About Geoffrey

Geoff is the Office Lead Partner in our St. John’s office. Geoff has a corporate/commercial practice that focuses on commercial financings and secured transactions. He has significant experience dealing with commercial fishery matters, including the purchase/sale and financing of commercial fishing enterprises and related fishing license issues and security related matters. He also has a commercial litigation practice. Geoff routinely acts for commercial fishermen and small business owners in corporate commercial and litigation matters. Geoff’s practice also involves acting for secured lenders and trustees and receivers in security enforcement matters. Geoff provides advice to creditors and trustees/receivers on issues involving commercial insolvencies and related litigation. He has appeared in all levels of court in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Geoff is listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory from 2019 to 2022 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers™ in Canada for his practice in Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Transportation Law. He was also named the Best Lawyers® 2020, 2018 and 2014 Insolvency and Financial Restructuring “Lawyer of the Year” in St. John’s.

Geoff is a member of the Canadian Bar Association where he is past chair of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency section. He is also a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and a presenter at the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar Admission Course with respect to judgment enforcement issues. He has  taught business law to university and college students. Geoff is a past president of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Insolvency & Financial Restructuring (Insolvency Litigation) (2023)
  • Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Litigation - Corporate Commercial (2023)
  • Consistently Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Transportation (Road & Rail) (2023)
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers® Canada for his practice in Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law (since 2014), in Mergers and Acquisitions Law (since 2014), and in Transportation Law (since 2010)

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws, Dalhousie University (1993)
  • Bachelor of Arts (French/Political Science), Memorial University of Newfoundland (1990)

Bar Admissions

  • Newfoundland & Labrador (1994)

Languages

  • English