Our Team

Kenneth R. Watson

Practices: Business Law, Wills & Estates, Civil & Commercial Litigation, Real Estate

Ken Watson has continuously practiced law since 1969 when he was called to the Alberta Bar. He moved from Calgary to the West Kootenays in 1980 at which time he was called to the British Columbia Bar. He conducted a general practice until 2001 and since then he has focused on all aspects of business law and real estate development as well as on wills, trusts, wealth preservation and estates.

Over the years he has been active with and has represented numerous charitable organizations having many different areas of focus.

Alan Perello

Practices: Family Law

A graduate of the University of British Columbia Law School, Alan Perello has been called to the Bars of Ontario and British Columbia. He began his legal career in Ontario where he conducted a general practice including civil litigation, family law, criminal defence and prosecutions, child protection matters, real estate transactions, wills and estates, and municipal law.

Alan first came to the Kootenays in 1991, fell in love with the area, and came back at every opportunity until he made the West Kootenay his permanent home in 2010. He is happily married to his elementary-school sweetheart and they have three children. After his love of family and his passion for the practice of law, Alan’s next great interest is hiking in the beautiful Kootenay region’s mountains to hunt and identify wild mushrooms. Alan has always taken a special interest in the well-being of children, and he has served both on the Board of Directors and as Executive Director of the Kootenay Kids Society. For nine years, Alan served as the Chair of the RDCK Advisory Planning Council for Area G.

Alan Perello has a long-established record of obtaining successful results for his clients at all levels of court, from Small Claims matters up to appeals in the Ontario and British Columbia Courts of Appeal. He takes a pragmatic approach to solving problems and will always seek to find a path to resolution that serves his clients’ best interests. He understands the significant stress that can be caused by these processes and he can be counted on to take his clients’ matters to court only when it is necessary.

Matthew Scheffelmaier

Practices: Business Law, Civil & Commercial Litigation, Real Estate

Matthew Scheffelmaier was born in Calgary, Alberta and grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Manitoba. He completed his undergraduate studies at Université de St. Boniface in Winnipeg in French with an emphasis on Commerce and Political Science courses. Matthew then moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to obtain his Juris Doctor from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. During his time in Law School, Matthew acted as a formal mentor to first-year students and volunteered with access to justice initiatives including The Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan through Pro Bono Canada and Research for Refugees. Matthew began his articles with our firm in August 2017 and while articling had the opportunity to appear in both the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Family and Civil matters. Matthew was admitted as a member of the British Columbia Bar in August 2018.

Matthew is thrilled to be settled in Nelson, British Columbia and is excited to build his legal career in the Kootenays. While outside the office, Matthew enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and playing music.

Mason Goulden

Practices: Criminal Law and Private Prosecutions

Mason Goulden earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Political Science major and double minors in Anthropology and Geography from the University of the Fraser Valley. Upon graduation, Mason was awarded the Media and Cultural Studies Excellence Award.

Mason went on to complete a Juris Doctorate at Dalhousie University. In addition to a Juris Doctorate, while at Dalhousie Mason earned a certificate in Environmental Law, co-founded the Dalhousie Trial Advocacy Society, was elected President of the Dalhousie Environmental Law Society, earned the Edward Charles Foley Award for excellence in Environmental Law, completed the criminal clinic at the Nova Scotia Crown Prosecutor’s office, and clerked at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Since graduation, Mason has been called to the Bar in multiple provinces. He has appeared in Provincial and Superior Courts across the country, representing clients in a wide range of legal matters including: Criminal, Family, Child Protection, Environmental and Civil and Estate Matters.

In his spare time, Mason co-founded and acts as the Director of Strategic Planning for Sharks of the Atlantic Research and Conservation Centre, an environmental not-for-profit that focuses on marine research and conservation in countries around the world.

Peter Beug

Practices: Family Law, Civil & Commercial Litigation

Originally from Colorado, Peter Beug immigrated to Canada as a teenager with his family. They settled in Saskatoon, SK, where Peter attended the University of Saskatchewan, earning an undergraduate degree in Psychology.

He then went on to complete a Juris Doctor with Distinction at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law. He articled and worked as an associate at a firm in Saskatoon. He appeared as counsel in all levels of Court in Saskatchewan on family, civil, and criminal matters.

In 2021, Peter relocated to the Kootenays to live in his wife’s hometown of Nelson, BC. Since joining Watson & Company, Peter’s practice primarily consists of civil litigation, specifically estate litigation, corporate disputes, and land disputes. He also continues to practice family law, focusing on division of family property and child support.

Peter volunteers his time as a board member of the Nelson Museum and Gallery. He is also the Vice-President of the Kootenay Bar Association. Outside of work, he enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, and playing guitar.

Stephanie Campbell

Practices: Family Law

Stephanie Campbell was born in Ottawa, Ontario and is fluently bilingual in French and English. She has been called to the bar in New Brunswick and Alberta and is licenced to practice in British Columbia.

Stephanie was raised in the beautiful Eastern Townships of Quebec and completed her undergraduate studies at Bishop’s University with a major in English: Cultural and Media Studies and minors in communications and journalism, and criminology. By 2012, she obtained a certificate in Civil Law at the University of Montreal before receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Moncton in 2016.

During her law studies, Stephanie was involved with the Pro Bono Students Canada organization and worked as a summer law student for the Legal Aid criminal division (Moncton office). By 2017, she completed her articles with the fast-paced firm Lutz Longstaff Parish, now known as Lutz Parish Gerrish, located in the heart of Hampton, New Brunswick. From the onset of her career, Stephanie specialized in family litigation and has appeared regularly in Provincial Court, the Court of King’s Bench and has assisted on files before the Court of Appeal. She represented clients on various issues pertaining to parenting, division of family property, child support and special expenses and on motions to vary orders. Her experience has led her to conduct trials independently and as co-counsel.

From 2018 to 2023, Stephanie expanded her career in civil litigation, specializing in insurance defence at a boutique law firm in downtown Edmonton. During this time, Stephanie assessed files in complex cases involving motor vehicle collisions, property damage, fire, theft among others. Stephanie represented her clients by conducting questionings, performing examinations under oath, attending mediations, judicial dispute resolutions as well as drafting coverage opinions. In addition, Stephanie has made appearances on Chamber Applications and for Provincial Court pre-trial conferences.

Since moving to Nelson, Stephanie has enjoyed returning to family law. Her practice has allowed her to appreciate the eclectic nature of the community and is mindful that each case has its own unique set of circumstances. Stephanie looks forward to serving the Nelson community and the greater Kootenay region to find the most reasonable solution for her
clients.

When not in the office, Stephanie enjoys high intensity training, dining at one of Nelson’s restaurants, listening to live music, spending time with her son and pup.