Clients have included foundations, corporations, governments, First Nations organizations. charities, NGOs and professional / trade associations.

Now semi-retired, he is a former Partner and Public-Policy Advisor with the Ottawa-based international law firm Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, (now Gowling WLG) a former president of what was, at the time, Canada’s largest government-relations consulting firm and a former vice president of a Washington, DC-based public-policy consulting firm.

Today, through Advocacy School, he designs, facilitates and conducts workshops, retreats and professional-development training in public-policy advocacy as well as the rules governing lobbying practices and other forms of advocacy.

He is a leading advisor and advocate for business organizations, government regulators, health care and research agreements, human research ethics review, Indigenous governments, professional associations, charities, and lobbyists on questions of governance, lobbying, access to information, privacy, conflicts of interest, election regulation, politically exposed persons and parliamentary and legislative proceedings.

Gerry’s impressive body of work as a legal scholar is nothing short of remarkable. His extensive list of publications and presentations on diverse legal topics, ranging from healthcare regulations to cybersecurity laws, demonstrate his deep knowledge and practical insights into the ever-evolving legal landscape. He is a seasoned lawyer, well-versed in a wide array of legal issues. Clients find in him a trusted and insightful advisor.

His appellate advocacy experience, including two dozen matters before the Supreme Court of Canada, makes him a sought after counsellor on both questions of law and strategy. His broad background includes service as the Honorary Consul for Korea in Alberta and membership on the Board of Directors of Harvest Operations, the Canadian subsidiary of the Korea National Oil Corporation. Additionally, he teaches “Negotiation of Indigenous Rights” at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Finally, he chairs hearings of the Criminal Code Review Board, as a member thereof.

Barbara is sought after for her knowledge of policy and public affairs, securing animal protection amendments to the Criminal Code, Fisheries Act, Migratory Bird Act, Food and Drugs Act and Canadian Environmental Protection Act. In 2019, she secured a ban on cetacean captivity, strengthen animal fighting offences, closed loop holes in bestiality offences and ensured abusers convicted of animal sexual assault are listed on the Sex Offender Registry, while in 2023 she was instrumental in banning cosmetic testing and phasing out toxicity testing on animals. In her current role, Barbara launched the National Animal Welfare Conference, National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty, National Violence Link Coalition and Conference, as well as spearheaded the first animal shelter Accreditation program in Canada, co-created the Indicators of a Humane Canada project and received the largest known federal grant to address systemic barriers to women with animals (companion, farm, and service) experiencing Gender-Based Violence. Barbara holds a Master’s in Environmental Education and Communication and a certificate in Executive Leadership from Said Business School, Oxford. She is a published author and lecturer, and received the Governor General’s Gold Medal and the King Charles Coronation Medal. Formerly, President of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, she currently sits on the Board of PetSmart Charities of Canada and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center in Congo.