CR LAWYERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Designated Paralegal / Estate Planning
Job Titles:
- Designated Paralegal / Real Estate
Karina Carson grew up on the North Shore of Vancouver, moving to Vancouver Island to attend the University of Victoria where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, graduating with distinction. As a dual Canadian-British Citizen, Karina moved to the United Kingdom for several years, during which she attended Staffordshire University and earned a first-class honors degree in Law. Karina missed living on the West Coast of British Columbia and was keen to return to Canada following the completion of her law degree. Karina was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2014.
Karina is a solicitor and focuses her practice on Estate Administration, Estate Planning, and Real Estate Transactions. Karina enjoys building relationships with her clients and believes the practice of law enables her to make a positive difference in her clients' lives.
Karina is a dedicated lawyer and community member. She has previously been a volunteer with Mount Saint Mary's Hospital in Victoria and the Citizens' Advice Bureau in Stafford, England.
In her free time, Karina enjoys travelling, hiking, gardening and spending time outdoors with her two children and husband.
Lyle Dennis Carlstrom was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1987.
Lyle is a strong supporter of public legal education. He has taught with Athabasca University, Fairview College, Grande Prairie Regional College, the Alberta Real Estate Association, the Council for Lifelong Learning, the Rural Learning Network and Comox Valley ElderCollege. Lyle helped create The Estate & Financial Planning Institute.
Along with public legal education Lyle has served in numerous other volunteer capacities. He has been involved with the Fairview, Sexsmith, Grande Prairie and Comox Valley Chambers of Commerce. Additionally, he was a founding member of the 1995 Canada Winter Games Host Society, the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie Regional College Alumni Foundation, and The Arctic Winter Games Society. He was one of the first lawyers in Canada to be part of Advocis, the professional body for financial planners and insurance agents. Lyle served as a Director of Project Watershed and was a member of the Fundraising Committee for the Kus-Kus-Sum restoration project. he won Courtenay Rotary Club's Top Hand and Sponsorship awards in 2019. He recently became a director with Comox Business in Action.
Lyle was admitted to the Law Society of British Columbia in 2016. In March of 2017 he helped form a multi-disciplinary partnership. On August 1, 2018 that partnership acquired Holland and Company. That firm merged with CR Lawyers effective January 2022 and now has three offices. Lyle's practice focuses on solicitor's work in the areas of real estate, corporate-commercial law, estate planning and estate administration. The firm also deals with a broad range of other Notary and legal matters. He believes that legal professionals need to be involved in their community and is pleased all firm members share that value.
Lyle is the proud father of Emily, Joshua and Zachary, and partner of Pam Williams.
Russell Demerse was called to the Bar of British Columbia in June 2022 after having completed terms as both a summer student and articled student at CR Lawyers LLP.
Russell was born and raised in Campbell River and has deep roots in the community. After graduating as class valedictorian from Carihi Secondary School in 2014, he headed south to attend the University of Victoria and study the humanities, earning his Bachelor of Arts with distinction in 2018, majoring in History and minoring in English. Afterwards, Russell moved from coast to coast to study law at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He graduated in 2021 with his Juris Doctor degree and certificates in Marine Law and Aboriginal and Indigenous Law.
Russell has now taken the opportunity to join the team at CR Lawyers LLP as an associate lawyer, where he is best situated to provide legal services on the beautiful North Island. Russell is focused on developing a general litigation practice; his goal is to provide professional, competent, and cost-effective representation for all his clients.