Donald W. Skogstad
Donald Skogstad has practiced law for 25 years. He was born in Western Ontario and raised on the Prairies and came to British Columbia in the early 1970's to work as a manager in the Canadian Federal Government. He did stints in the Canadian Army Reserve and was a Queen Scout during his youth.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, majoring in economics, history and geography. He obtained his law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1978. He has practiced continually in British Columbia since that time and has represented thousands of clients throughout British Columbia and in the Canadian Provinces and several American States.
Don worked as Crown Counsel in the Nelson area and has been in private practice since 1982.
He has specialized in areas of criminal law, civil litigation, family law, bankruptcy and insolvency and business advice. Local bankruptcy trustees frequently consult with Don in their bankruptcy work.
He is featured in a book on marijuana cases called West Coast Smoke. He has been prominent in marijuana defenses throughout Southern British Columbia and into Alberta.
Don has practised family law for his whole career and believes that a cooperative, mediated solution is best but recognizes that, in some cases, only the Court can determine issues between the parties.
Don acts as agent for a number of Vancouver and other British Columbia firms assisting them in civil litigation matters.
Don has two children, both of whom are in University. He lives in Nelson and enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, photography and the arts. He is an active member of Nelson's Heritage Committee. Don enjoys mechanical work and has torn down and modified engines and other components of his motor vehicles. He rides a motorcycle and has travelled around the world.
Jolene K. Shkooratoff
Jolene Shkooratoff joined Skogstad Law Office (as it was then) in 2005.
She was born and raised in Nelson, BC. She relocated to Vancouver, BC and attended Simon Fraser University where she obtained a B.A. majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Criminology. After taking some time for extensively traveling around the world, she obtained her LLB at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS.
Jolene was called to the Bar in 2007 and has since practiced primarily in Nelson.
Jolene was a highly involved student during her time at Dalhousie Law, and over the years, she has volunteered her time with numerous organizations. She worked for the Dalhousie Legal Aid Clinic providing Pro Bono legal aid to the Halifax community in the areas of family, criminal, mental health and administration law as well as handled tenancy issues. She also worked at the Nova Scotia Family Courts as assistant to a judge on a variety of family law hearings. She was a member of the Dalhousie Health Law institute and received a Health Law and Policy Specialization certificate.
In addition to legal work, Jolene was a member of several school based committees. She co-chaired the Social Committee for the 2005/06 Law Games and co-edited the Yearbook Committee to name a few. This gave her the opportunity to organize various fundraising and social events for as many as 900 people.
Jolene currently works primarily in family law. As a family lawyer she puts her heart and soul into her work and strives to assist her clients in finding peaceful solutions. She works to provide her clients with a positive resolution in a timely manner and is always honest and upfront with her clients. She recognizes that going to court is sometimes a necessary and inevitable part of the solution and litigates in both the Provincial and Supreme courts of British Columbia.
She also works in criminal, civil and mental health law and takes legal aid matters on a case by case basis.
Jolene is an active member of the community and living in the Kootenays provides her with an excellent outlet for her love of the outdoors. She has continued interests in travel, reading, music and is an avid hockey fan.