Olivier F. Kott

Biography

Olivier Kott has over thirty years' experience in the management and resolution of complex business-related litigation, with a particular focus on construction law and product  liability.

Recent accomplishments include successfully pleading two landmark cases before the Supreme Court of Canada and acting for the plaintiff in a 360-day trial before the Quebec Superior Court in which he managed the conduct of the case as lead counsel with a team of lawyers of the firm.

Mr. Kott also acts as an arbitrator and is accredited as a mediator by the Quebec Bar. He teaches construction law to students in the Master's program at Université de Montréal and regularly publishes articles and gives conferences for business people and lawyers on civil liability, contract drafting and dispute resolution. Mr. Kott directed the preparation of a 900-page book on construction law entitled La construction au Québec : perspectives juridiques, written with the cooperation of members of our Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Team.

Year of Call

• Quebec Bar 1977

Law School

• LL.L., Université de Montréal, 1976

EDUCATION

• Harvard Law School Mediation Workshop 2005
• The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Fast Track Assessment Workshop 2003

Publications

• "The New Boundaries of the Obligation to Inform under Quebec Civil Law" (co-author: Pierre Cimon), 21 ICLR 368, 2004.
• " Les nouvelles frontières de l'obligation de renseignement en droit de la construction," 36 R.J.T. 297, 2002.
• "Le contrat d'entreprise : comment s'adapter aux nouvelles règles du jeu," Quebec Bar Continuing Education Service (ed.), Développements récents en droit de la construction, 59, Cowansville, Yvon Blais, 2001.
• "Les appels d'offres" (co-author: Claudia Déry) in Guy Lefebvre (Ed.), L'édification du nouveau droit de la construction : les journées Maximilien-Caron 1999, 145, Montréal, Thémis, 1999.
• "Les appels d'offres" (co-author: Claudia Déry) in La construction au Québec : perspectives juridiques, Kott, Olivier F. & Roy, Claudine (Eds.), 171, Montréal, Wilson & Lafleur Ltée, 1998.
•  "Le contrat à forfait du CCDC" (co-author: William McNamara) in La construction au Québec : perspectives juridiques, Kott, Olivier F. & Roy, Claudine (Eds.), 273, Montréal, Wilson & Lafleur Ltée, 1998.
• "The Law of Quebec," in Law for Professional Engineers: Canadian and International Perspectives, D.L. Marston (Ed.), 3rd edition, 287, Toronto, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1996.
• "Privatisation des infrastructures routières au Canada," Revue Action 4:3, third quarter, 1995.
• "Claims for Damages in Connection with the Tender Process" (co-author Sylvie Drouin),  10 C.L.R. (2d) 27, 1994.
• "Réclamations pour travaux supplémentaires et changements," 26 C.L.R. 25 1988.

Speaking Engagements

• "Leçons à tirer de la jurisprudence récente en droit de la construction" (co-presenter: Sophie Barry), Canadian Institute, May 4, 2010.
• "Les cautionnements dans le domaine de la construction" (co-presenter: Sophie Barry), Association québécoise des entrepreneurs en infrastructure, Lachenaie, March 17, 2010.
• "Les clauses essentielles pour gérer les risques dans les contrats de construction" (co-presenter: Sophie Barry), Canadian Institute, November 25, 2009.
•  "Analyse de l'impact pour les vendeurs et les entrepreneurs de la décision de la Cour suprême dans l'affaire ABB inc. c. Domtar inc." (co-presenter: Gregory B. Bordan), Risk Management in Construction Contracts, The Canadian Institute, 2008.
• "50 lessons learned from a 30 year litigation practice (including a 360 day trial)," National Construction Law Conference, Controlling Risk in Large Construction Projects, Canadian Bar Association, 2008.
• "Appels d'offres et soumissions : comment s'adapter aux nouvelles règles du jeu," Construction Superconference, Canadian Institute, Toronto, November 23-24, 2000.
• "Médiation et arbitrage: quand, comment, pourquoi et à quel prix?" Construction Superconference, Canadian Institute, Toronto, November 22-23, 1999.
• "Le recours collectif en droit québécois," Seminar on the liability of manufacturers and professional sellers, Montréal, Institut Wilson & Lafleur Inc., September 30, 1994.
• "Comment choisir le bon expert," Seminar on the liability of manufacturers and professional sellers, Montréal, Institut Wilson & Lafleur Inc., September 30, 1994.
• "Quelques conseils pratiques au niveau de la rédaction des contrats de vente de marchandises," Seminar on the liability of manufacturers and professional sellers, Montréal, Institut Wilson & Lafleur Inc., September 30, 1994.
•  "L'évaluation des dommages," Seminar on the liability of manufacturers and professional sellers, Montréal, Institut Wilson & Lafleur Inc., September 30, 1994.
• "Les dommages:  comment les réclamer et comment les contester," Construction Superconference, Toronto, Canadian Institute, September 24-25, 1992.
• "Site de construction contaminé:  solutions pratiques - conséquences juridiques," Conférence Droit et construction : êtes-vous à jour?, Canadian Institute, Toronto, May 7-8 1990.
  
  

Rankings and Recognitions

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• The Best Lawyers in Canada, 2010 - Product Liability Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Law, Director and Officer Liability
• Lexpert / American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers for Canada - Most frequently recommended for Construction Law
• Canadian Who's Who
• The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers
• The Best Lawyers in Canada
• LEXPERT^®Directory (leading lawyer in Construction Law, Product Liability, Professional Liability)
• Awarded Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest professional rating

Memberships and Activities

• Bar of Montreal
  • Liaison Committee between the Quebec Court of Appeal and the Bar of Montreal (1989-1993)
• Canadian Bar Association
  • Systems of Civil Justice Task Force (1995-1996)
  • Council, Quebec Branch (1993-1996)
  • Chairman and founding member, Construction Law Section (1988-1993)
• Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
  • Governor and founding member

Directorships

• Fondation du Barreau (1992-1993)
• Executive Committee
• Board of Directors