Ron practices in the fields of governance for organizations both public and private, pensions and benefits law, collective bargaining for public and private clients, municipal law, and labour and employment law.
A veteran labour and employment lawyer, Ron represents numerous Canadian trade and professional organizations across a range of industries, such as transportation, education, media and telecommunication, construction, public service and health care.
In many cases, he has guided their development from inception and certification to tackling mature operational issues such as collective bargaining, remuneration, governance, political and public relations, and statutory reform.
Ron also maintains one of Canada’s largest pension and benefits legal practices, representing a variety of multi-billion-dollar plans that mirror the industry sectors of his client base.
He focuses on structural foundations and governance along with performance audits of plans, boards of trustees and third-party suppliers. Combine this with his fiduciary duties and management reviews, and Ron ensures compliance with the Pension Benefits Act and sees that beneficiaries’ needs are met. He has litigated on pension issues throughout Atlantic Canada.
Ron regularly advises other institutional clients on governance and strategic planning issues, including First Nations and non-profit organizations. He represents medical professionals and their organizations in collective bargaining with provincial agencies throughout Canada.
In 2008, Ron was appointed to the Nova Scotia Pension Review Panel and became a member of the Litigation Counsel of America. A fan of Canada’s national sport, Ron served as the only Chair of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2009.
Ron was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2006 and as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in 2010. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada – 2016 as “Lawyer of the Year” for Halifax in the areas of Employee Benefits Law. He was also selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of Canada 2019 in the field of Employee Benefits Law and Labour and Employment Law. He is listed in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as a leading practitioner in the areas of Labour, Employment and Pension law. He is ranked AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, which reflects the highest possible standing for legal ability and ethical standards.
An advocate for labour relations, employment standards, and pensions and benefits, Ron has a long history with the Canadian Bar Association. He has served as President of the Nova Scotia Branch, Chair of the National Continuing Legal Education Committee, the first Chair of the International Development Committee and as acting Director of the Canadian Bar Insurance Association.
He has been President of the Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia and is a founding vice-president of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers.
A founder and managing partner of the Halifax office of Pink Larkin, Ron received his Queen’s Counsel designation in 1991.
