Who We Are
Craig Tervit
Senior Lawyer
Craig is the founder of The Last Word. Born in South Africa before emigrating to Vancouver in 1995, he has the usual childhood of playing in the yard, going to school, etc., but can also tell you about the time a lion chased the family station wagon, and when he faced off with a small monkey over his snacks.
Craig completed his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia – a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science. He moved to Calgary in 2010 for the combined Law/MBA program at The University of Calgary, fell in love with the city and has lived here ever since. Craig met his wife, Jen, in law school, and they now have three beautiful young daughters. Craig founded The Last Word in 2015 after realizing how much he loved to work one on one with clients to protect their families and plan their legacies.
Craig loves to volunteer. He is a member of the downtown Rotary Club and a board member of the Calgary Rotary Challenger Park Society (a park dedicated to inclusive activities for those with disabilities). Craig has also travelled quite a bit over the years, and has accidentally climbed a volcano in Iceland, gotten lost (literally) in the middle of the world’s oldest trees in Japan, stayed with monks in a monastery in Laos, worked with a carpet salesman in Turkey, and jumped off the third largest bungee in the world in New Zealand. While the travel has slowed down a bit in recent years (three young children and running a busy law practice will do that to you), he loves to visit new places with his family, to make sure that the travel bug is passed down to the next generation.
Jen Kirk
Corporate Lawyer
Jen is a Calgary-based lawyer, who has been practicing business law for many years. Her practical approach and in-depth knowledge allow her to quickly become a trusted advisor to her clients.
Jen has over 10 years’ experience providing strategic advice and representation to businesses, families, and individuals. Jen is highly strategic and understands the needs and pain-points of the industries and companies that she works with, saving her clients time and money.
Jen has worked for a mid-sized regional firm and a large international firm, however despite her success, Jen always felt disconnected with the way that large firm legal services are typically provided to clients. Jen’s goal as a leader has always been to empower and build up the people around her – helping organizations to develop long term strategies and become more independent.
Maddie Hinde
Head Paralegal
Maddie joined The Last Word in July 2020, starting out as a volunteer and before becoming a paralegal for the firm. With a background in customer service, Maddie enjoys working with people and she communicates effectively with clients from all walks of life with compassion and empathy. Her excellent organizational skills have allowed her to assist the lawyers at The Last Word with file organization and managing multiple deadlines simultaneously.
Outside office hours, Maddie enjoys spending time with her dog, Bear. Although he may act and look like a bear, he is really just a fluffy, gentle giant. Maddie and Bear enjoy walks together (while Maddie binges on the latest true crimes podcasts) and cuddling on the couch.
Keelyn Bell
Paralegal
Keelyn joined the The Last Word in 2022 and has become an integral member of the team. Keelyn has a strong background in customer service, and she enjoys assisting our clients with enthusiasm and care. Highly organized and efficient, her skills are invaluable to the firm.
In Keelyn’s free time, she can be found reading a good book on a patio (with a glass of wine of course), or cuddling with her dog, Ella, while watching her favourite cooking shows and lamenting the fact that she cannot cook as well as Gordon Ramsey.
Katherine Roess
Manager, Administrative Services
Katherine is a highly trained administrative professional with over 20 years of experience in corporate management, operations, and extensive experience providing legal support.
Katherine is extremely organized and highly responsive, with a demonstrated history of successful applications and happy clients. Her efficiency and keen eye for detail makes her an asset to ensure that clients receive value for the services provided.
