Craig Neville, K.C.* Associate Counsel

“As a mediator, collaborative professional, and parenting coordinator, my passion is to help families find tailor made solutions to their unique challenges.”

Craig Neville, K.C. is Associate Counsel in the Family Law Group at Watson Goepel LLP, and is widely recognized in British Columbia as a leading certified Parenting Coordinator and Family Law Mediator. For over 35 years, Craig has advocated for families in all areas of family law. He has a deep appreciation for the long term co-parenting responsibilities and challenges faced by separating families. His focus on alternate dispute resolution arises from years of experience with the court system, and his resulting view that litigation ought to be an option of last resort for families striving to solve their challenges.

Craig’s passions extend beyond the practice of law. He is an avid traveler, having visited more than 50 countries around the world. He runs, bikes, skis, ballroom dances, and has a keen interest in photography.

Education 

LL.B., University of Saskatchewan, 1979

Bar 

British Columbia, 1986
Saskatchewan, 1981

• Craig’s practice focuses exclusively in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including Mediation, Arbitration and Parenting Coordination.
• Craig has extensive prior courtroom experience, having  appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia

Craig has authored numerous papers and is a frequent presenter at the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLEBC).

• Author, “Divorce in pandemic times: Arbitration as a potential answer,” The Lawyer’s Daily, August 11, 2020.
• Author, “Parenting Coordination and fee equity: What’s fair?,” Watson Goepel Blog, August 2020.
• Presenter, “How Parenting Coordination Works in BC: Video,” June 2019.
• Author, “Parenting Coordination after divorce – It’s kids’ stuff!,” Watson Goepel Blog, May 2019.
• Author, “Family Law: Save Time and Money with Arbitration,” Watson Goepel Blog, October 2018.
• Author, “Ten Years Later: Parenting Coordination in British Columbia,” The Advocate, Vol 76 Part 4, July 2018.
• Author/Presenter, “Distance Arbitration: Some Thoughts on Options for Making it Work,” with Micah Goldberg, BCAMI Arbitration Training, 2017.
• Contributing Author, “Contributor to Settling Family Law Cases: Practical Techniques for Advocates and neutrals,” Thomson Reuters, 2017.
• Author/Presenter, “Parenting Coordination, the Program and the Role of Counsel,” with Leanne Harder, CLEBC, 2017.
• Author, “Med/Arb in the Parenting Coordination Process,” Canadian Arbitration and Mediation Journal, Vol. 25, No. 1 Spring/Summer 2016.
• Author/Presenter, “Overcoming the Obstacles: Parenting and Parenting Coordination under the new Family Law Rules,” with Gagan Mann, CLEBC, 2014.
• Author/Presenter, “Kids Stuff under the FLA,” BC Parenting News, Winter issue, 2014.
• Author/Presenter, “ADR under the FLA: New Tools and the Power to Use Them,” CBABC, Courtenay B.C., April 2014.
• Author/Presenter, “Parenting Coordination, Making it Work for your Clients Under the New Family Law Act,” CLEBC, 2013.

• Founding Member and former President, BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society
• Member, Family Mediation Canada
• Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Law Society of British Columbia
• Past Board Member, ADRBC
• A former longstanding volunteer with Big Brothers and Sisters, he has served on local, national, and international boards and was a founder of the Big Friends Giving Society

• Recognized in Best Lawyers ® in Canada 2023 in the area of Family Law Mediation
• Queen’s Counsel, 2021
• Recognized in Best Lawyers ® in Canada since 2012 in the area of Family Law
• Recognized in Martindale-Hubbell®  since 2002
• Salvation Army Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award, 2011
• Gold and Silver Jubilee Medals from Her Majesty the Queen, for Volunteer Service
• Recipient, Cecil Walker Award, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
• Recipient, The Chairman’s Commendation. Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver