Welcome to Conduct and Manage!
Welcome to the first entry of Conduct and Manage. This blog is a way for me to share my thoughts in an informal way with clients, potential clients, and anyone else interested in the Canadian gaming law space. Other jurisdictions will be discussed because in order to to understand what is happening in Canada it helps to understand developments in other jurisdictions. Comments are turned off, because they will mostly be spam, but if you want to engage with something I’ve written or have suggestions for topics, I encourage you to contact me using the form at the bottom of this page.
About Me (The Informal Version)
I have been a licensed attorney since 2011. In 2011, I completed my articles (apprenticeship) under Stu Hoegner. At that time Stu’s practice was strictly gaming. Since then he has pivoted to become a globally respected cryptocurrency lawyer. Stu continues to be an excellent mentor.
After articling for Stu, I worked with Michael Lipton and Kevin Weber at Dickinson Wright. I first connected with Michael in 2009 as a student, and it was an honour for me to work with him for four years. He is a legend in Canadian gaming and his reputation is well-deserved. Kevin not only has an encyclopedic knowledge of gaming law, but also has an ability to use that knowledge to find solutions to problems that seem unsolvable. Sometimes when I am trying to find a creative solution for a client, I close my eyes and can hear Kevin’s raspy voice reasoning through a problem.
In 2015, I left Dickinson Wright to practice on my own. It was a difficult decision to leave, but I wanted to balance work and spending time with family. Practicing on my own also provided me with opportunities and flexibility to take on clients and files that I would not be able to take on if I had continued working at a large firm. Along the way I have met great attorneys practicing in various areas, and I have a well-developed network for gaming and non-gaming-related legal issues.
My decision to leave “Bay Street law” was reinforced in 2019 when we had twins. Taking a break from endless documents and meetings by playing with a pair of two year-olds helps me maintain perspective.
When I am not working or spending time with family I am active in the pinball community. You’ll probably be surprised to learn that there is a pinball governing body (the International Flipper Pinball Association) and there are approximately 70,000 tournament players. I travel regularly to play in tournaments, and pinball has taken me to global destinations including Milan, New York, Cleveland, and Flint. I also founded a pinball league in Toronto. I was also part of the Game Show Network’s 2018 episode about competitive pinball for their “How the Game is Played” series. The highest world ranking I have attained is 33rd.
