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Kristopher Knutsen QCBarrister, Mediator
Specialist in Civil Litigation:
Certified by the Law Society

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts & Laws, University of Saskatchewan, 1970
Called to the Bar of Ontario, 1972
Appointed Queen's Counsel, 1984
Harvard Mediation Program, 1995
Advanced Mediation Training Program, 1996. Certified and Re-Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation, 1990, 1995 & 2000

Professional Affiliations

Law Society of Upper Canada
Canadian Bar Association
Thunder Bay Law Association
The Advocates' Society (Past Director & Advocacy Coach)
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
Elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers

Experience

In 1972, Mr. Knutsen began a criminal defence and matrimonial practice with a large legal aid base. For the past thirty years, his practice has been restricted to civil litigation, both plaintiff and defence. Mr. Knutsen has been Counsel to a number of insurers. He also maintains a vibrant plaintiff practice with particular interest in complex injury cases. He has lectured and written in various areas of personal injury work, and has been Counsel in major construction deficiency suits.

A former licensed pilot, he was Counsel to the survivors and families of victims of the 1989 Dryden air crash. By special appointment to that Commission of Inquiry, he represented this group through over two years of televised hearings concerning air safety in Canada.

Mr. Knutsen has been Counsel in several major mining inquests and related matters. In 1992/93, he successfully took the Lento case to trial and appeal. This decision is part of the Ontario landmark trilogy, known as Meyer v. Bright, with respect to 'threshold' guidance under O.M.P.P. and has significant relevance to the Bill 164 and Bill 59 insurance regimes since then. Recently, he successfully took the precedent setting Derksen case to trial, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. Knutsen makes appearances before administrative tribunals and all the Courts of Ontario. With considerable Court experience behind him, he also now pursues Alternative Dispute Resolution with keen interest. In July 1995, he completed the Harvard University Mediation Program for Lawyers and, in January 1996, the Advanced Mediation Training Program. He practices a private, highly personalized Mediation service through Bridge North Mediation Services

knutsenk@carrel.com