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Gulu Punia, Partner | Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Gulu Punia

Partner Fasken
Jurisdiction Alberta, 2002
Language(s) English
Office(s) Calgary
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Overview

Gulu Punia is a leading commercial and employment litigator in Alberta, representing clients at all levels of Court in Alberta, including as lead counsel at trial before the Court of King's Bench.

From shareholder disputes and oppression remedies, to fraud claims and claims for breach of contract, Gulu acts for clients in obtaining extraordinary remedies such as attachment orders and Anton Piller orders in cases involving fraud.

As a Benchmark Canada “Litigation Star”, Gulu represents employers in wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, non-competition disputes including injunctions, breach of confidence claims, and complaints before human rights tribunals. He also obtains Anton Piller orders, Norwich orders and attachment orders against former employees on behalf of clients, and acts for employers in numerous labour arbitrations.

Practicing administrative law, and acting as both counsel to administrative bodies and on behalf parties appearing before them, he also represents parties in professional disciplinary matters.

When not practicing, Gulu volunteers as Chair of the Fasken High School Mock Trial Competition, which he has been involved in for many years. He has also taught trial advocacy at the University of Calgary and is a judge at the McGillivray Moot Competition and the Student Legal Aid Trial Competition.

Achievements

  • Recognized in Litigation: General Commercial in Alberta, Chambers Canada 2026
  • Recognized in Alberta as a Litigation Star in Commercial, Labour and Employment, Benchmark Litigation Canada 2017 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Lexpert 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized in Corporate and Commercial Litigation in Alberta, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (formerly known as Acritas Star™ lawyer), Thomson Reuters 2019 to 2023
  • General Commercial, Labour & Employment, Benchmark Litigation Canada 2018 to 2020
  • Named the "Emerging Talent of the Year" , Benchmark Litigation Canada 2018
  • Named a "Litigation Lawyer to Watch", Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers 2016
  • Recognized in Alberta as a Future Star, Benchmark Litigation Canada 2015 to 2016
Benchmark Litigation Publication name with laurels Benchmark Litigation Canada Named the "Emerging Talent of the Year"
2016 Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers Named a "Litigation Lawyer to Watch"
Benchmark Litigation Publication name with laurels Benchmark Litigation Canada Recognized in Alberta as a Future Star Benchmark Litigation provides extensive coverage of the North American litigation market.

Experience

  • Representing Allergan in class actions and mass tort individual lawsuits relating to breast implants, [Case - Allergan]
  • Enerflow Industries Inc. v. Surefire Industries Ltd., 2013 ABQB 196, [Case - Confidential Client], Successfully defended employer who was alleged to have induced an employee to breach his non-compete covenant. To view the decision, click here.

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of Calgary
  • BA University of Calgary

Community involvement

  • Volunteer Student Legal Assistance Mock Trial Competition, University of Calgary
  • Chair Fasken Martineau High School Mock Trial Competition
  • Volunteer Counsellor Calgary Between Friends Club for Youth with Disabilities
  • Volunteer Judge McGillivray Moot Competition, University of Calgary
  • Volunteer Judge Blackstone Moot Competition, University of Calgary
  • Former Member of Board of Directors Calgary Between Friends Club for Youth with Disabilities
  • Volunteer Judge Student Legal Assistance Trial Competition, University of Calgary Faculty of Law

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member Canadian Bar Association
  • Instructor University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, Trial Advocacy
  • Instructor Mount Royal University, Advanced Policy Studies 4443: Survey of Public and Private Law Principles
  • Member Law Society of Alberta
  • Member Calgary Bar Association
  • Instructor Alberta Bar Admission Course, Oral Advocacy

Knowledge

  • The HR Space: Can Employee be Terminated After Losing Qualification?, 1/18/2012
  • Episode 3 | The Knockout Punch of Pre-Certification Motions, Some pre-certification motions are available in Canada that can put an end to, or significantly narrow, a proposed class action. In our third episode, we highlight different approaches across Canadian jurisdictions to such motions — including recent legislative changes and trends in the case law.
  • Episode 1 | The Multijurisdictional Maze, In our first episode, we explain what is needed for defendants to succeed when navigating this “multijurisdictional maze”.
  • Episode 4 | The Contrasting Criteria for Certification Motions, Our fourth episode goes through the five-part test for certification applicable in Canadian jurisdictions except Quebec. We explain what elements of this test are common battlegrounds, how they fit together, and recent legislative changes and case law developments across Canada affecting defence strategy. We also explain the test for class action authorization in Quebec.
  • Episode 5 | The Hard-Fought End of Settlement or Trial, The Canadian experience with class action resolution is very similar to the U.S. — most cases settle and very few proceed to trial. In our fifth and final episode, we highlight key decision-points in the resolution of class proceedings, the challenges associated with coordinating settlements on a national scale, and the importance of case assessment in evaluating options available to defendants.

News

  • Fasken’s litigators listed in Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 Guide, 5/31/2018
  • Fasken wins Five Benchmark Canada 2018 Awards, 2/23/2018
  • Fasken Martineau Highly Ranked by Benchmark Canada, 5/18/2017
  • Twenty-three Fasken Martineau lawyers named in Lexpert’s 2016 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, 12/6/2016
  • Lexpert names three Fasken Martineau lawyers among litigation lawyers to watch, 12/1/2016

Publications

  • Canadian Mining Law, 7/31/2014
  • Accommodation Does Not Prevent Corporate Reorganization, 2/15/2011

Speaking Engagements

  • Panel Discussion: “Legal Management in Tough Economic Times”, 4/5/2016
  • Internet Defamation (Cyber Libel), 10/23/2011
  • Civil Advocacy Series - Questioning, 3/23/2011
  • Duty to Accommodate: Overview and Update, 6/24/2010
Panelist Panel Discussion: “Legal Management in Tough Economic Times” 2016 CCCA National Conference location location Calgary
Speaker Internet Defamation (Cyber Libel) Internet Defamation (Cyber Libel), Canadian Civil Liberties Association
location location Calgary
Presenter Civil Advocacy Series - Questioning Civil Advocacy Series - Questioning: Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA)
location location Calgary