Derek works in a number of areas of law including Corporate, Purchase and Sale of businesses, Municipal Law, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury. He has presented seminars on legal issues for non-profit corporations in various places throughout the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and has made presentations on the rights of individuals with disabilities to conferences and workshops of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living.

Derek was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of Newfoundland and Labrador on May 11, 2000. He is currently a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education and the Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association.

During the approximately 25 years he has worked in Gander, he has been involved in a number of organizations including roles as President of the Rotary Club of Gander, Vice-President of Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc., Chairman of the St. Martin’s Scout Group Committee, Chairman of the Gander University Committee, President of Central Newfoundland and Labrador Division of Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador, Director of the Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, Secretary for District 7820 of Rotary International (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and St. Pierre and Miquelon) for the Rotary year 2002 - 2003 and Chairperson of the Heritage Foundation for Terra Nova National Park.