Chris practises civil litigation with experience in construction, commercial and insurance disputes, professional malpractice and product liability.
Over more than forty years, Chris has gained a preeminent practice in civil litigation, with extensive experience in construction, complex commercial and insurance disputes, professional malpractice and product liability claims. He also has extensive experience in the litigation of disputes involving public law and administrative matters, including taxation and judicial review. Chris has appeared at all levels of court in Nova Scotia, the Supreme Court of Canada, and in other jurisdictions throughout Canada. He also has many years of experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, in complex domestic and international commercial disputes. Chris also frequently leads the negotiation and drafting of procurement and construction agreements for significant P3, public transportation and infrastructure projects throughout Canada.
Chris was recently named the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law in Halifax by The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, where he has been recognized since 2006 for his expertise in construction law, corporate and commercial litigation, insurance law, legal malpractice, and personal injury litigation. Chris is also listed as a leading practitioner in the Lexpert® Canadian Legal Directory and as a Provincial Litigation Star in commercial, product liability, and professional liability litigation in Benchmark® Canada.
Chris lectured for several years in Civil Procedure at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law and today is a regular presenter in professional liability loss control programmes and seminars for lawyers and participants in the construction industry. He has also authored many articles on legal issues in the construction industry. He is a past member of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Liaison Committee of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, a past member of the Courthouse Standards Committee and a past member of the Halifax Courthouse Commission. He is also a member of the Construction and Infrastructure Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, past chair of the CBA’s national Civil Litigation Section and past co-chair of the CBA Law of the Future Committee. In 2004, Chris was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and has served as a Governor of the College for two terms.
Chris is involved in many community activities, and has been a volunteer ski racing coach for many years, a board member of Alpine Ski Nova Scotia and chair of the Canadian Ski Coaches Federation. He is currently a board member and Vice Chair of Alpine Canada Alpin and has recently been a ski instructor in several masters ski programmes.
