About John

John is counsel in our Halifax office practicing in the area of insolvency and bankruptcy law and is a member of the firm’s Asset Recovery and Insolvency Group. He has a comprehensive understanding of corporate reorganizations and restructurings, particularly in the resort and hotel industry, and frequently assists clients faced with Court imposed creditor protection orders. John’s common sense approach, combined with his extensive experience, has proven to be invaluable when completing complex insolvency assignments.

John is listed in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for his practice in these areas, as well as Insolvency Litigation. He has been listed as a Provincial Litigation Star under Insolvency Law in Benchmark Canada and has been featured in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers. John was also named Best Lawyers’ 2014 Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Lawyer of the Year for Halifax.

John belongs to the Insolvency Institute of Canada, where he formerly sat on the Board of Directors. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association (Bankruptcy Subsection), the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and the Risk Management Association.

John was involved in the successful restructuring proposals of the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. George’s and NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp., as well as many other large receiverships, bankruptcies and restructurings throughout Atlantic Canada. He has also lectured at Dalhousie Law School, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals and various other professional conferences on insolvency and restructuring issues.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Banking & Financial Institutions, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Litigation (most recently in 2024)
  • Repeatedly 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 (since 2006), in Transportation Law (since 2009) and in Banking and Financial Law (since 2012)

Education

  • LL.M., University of London, University College (1977)
  • LL.B., Dalhousie University (1976)
  • B.A., Dalhousie University (1973)

Bar Admissions

  • Nova Scotia (1978)

Languages

  • English