Craig’s legal career of almost 40 years has included intellectual property guidance, commercial law, and corporate governance, among other areas. A graduate of Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School, he was called to the Alberta Bar in 1986 and the Saskatchewan Bar in 1987.

Some of his accomplishments include 10 years as CEO of a Saskatoon law firm he co-founded, coordination and advice on high-level business sales and acquisitions, and IP assistance for local and multi-national clients. He was President of the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 2018, and has chaired or served on boards ranging from the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) to Saskatchewan Research Council. Craig also has been a frequent instructor on board governance principles internationally, as well as a law school professor. He teaches a class he designed at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law, Transformation in Practice: Building the Future Lawyer, which leverages his experience as a lawyer, technology advisor and CEO. Craig also delivers many continuing professional development resources for the Law Society, including a weekly video series Bite Size CPD.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Intellectual Property – Including licensing, trademarks, computer law, Internet law, biotechnology law, privacy and copyright.
• Corporate Governance – Including advice on strategic plans, governance law, preparation of governance documents such as bylaws and Articles, and training in governance, risk management and strategy matters.
• Commercial Law – Including business transfers, mergers & acquisitions, contracts, income tax and GST related matters, succession planning, agricultural contracting and corporate law.

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

Intellectual Property

• Administered and coordinated trademark portfolio for multi-national fashion company
• Advised various national software providers on IP and business strategies
• Advised numerous technology start-ups on legal and IP matters
• As a Registered Trade Mark Agent, has prosecuted trade mark applications for numerous applicants, ranging from individuals and small businesses to international clients
• Advice on copyright and related IP topics to educational providers
• Counsel and supervision of IP portfolio for international design firm
• Counsel to multi-national food services and research businesses
• Founding member and ongoing advice to provincial software developers’ association
• Founding member and ongoing advice to provincial technology funding organization
• Preparation of standard form and custom license agreements for international, national and local software developers
• Preparation, management and administration of software escrow agreements
• Advice on privacy rules and requirements for all levels of national and international clients
• Advice and preparation of cybersecurity strategies for all levels of clients

Commercial Law

• Lead counsel for sale of international oilseed processing business
• Lead counsel for management buyout of national vehicle manufacturing company
• Counsel for Canadian hotel/resort chain, providing operational advice, negotiation of franchise agreements, and administering sales and purchases of properties
• Counsel and advice to owner/operators of food franchise ownership groups
• Counsel for national pharmacy chain, including preparation and administration of franchise agreements, negotiating supply contracts and designing corporate records processes
• Income tax and GST advice and planning for numerous small and medium size businesses and individuals throughout Canada
• Advice to producers and buyers on agricultural contracting, including authoring numerous publications on production contracts
• Developed processes and administered financing security and enforcement of rights by national agricultural products companies

Corporate Governance

• Teacher and presenter on corporate governance principles for The Directors College, Caribbean Institute of Directors, Governance Solutions, and others
• Provide advice and facilitation on strategic development for Crown Corporations, NGO’s, pension plans and private business
• Supervised and provided advice on governance overhaul of national pharmacy chain
• Designing and advising on risk management plans for biotechnology, computer services, research and other businesses

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Current

• Board member, Saskatchewan Legal Insurance Association

Past

• President, Law Society of Saskatchewan
• Bencher, Law Society of Saskatchewan
• Chair, Saskatchewan Research Council
• Director, Saskatchewan Capital Network
• Adjudicator, Premier of Ontario’s Catalyst Awards for Research and Innovation
• University of Saskatchewan Senate
• Director, Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII)
• Executive Council and Board of Directors, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
• Chair, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Image & Promotion Committee
•  Chair, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Environment Committee
• Chair, Law Society of Saskatchewan Governance Committee
• Chair, Law Society of Saskatchewan Trust Safety Committee
• Chair, Law Society of Saskatchewan Queen’s Counsel Selection Committee
• Chair, Law Society of Saskatchewan Audit Committee
• Committee member, Action Saskatchewan Project
• Trustee and Treasurer, Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory
• Chair, Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section, Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch
• Chair, Taxation, Wills and Trust Section, Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch 
• Director, Rotary Club of Saskatoon North
• Chair, Rotary Golf Challenge in support of Saskatoon Food Bank
• Director and Corporate Secretary, Saskatchewan Advanced Technology Association
• Director and Founding Member, Software Development Association of Saskatchewan
• Member, TEC Chapter 246, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Member, Law Society of Saskatchewan
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Canadian Association of Patent & Trademark Agents
• Member, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada

BAR ADMISSIONS & EDUCATION

• The Directors College, a joint venture of McMaster University and the Conference Board of Canada, (C.Dir) Registered Chartered Director (2008)
• In-Depth Tax Course, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (1992)
• Saskatchewan Bar, 1987
• Alberta Bar, 1986
• Bachelor of Laws (Honors), Awarded Harold J. Rubenstein Prize in Restitution Law (Osgoode, 1985)
• Majors: Computer Science, Finance, Dean’s List, College of Commerce now Edwards School of Business (University of Saskatchewan, 1982)

TEACHING

• Faculty, The Directors College
• Faculty, Caribbean Institute of Directors
• Sessional Lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Law, (2021-present), Transformation in Practice: Building the Future Lawyer
• Visiting Professor, University of Saskatchewan, College of Law (2020 – 2022)
• Sessional Lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, College of Law, (1995-2001) Intellectual Property Law
• Director in Residence for Governance Training, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (2010-2018)
• Coordinator and Presenter, various Law Society of Saskatchewan and Canadian Bar Association seminars and webinars

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

• Producer and Host, Bite Size CPD, Law Society of Saskatchewan, a weekly video series highlighting practice management, technology, resilience and other topics important to lawyers
• A Quest for Technological Competence: Raising the Bar, co-author with Doug Surtees, book published by United Nations Internet Governance Forum (2021)
• Prepared draft Waste Minimization Act on behalf of Saskatchewan Department of Environment and Resource Management
• Agricultural Production Contracts, whitepaper for Centre for Studies in Agriculture, Law and the Environment (CSALE)
• Agricultural Contracting for Producers, guide prepared for Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture and Food
• Grain and Seed Contracts for Farmers, guide prepared for Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan
• Electronic Documents Management, paper for Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch
• Technology Issues and Business for Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch
• Columnist, Saskatchewan Business Magazine on business, information technology and intellectual property issues
• Columnist for The Advocate, Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association, on technology for lawyers
• Electronic File Management, webinar presented on behalf of Law Society of Saskatchewan (2023)
• The Hidden Importance of Quorum for Non-Profit Corporations
• This Everyday Necessity Could Be Recording Your Sex Life (Hint: It’s Not Your Smartphone)
• Two Ways of Reducing Your Risk of Cyber Liability
• It Is Surprisingly Easy To Misuse A Registered Canadian Trademark
• The Double Committee Meeting Problem…and How To Solve It
• Reporting Data Breaches: Things Can Get Worse
• Who Does a Director REALLY Act For?
• The Governance Necessity Too Many Directors Do Not Understand

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS

• Named one of “Saskatchewan’s Men of Influence” by Saskatchewan Business Magazine, 2003
• Queen’s Counsel, 2011