Background

Douglas C. Jack is counsel in BLG’s Waterloo Region office.  A graduate of St. Jerome’s University (B.A. English, 1977) and Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B., 1980), Doug was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985.   Doug serves the needs of the veterinary community throughout Canada in general commercial matters, regulatory compliance issues and complaints and discipline defence.

Areas of Practice

Doug is commercial and administrative law counsel.  In the corporate and commercial, Doug assists veterinary clients with acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, employment law matters and veterinary practice governance and management issues.  As well, from an administrative law perspective, Doug provides defence counsel to veterinarians before their provincial regulatory authorities in matters of complaints and discipline.

Professional Experience

BLG is the only national law firm in Canada providing dedicated service to the veterinary profession. With over 25 years servicing this sector, Doug provides helpful advice to veterinarians with respect to the purchase and sale of a practice, equipment leasing, employment law matters including employment contracts and wrongful dismissal, risk management strategies, practice governance including shareholder and partnership agreements and implementing effective strategies for responding to professional complaints and discipline proceedings.

Professional and Community Activities

• Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Management Member
• American Veterinary Medical Law Association, Charter and Founding Member
• Veterinary Hospital Managers’ Association, Member
• American Animal Hospital Association, Member
• Board of Regents for the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Public Regent
• Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora, Paul Harris Fellowship Award Member
• Centre Wellington Community Foundation and the Foundation of Rural Living, Former Director

Speaking Engagements and Publications

Given the unique nature of his practice area, Doug is a highly sought-after speaker at veterinary conferences throughout the world addressing the legal issues of veterinary practice management and veterinary ethics.  He has developed and presents lectures in veterinary jurisprudence at Ontario Veterinary College, Atlantic Veterinary College, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary; he has provided guest lectures on veterinary/legal matters at the Ohio State University and Michigan State University.

Doug is the author of “Managing a Veterinary Practice in Canada” (W.B.Saunders, 1989) and the “Canadian Veterinary Practice Manager” (Veterinary Medical Diets, 1992).  His articles have appeared in various publications including the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association’s “Focus”, the American Animal Hospital Associations’ “Trends” and in the Canadian Veterinary Journal, the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare and Veterinary Economics.   He is a regular columnist for “Canadian Vet”.