In addition to her transactional and corporate practice, she has significant litigation experience in state, federal, and appellate courts, which lends to her ability to advise businesses proficiently in resolving problems.
She completed a highly sought-after federal clerkship and served as Chief Judge Daniel P. Collins’ and Judge George B. Nielsen Jr.’s judicial law clerk at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona, in Phoenix.
Kortney earned her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she was a Willard H. Pedrick Scholar and graduated in the top tier of her class. She also earned multiple CALI Awards, awarded to the top student in class, for: Contracts, Trusts and Estates, Criminal Procedure, and Sports Law.
While in law school, she served a judicial externship for Hon. Eddward P. Ballinger, Jr., at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. She also attained her Mediation Certificate and completed ASU’s Lodestar Mediation Clinic program, where she was voted best mediator. She has mediation experience in Justice Court, Bankruptcy Court, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), and private mediations.
She earned her B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Denver, with an emphasis on Political Science, French, and Economics. She was a Dean’s List Scholar and completed a study abroad in northern France.
Kortney is a member of the State Bar of Arizona’s sections on Bankruptcy, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Business Law. She has also participated in the Community Legal Services’ Volunteer Lawyers Program and represented low-income litigants pro bono.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- Diamond Sports Group, LLC – represented Arizona Diamondbacks in enforcing telecast rights agreement with regional television broadcast networks in Chapter 11.
- Prescott Brewing Company, Inc. – represented 30-year Prescott landmark in Chapter 11 and related litigation after wrongful termination of its lease.
- Lumen Technologies dba Qwest Corp. – represented telecommunications company in property damage litigation.
- In re Michael S. Pollock – represented debtor in chapter 7 and substantial complex nondischargeability litigation.
- Hays v. Dutton et. al. – represented defendant in nondischargeability litigation and Arizona court of appeals action.
- In re Tri Star Logging, Inc. – represented one of Arizona’s largest forestry operations in Chapter 11.
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- State Bar of Arizona: Bankruptcy Section, Employment and Labor Law Section, Business Law Section
- Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, Member
- Phoenix Business Journal’s ACE Awards Sponsor, Interview Team Member, 2022
HONORS & AWARDS
- Best Lawyers in America® Ones To Watch, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2024-2025; Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2024-2025; Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2024-2025
- Southwest Super Lawyers® Rising Stars, Bankruptcy: Business, 2024-2025
- Arizona's Top Women of Cannabis, Arizona Business Magazine, 2023
- AzBusiness Leaders, Cannabis Law, 2023-2024
COMMUNITY & PHILANTHROPY
- Community Legal Services: Volunteer Lawyers Program
- C.A.R.E. (Credit Abuse Resistance Education), Volunteer
News
- 23 G&K Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Southwest Super Lawyers and Rising Stars - April 17, 2025
- Four G&K Attorneys Recognized Among Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Emerging Leaders for 2025 - January 6, 2025
- Five G&K Attorneys Named 2025 AzBusiness Leaders - December 12, 2024
- Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Recognizes 51 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 15, 2024
- 19 G&K Attorneys Selected to 2024 Super Lawyers & Rising Stars - April 8, 2024
- G&K's Professional Women’s Group Hosts "Pi Day" Bake Sale & Silent Auction in Support of Shoebox Ministry - March 15, 2024
- Seven G&K Attorneys Named 2024 AzBusiness Leaders - December 28, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Recognizes 52 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 21, 2023
- G&K Attorneys Represent Arizona Diamondbacks In re: Diamond Sports Group LLC - June 1, 2023
- Kortney Otten Named To AzBigMedia's 2023 "Arizona's Top Women of Cannabis" - March 7, 2023
- Five G&K Attorneys Named 2023 AzBusiness Leaders - January 1, 2023
- Google to Pay Record-Setting $85,000,000 Settlement to the State of Arizona in Consumer Fraud Case - October 4, 2022
- Gallagher & Kennedy Expands Its Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice With the Addition of Dale C. Schian and Kortney K. Otten - September 3, 2019
Publications
- After 50 Years the DEA is Set to Reschedule Marijuana - May 6, 2024
- Cannabis Industry Workers Vote to Unionize - January 26, 2024
- Starting a Cannabis Business? Here’s What Entrepreneurs Should Consider First - May 1, 2023
- What Businesses Need to Know About Arizona’s Sports and Event Betting Law - April 1, 2023
- The Post-Discharge Injunction: A Cautionary Lesson for Litigators - February 1, 2022
- Chapter 5: Fiduciary Duties in the Context of the Limited Liability Company - January 27, 2022
Events
OTHER
CLERKSHIPS
- Judicial Law Clerk, Chief Judge Daniel P. Collins, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona
- Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable George B. Nielsen, Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona
- Judicial Extern, Honorable Eddward P. Ballinger, Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona