Susan Kurtz, the founder of Resolution Place, is experienced in all areas of litigation based on her years of practice as a lawyer first in Alberta since 1988, then in British Columbia. Since 1993, she has successfully brought cases before all levels of court in British Columbia including the Court of Appeal of British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Because of her experience before the courts, Susan is a firm believer that collaborative practice, and mediation and arbitration are healthier choices for conflict resolution for almost everybody. She has much firsthand experience about how the litigation process can cause lasting and permanent financial and emotional harm to families. As a result, Susan sought out a better way to serve her clients and meet their needs by completing extensive further legal education to become a certified family law mediator, a qualified arbitrator and a collaborative lawyer. For more than 15 years, Susan has carried the message to her Kootenay community of a more dignified, peaceful and less expensive way to resolve conflict than taking every dispute into the courtroom. Her passion is working with people who have a firm intention to resolve conflict with respect.
Before graduating from law school, Susan taught high school science and math in Calgary and in Jamaica, and she reflects with fond nostalgia of her time in the classroom. Before relocating to Nelson in 1992, Susan gained valuable experience working with two large Calgary law firms – McLeod Dixon, and the firm of Fennerty, Robertson, Fraser and Hatch. While grateful for all the experience gained, Susan also developed a solid personal belief that a healthy lifestyle is much more important than money.
Since relocating to Nelson in 1992, Susan Kurtz has offered herself to her home community in a number of ways in addition to offering legal services. She has drawn on her teaching experience to offer workshops and courses on wills and estate planning through Selkirk College, Nelson Hospice and BMO Harris Banking. Susan is Past President of the Nelson Rotary Club, founded in 1922. She is a past Director of the Community First Health Co-op and a past Chair of Kootenay Co-op Radio. Susan thoroughly enjoyed her time as a Director of Nelson Streetfest. In addition, she has been the host of two radio programs in Nelson. Susan is a devout student and certified teacher of yoga and she brings principles of compassion, kindness and inclusivity into her practice of law.
In addition to the local Nelson community, Susan has offered herself to the wider legal community by sitting on a number of Provincial Boards and Committees. She is a founding Director of the Woman Lawyers Forum of the Canadian Bar Association. Susan has been a volunteer with the BC Lawyer’s Assistance Program for more than 20 years. Susan Kurtz is a Charter member of the BC Collaborative Roster Society and has been a long time member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She has served on the Judicial Appointment Committee and the QC Appointment Committees of the Canadian Bar Association. Susan Kurtz is a past President of the Kootenay Bar Association and member of both the British Columbia and Alberta Bars.
In addition to yoga, Susan enjoys her family and playing the piano and writing short stories. She loves living in Nelson. When she is not serving her community, practising the piano or practising yoga, you might find Susan on her kayak, her bicycle or her skis, depending on the season.
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Contact us to make an appointment for your initial consultation with Susan Kurtz, an experienced lawyer at Resolution Place.