Practice Areas

Kuefler Stevenson Bennett can provide you and your business the services you need to manage and litigate business disputes including:

• Shareholder or partnership conflicts
• Contract or performance failures
• Tort or insurance claims
• Builder's Liens and construction law matters
• Employee termination claims
• Mediation or Arbitration representation.

No one enters into a project, contract or business venture expecting failure or conflict. Despite the optimism that successful businesses have, circumstances do occur that can put your money and effort in jeopardy. When that happens, experienced professional help may be needed to manage risk, control or prevent financial losses, and lead you through the complex world of the courts.

We have the background to provide meaningful and cost effective representation for both Plaintiffs and Defendants in business matters.

For many years, Quinn Kuefler of Kuefler Stevenson Bennett has had the good fortune to have served the needs of major banks and financial institutions dealing with specialized banking matters. Since the early 1980s, our lawyers have provided representation, advice and court room work in respect of both Plaintiffs and Defendants in areas including:

• Bills of Exchange and banking operations;
• Fraud and forgery
• Loss management
• Operational and reputational risk management
• Financial recovery

We are able to find creative solutions to problems arising from dishonest individuals. 

All three partners at Kuefler Stevenson Bennett are experienced and well-versed in Corporate, Business, and Commercial law and can provide timely and valuable advice to help you achieve your objectives in business. Services include:

• Incorporation of companies and share structures
• Shareholder negotiations and Unanimous Agreements
• Filing of annual returns and minute book maintenance
• Structuring and strategies for the purchase or sale of assets or shares
• Contract preparation and review for all aspects of your business
• Succession planning and corporate reorganizations
• Joint Ventures
• Limited Partnerships

Most people genuinely want to repay loans or pay their bills; however, sometimes circumstances arise that prevent an individual from complying with financial contracts or there is a breakdown in relationships that cause a debtor to refuse to pay. Whether it is small scale debt collection or large institutional collection portfolios, Kuefler Stevenson Bennett has more than three decades of successful collection experience and can help you to recover monies owed. Our specialized concentration on collection work has enabled us to develop systematic approaches that include:

• Review and set up of receivable management systems
• Background review and assessment of recovery potential on default
• Legal demands for payment and follow up contact to encourage structured repayment
• Commencement of legal proceedings both in Court of Queen's Bench and Provincial Court and prosecution of claims to judgment
• Judgment enforcement using all of the mechanisms available including asset investigation and tracing, writ proceeding seizure, garnishment, sale of land and all of the tools available under Alberta's Civil Enforcement Act

We have the means and experience to deal with debt collections in an effective and cost-conscious way.

At Kuefler Stevenson Bennett we represent both employers and employees in our practice, giving us a focused understanding of what needs to be done to come to a resolution. If you have been dismissed from work, we understand that obtaining compensation is critically important to you and your family. We will evaluate your claim and fairly and effectively negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Whether it is dealing with the Employment Standards Code, workplace discrimination, consulting relationships, or termination issues, we have the experienced lawyers to help. Our practice areas include:

• Wrongful Dismissal and Termination Claims
• Constructive Dismissal Claims
• Review of Severance packages
• Review of Employment Contracts
• Review of Independent Contractor Contracts
• Review of Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreements

Nan Stevenson of Kuefler Stevenson Bennett is a senior legal practitioner and is well versed in family law. This is a complex area of law and people requiring these services are often struggling emotionally as well as financially. We endeavour to provide practical solutions that are in the best interests of all of the parties. Services include:

• Settlement Agreements – governed by the Matrimonial Property Act, the Family Law Act or the common law – typically dealing with property settlement, child and spousal support and a parenting plan.
• Divorce proceeds under the Divorce Act Canada, which is a Federal statute. If there is no settlement on the property prior to commencing the divorce action, then a Matrimonial Property Claim can be included in the Statement of Claim for Divorce.
• Pre-Marriage and Post-Marriage Contracts – Anyone with substantial assets that is contemplating a marriage or more likely a second marriage should consider entering into a pre-marriage agreement.
• Co-Habitation Agreements – these agreements are usually entered into by unmarried couples and are a good idea if one party has substantial assets that they want to protect in the event of a relationship breakdown.

Whenever a person is dealing with a family law or matrimonial matter, it is essential that both parties provide full financial disclosure with the appropriate backup. This is the case whether it is a relationship breakdown or a pre- or post-marriage contract.

It is also important that each party obtain their own independent legal advice to ensure that everyone is confident in their understanding of the contract details so as to prevent further conflict. We are able to provide that independent legal advice.

In a world of increasingly complex rules in relation to building codes, construction contracts, sub-trade work, timely completion, problems with payments, quality and warrantee, very often people are faced with circumstances in which they really need legal help.

If you are hiring a builder to do the simplest of renovations or to coordinate and execute a sophisticated construction project, you must be able to understand what your builder's obligations to you are and ensure you get full value for the money you spend. When the project is done and problems do develop, you must also have the comfort that proper warrantee or remediation of problems will be available.

If you are builder or contractor, you strive to perform for your customers and to give them the high degree of quality and service that you pride yourself on; there is value in that and you need to be paid on a timely basis and in a hassle-free way. That does not always happen. In the management of your business you must have the tools to protect your right to be paid. Receivables management is critical, as is the need to assert your legal rights when a dispute occurs using the power of the Builders' Lien Act and other means of enforcement.

Kuefler Stevenson Bennett has extensive experience in servicing the needs of clients facing the complexities of building matters. Whether for owners, landlords, contractors or suppliers we are available when you need us.

Injuries caused by Auto Accidents and Slips & Falls may leave you or a loved one temporarily or permanently injured. We will help you navigate the complexities of dealing with an insurance company to obtain fair compensation for your pain and suffering as part of a settlement and help you to navigate the legal system to fight for a just result. This can be a lengthy and stressful process for clients and requires a lot of planning and preparation. To ensure the highest quality of work and the appropriate amount of care and attention, we limit the number of personal injury clients. Our areas of practice include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Slip and Fall accidents
• Fatal accident claims (wrongful death)

We deal with serious injury claims often involving bone fractures, bone breaks, whiplash type injuries, chronic pain, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and psychological injuries like depression or PTSD. We take the time to get to know our clients and learn how the accident has impacted their life and the lives of those around them. We work hard to obtain compensation for your pain and suffering, reimbursement of your medication and medical treatments, and recovery of your loss of income, past or future.

Darius Bennett of Kuefler Stevenson Bennett has represented insurance companies in the past and understands the nuances of the industry. He will guide you through the process and take the lead on gathering evidence, evaluating your claim, negotiating with insurance companies, and taking your case to trial.

At Kuefler Stevenson Bennett, we do not want you to worry about paying legal fees during your ordeal – fees are only collected after settlement. Our initial consultations are free, so please contact us today to schedule a meeting to review your case.

Purchasing, selling or refinancing your home is often the single largest transaction you will ever undertake and there are many technical issues to navigate in order to close the deal. Our experienced lawyers can guide you through the process from making an offer to possession day. We work hand in hand with your realtor to ensure a seamless transition.

Along with our firm's exceptional service, you can expect easy access to the lawyers handling your file. We pride ourselves on providing quality work and we will deconstruct the legalese for your benefit. Whether it's reviewing the purchase contract, the restrictive covenants on title, the Real Property Report, the mortgage, or ensuring the deal closes on time, we are ready and available to prepare you for each step.

Our areas of practice include:

• Residential Purchase and Sale (single family homes and condominiums)
• Refinancing
• Private Mortgages
• Agreements Charging Land
• Vendor Take Back Mortgages
• Construction Mortgages
• Title Transfers
• Dower Releases
• Commercial Purchase and Sale
• Commercial Leasing
• Trust Agreements
• Encroachment Agreements
• Corporate relocations