SMITH & HERSEY AGRIBUSINESS LAW - Key Persons
BIO
Mr. Dan Smith was a founding member of Smith & Hersey also opening the Oyen branch over 25 years ago. Mr. Smith retired from the firm in 2019 but remains in regular contact and counsel with the current partners of Smith & Hersey.
BIO
Shane represents clients throughout Alberta and from the west coast of British Columbia to the central United States in a wide range of commercial, agricultural, and industrial fields. Shane is recognized as one of the pre-eminent lawyers in Alberta for negotiating renewable energy projects on behalf of landowners and has successfully negotiated many large-scale projects throughout Alberta and into Saskatchewan. Having grown up in and around the oil and gas industry, Shane considers himself a blue-collar worker in a white-collar world and prides himself on being able to break down highly complex issues and transactions into plain language, easy to understand terms.
BIO
Born and raised in Drumheller, Madison is grateful to be back and practicing law in her hometown. Madison is involved in the community through Rotary, Rails to Trails, the Badlands Trail Society and the Celebration of Excellence. Madison received a business degree majoring in marketing and minoring in entrepreneurship from Mount Royal University. After graduating, Madison attended the University of Ottawa for law school. Madison is hoping to build her practice primarily in corporate law, estate planning and real estate. She is grateful to be part of the Smith & Hersey team and looks forward to continuing to grow the Drumheller location.
BIO
Mathew was born and raised on a small ranch north of Medicine Hat. He graduated from Eagle Butte High School in 2014, from Mount Royal University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2019, and from the University of Saskatchewan with a Juris Doctor with distinction in 2023. He's been with the Smith and Hersey team since the summer of 2021, when he joined the firm as a summer student. Mathew will practice in a broad variety of legal disciplines, with his main areas of interest being corporate law and tax law. When Mathew isn't in the office, he enjoys team roping, golfing, and skiing. With a background in agriculture, Mathew is willing and ready to help with any of your agribusiness needs.
BIO
Mervin Kwok is a lawyer at Smith & Hersey, with a practice in Corporate and Commercial Law, with a focus on corporate governance, contract law, and real estate. He is experienced in advising various types of organizations, including for-profit corporations, non-profit companies, societies, and cooperatives. Mervin is a long time Hatter having spent his formulative years growing up in Southern Alberta. Outside of his legal practice, Mervin is an acting board member for the Medicine Hat Youth Action Society, a local charity assisting at-risk youth. As well, he is an avid hockey fan and a joyful uncle to two beautiful nieces.
BIO
Mr. Harry Gough was one of the founding members of Schumacher Gough & Company who began his private practice in Drumheller in 1975. In the fall of 2023 Schumacher Gough & Company merged with Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law LLP continuing under the Smith & Hersey banner. While retired from full time practice, Mr. Gough remains in contact and of council to Smith & Hersey.
BIO
Reid has been with Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law LLP since 2012 and was the founding member of Smith & Hersey's Consort office in 2013. While handling real estate, wills, estates, and corporate/tax matters for all types of clients, the bulk of his practice focuses on agriculture clients in Alberta and eastern Saskatchewan. Over the years Reid has presented at well over 60 agriculture estate planning seminars (mostly in towns without a stop light) and loves working with farms and ranches of all sizes. Reid's pre-law background was a construction framer for 10 years which now enjoys renovating in his spare time. If not swinging a hammer or at the office, Reid is with his wife and three boys, volunteering with his church, or honing his craft at being an exceptionally mediocre hunter. Since the retirement of the firm's founding partner (Daniel Smith) in 2019, Reid also operates Smith and Hersey's Oyen branch.
BIO
"Law is changing. So is your lawyer." My practice is an almost equal mix of agriculture-based and "non-ag" clients with businesses from a wide range of industries. At the time of writing this, I am working on the sale of a tech start-up, an expanding retail operation, an international agri-business, and several farm/ranch operations that are navigating renewable energy projects, an expansion, an inter-generational transition and the implementation of a Joint Venture farming arrangement (amongst other things). My clients' entrepreneurial outlook and dedication to their operations is what motivates me to continuous improvement -- something we take seriously at our firm. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your legal matters with you and join your team as you continue to grow your business, farm or ranch. When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with my wife and four children, then trying to "escape" to my garage to work on many of old vehicle projects. Simon's practice is based in Medicine Hat, but he spends every Monday and Tuesday in the Hanna area.