/17/2024

I celebrate my Irish heritage with the legacy of the name "Cooligan" in the practice of law. My uncle, and Godfather, Garret J. Cooligan (known to us all as Garry) was a graduate of St. Patrick's College, and then Osgoode Hall, along with his classmates, other well-known Irish barristers, including Patrick Galligan and Patrick Devine. He lived with my parents upon graduating and I have copies of his yearbooks which my parents proudly shared. His legacy in the Ottawa legal community is long, starting with the firm Hall, Beahen, Hall & Cooligan in 1956, then Beahn & Cooligan until 1973, when Garry led the firm Cooligan, Ryan, McNeely & Montague. It was Cooligan, Ryan, McNeely, Montague & Connolly by the time I became a summer student there as a grade 12 student in 1982. Tom Connolly was the managing partner who hired me! It was there that I developed my interest in family law, rotating as "secretarial" replacement during staff summer vacations, and enjoyed Robert J. Montague's files more than any others. Bob Montague became a mentor to me when I began my family law practice at Gowlings in 1991. I celebrate my Irish heritage as a Cooligan, and the legacy of the Cooligan line of lawyers, of which I am proud to be one. I know Garry (and my dad) would be proud of the new law firm that carries the Cooligan name now!

03/17/2024

Congratulations to the uOttawa COMMON LAW Walsh Negotiation Team on the 10th year of earning multiple top awards at the province-wide Walsh Family Law Negotiation Competition.

The six-person team competed at the Advocates' Society in Toronto on March 9th, including: Giselle Alexander, Camille Arseneault, Ferdous Hasan, Katie Larkin, Daniella Markov, and Anne Merritt.

The team earned the following awards:
Best Individual Student: 1st place
(Daniella Markov)

Best Negotiation Team: 2nd and 3rd place
(Daniella Markov & Ferdous Hasan and Camille Arseneault & Anne Merritt)

Professor Lynn Rockman has led the team to success for the past 10 years with her dedication and excellence to coaching the team year after year. Students earn their spot on uOttawa’s Walsh Negotiation Team by winning the qualifying competition with the long-standing collaboration with our firm's founder, Katherine Cooligan.

03/01/2024

I am excited to share that I had the privilege of contributing to this profound new book, "The Right Not To Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession". I am grateful to Beth Beattie, Carole Dagher and Thomas GW Telfer for the opportunity to participate in this important collaboration with so many members of the legal profession. Their vision, passion, and support are what brought this project to fruition.

Mental health in the legal profession is a topic that has only begun to get the attention it needs - thanks in large part to the bravery and courage of those who have experienced it sharing their stories. I expect that I speak for my fellow contributors when I say that writing my chapter opened old wounds and triggered difficult memories, but all in the interests of continuing the dialogue and making a difference in the lives of others who have shared similar experiences.

It is especially rewarding that the royalties are being paid to CAMH, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Click on the “Pre-order” button in the link below to secure your copy. Publication date is April 30, 2024.

https://lnkd.in/gesGQmrw

The other contributors to this project are:
The Honourable George R. Strathy
The Honourable Michele Hollins
M. Ishrat Husain
Orlando Da Silva, LSM
Michael Herman
Imran Kamal
Leena Yousefi
Ryan Middleton
Leslie Anne St. Amour
David S. Goldbloom
Michael R. Ferguson
Aidan Johnson
Yadesha Satheaswaran
Dan Stein
Courtney Wilson
Brett D.M. Jones

Navigating Love and Legacies: A Valentine's Day Reflection for Family and Estate Law Professionals đź’•As family and estate...
02/14/2024

Navigating Love and Legacies: A Valentine's Day Reflection for Family and Estate Law Professionals đź’•

As family and estate law lawyers, Valentine's Day holds a unique significance for us. Beyond the traditional celebration of love, this day prompts reflection on the intricate intersections of emotion and legality within our practice.

In the realm of family law, we witness the complexities of relationships daily. Valentine's Day serves as a reminder to approach our cases with empathy, recognizing the emotional dynamics that accompany legal proceedings. It is a day to underscore the importance of fostering understanding and resolution, guiding families through the challenges they face.

For estate law professionals, the essence of Valentine's Day extends beyond romantic love to encompass familial ties and the preservation of legacies. We play a crucial role in helping individuals safeguard their assets and ensure a smooth transition of wealth and property to future generations. This Valentine's Day, let's emphasize the love that extends through generations, motivating our commitment to securing the futures of our clients' loved ones.

As we navigate the delicate balance between matters of the heart and the letter of the law, let this Valentine's Day inspire us to approach our work with compassion and dedication. After all, the impact we have on families and legacies is a testament to the enduring power of love, both in our personal lives and within the scope of our legal expertise.

Happy Lunar New Year! This year is the Year of the Dragon, a revered symbol of power in Chinese culture. The dragon is m...
02/10/2024

Happy Lunar New Year! This year is the Year of the Dragon, a revered symbol of power in Chinese culture. The dragon is my zodiac sign. In this time of significant change for me I am looking forward to a year full of power - power to make positive changes, power to choose yourself, and power to support and empower the people around you.

Chinese culture has been a big part of my life. My children grew up celebrating Lunar New Year with their father and his family who grew up in Hong Kong. My first trip outside of North America was to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Through travel to Hong Kong and China when they were young, my children had the privilege of being introduced to part of their cultural heritage. The red envelope from their paternal grandparents was a favourite part of the celebrations.

Address

85 Hinton Avenue North
Ottawa, ON
K1Y0Z7

Telephone

+16136992816

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