Stephen Lautens, founder of Ethics & Strategic Consulting,  has an extensive background in law, management, technology and communications.

For the past six years Stephen has provided strategic management advice, technology and ethical issue management to a wide variety of large and small corporations, governmental bodies and the not for profit sector. His work has included international contract negotiation, investment due diligence, shareholder and board member dispute resolution, technology assessments, communications plans, best practices review and ethical inventory assessments.

Stephen was part of the Team Canada international trade delegation that accompanied the Canadian Prime Minister to Beijing and Shanghai in February 2001. He was also commissioned to author two studies on municipal infrastructure decision-making best practices for the National Research Council of Canada.

From 1998 to 2000 Stephen was Vice President, Business Development of The Workflow Automation Corporation.  He participated in the eventual sale of the company to one of the largest software companies in the world, and assisted in the transition before leaving to become a strategic management consultant.

Stephen is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 1988. He had his own busy litigation practice for ten years where he appeared at all levels of court including the then Supreme Court of Ontario, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal. For seven years Stephen taught law students at the Law Society's Bar Admission Course and in 1997 he served as President of The Lawyers Club. 

Stephen also has an extensive background in communications and media. He is currently a Governor of the National Newspaper Awards and a board member and past president of the Toronto Press Club. Stephen is a nationally syndicated writer and has appeared on television and radio on numerous occasions. His writing has appeared as a weekly feature in the National Post, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg Suns and the London Free Press. Stephen speaks frequently to business and professional groups on a wide range of topics.

Prior to the practice of law, Stephen worked for two years as a Special Assistant to a federal Cabinet Minister. Working for the Minister of State (CWB), he was responsible for Cabinet briefings, social policy and organized an international trade mission to South America.

His charitable work includes having served as a public member of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto which specializes in adult physical rehabilitation and complex continuing care. He is also past Vice President of the East Toronto unit of the Canadian Cancer Society. Stephen has served twice as the President of the historic Ontario Club.

Stephen earned his law degree from Queen's University at Kingston and a history degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto.

The chivalric and charitable Order of Saint Joachim recently conferred the cross of a Knight Grand Commander on Stephen, and he is listed in the Canadian edition of Who's Who.

Stephen can be contacted at stephen@ethicalmanager.com.