Whether he is assisting a long-established business with a significant transaction, advising a start-up on its contracts or negotiating the terms of a commercial lease, Dan brings the same combination of curiosity, attention to detail, diligence and problem-solving to every matter: understand the issue, understand the client and find a way to get it done.
In nearly 25 years as a lawyer, Dan has advised a broad range of clients, from defence contractors and chicken breeders to developers, grocers, car dealers and software companies. It is this diversity, and the people behind each business, that he finds most rewarding about his practice.
“They are all smart, hard-working people who have taken interesting and varied paths to success.
That range of experience also reflects a simple reality: no two clients, no two businesses and no two transactions are exactly alike. Whether assisting with a transaction, negotiating a commercial lease or working through the terms of an agreement, Dan brings a careful and solutions-focused approach to helping clients achieve their objectives.
What he also finds rewarding is the personal relationships he builds with his clients. Dan is personable and team-oriented in his approach. He values working collaboratively with clients to understand their goals and help them achieve effective solutions.
Navigating a Changing Contract Landscape
One development that has had a significant impact on his practice is the growing use of artificial intelligence in contract drafting. While AI is undoubtedly a useful tool, Dan believes its increased presence has only reinforced the importance of sound legal judgment and a practical understanding of the market in which a contract is being negotiated.
“AI is outstanding in giving you a starting point that is far more advanced than a blank page; however, not everything that AI suggests is a good idea, will turn out the way you expect or is even necessarily right.”
For Dan, effective contract drafting involves more than determining whether language is technically correct or would be beneficial for the client. It requires an understanding of what parties are actually agreeing to and how various obligations and risks are currently being divided up in the contract marketplace. It also requires the judgment to assess whether a particular provision is appropriate for the client and the transaction. AI will suggest a lot of clauses and many of them can bog down a transaction. Knowing which suggestions appropriately advance a client’s interest and which ones are irrelevant or unreasonable is a skill set Dan has that brings a lot of value to contract drafting and negotiation.
About Dan
His approach to both his work and his interests is grounded in curiosity. As he puts it, “I’m not necessarily a rule follower, but I do like to have a thorough understanding of the rules.” For Dan, solving problems begins with understanding the issue. He also has a tendency to take deep dives into subjects that interest him, a quality that translates naturally to the detailed and often complex work involved in his practice. That same curiosity also helps him solve problems by analogy: sometimes a solution that seems out of the box comes from another field where it is commonplace.
Dan lives in Kingston with his wife, daughter and golden retriever. A near-lifelong Kingstonian, he attended Queen’s University for his undergraduate degrees and law school.
Much of Dan’s aforementioned team approach stems from his lifelong participation in sports. While at Queen’s, he played football for five years and also ran track. Today, he remains involved in Queen’s football alumni events, maintaining ties with the university and the football community.
Outside of the office, he enjoys travelling to warm places, barbequing, woodworking and spending time outdoors.
