Dr. Stan Benda (Ph.D., Law) is an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he teaches two experiential courses: the Osgoode Business Clinic and Contracts Drafting. He is also an adjunct at Ryerson University where he teaches the doctrinal courses of: business law; information & internet law; intellectual property law; and international trade law. His legal interests lie primarily in technology transfer and regulation of biotechnology (in particular crops and food) and regulation (theory, strategy and practice).
He is a part-time member and vice-chair of the Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT) and a part-time member of the Board of Negotiation under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act.
He is also a member of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA), and the American Bar Association (ABA), Agricultural Law Solo Practice Executive Committee and the ABA, SEER, Biotechnology and Agriculture Law executive committees.
Dr. Stan Benda was educated at the Royal Roads / Royal Military Colleges in International Studies (Economics, Politics, History). He went on an academic exchange to West Point, US Military Academy. He was trained as a combat arms officer in the Royal Canadian Armour Corps, was commissioned at a first Lieutenant in 1977 and posted to the Lord Strathcona Horse armoured regiment.
Subsequently, Dr. Stan Benda attended the University of Calgary Law School, practised with an oil and gas firm and later in 1984 practised with the Yukon Department of Justice as one of the three founding lawyers. In 1988 he was invited to joint the Federal Department of Justice (Whitehorse office). His practice in the Yukon dealt with mining, poaching, maintenance enforcement, children’s’ aid (abused children in care) riparian issues and federal prosecutions (Criminal Code / Drugs) including appearances before both the Yukon and Federal Courts of Appeal.
In 1990 he moved to the Edmonton office of Federal Justice where he practiced aviation law, public works contracts (RFPs / tenders), and commercial / residential / ski leaseholds in Jasper and Banff. In Ottawa with Transport Canada legal services he was tasked with the privatization of Arctic A Airports, and Class B airports in Alberta and British Columbia. He also dealt with the privatization of the New Brunswick to Maine ferry line.
Commencing in 1996 he acted exclusively for Agriculture Canada, Intellectual Property branch. There he dealt with technology transfer (in particular licensing) of genes, plant varieties, denominations and attendant agricultural software. In 1999 he also acted for Agriculture Canada International Science Secretariat where he was the Canadian legal delegate to the UN FAO and dealt with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, especially the standard material transfer agreement under the Treaty. He also represented Agriculture Canada in the Cartagena Protocol UN meetings.
During his time with Agriculture, Dr. Benda earned his LL.M. in intellectual property and his Ph.D. in the labelling of GM foods. Dr. Benda has published a number of papers on IP, Biotech and Agriculture in both Canadian and American legal journals.
In 2009 Dr. Benda sought further challenges, and took early retirement from Justice Canada and commenced teaching as an adjunct, as well as having a practice dedicated for plant, crops and biotech law.
(For more information kindly visit: Linked-In under “Stan Benda”)
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