McInnes Cooper Appoints Doug Skinner as Chair of its Board of Directors
Published:
May 13, 2026
McInnes Cooper is pleased to announce the appointment of Newfoundland and Labrador partner Doug Skinner as Chair of its Board of Directors, effective May 13, 2026. Doug succeeds outgoing Chair Jack Graham, KC. The firm acknowledges and sincerely thanks Jack for his exemplary leadership and service over the last seven years as Board Chair.
Doug Skinner brings extensive experience to the Chair role and has been a valued contributor to McInnes Cooper through prior Board service, management roles within the firm and leadership in the legal profession. Doug has served as a firm Board member for the past four years and was previously lead partner in the St. John's office and the firm’s Deputy Managing Partner. He served as the Admiralty Bar representative on the Federal Court Rules Committee and is widely recognized as a leading lawyer in commercial arbitration and business dispute resolution. Doug has been repeatedly recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory and Benchmark Litigation Canada in Commercial, Insolvency, Energy, Insurance, and Maritime Law. Most recently he was listed as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation Canada for Insurance, Shipping, Commercial Litigation and Insolvency (2026) and named Best Lawyers® Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year” in St. John's (2026).
As Chair, Doug will lead the Board in providing strategic oversight and governance, supporting the organization’s long‑term vision and values as McInnes Cooper advances its new five‑year strategic plan - Aspire.
“Doug is a highly respected leader with a strong track record of principled governance and strategic thinking,” said Kevin Kiley, Managing Partner. “He brings the experience, judgment, and collaborative approach needed to guide the Board as we advance our strategic priorities and deliver meaningful impact for our clients and people.”
As Chair of the Board, Doug will work closely with fellow directors and senior leadership to support key priorities including growth, stewardship, legal innovation, community impact, and investment in people.
“I’m honoured to serve as Chair of the Board of McInnes Cooper,” said Skinner. “The firm has a strong foundation and a clear sense of purpose. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members, the leadership team and all firm members to support McInnes Cooper’s continued success and to ensure it remains well‑positioned for the future.”
Doug has more than 25 years of experience and was called to the bar in Nova Scotia (2000) and Newfoundland and Labrador (2007).
About McInnes Cooper
McInnes Cooper is a solutions‑driven Canadian law firm and member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms. Providing strategic counsel to industry‑leading clients from Canada and abroad, the firm has continued to thrive for over 160 years through its relentless focus on client success, talent engagement and innovation. A certified Great Place to Work™, McInnes Cooper has an integrated team of over 220 lawyers and 250 professional resources and offers clients a full range of legal services across seven offices in Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, St. John’s and Sydney. MC+ extends the firm’s offerings to include MC Advisory – an affiliated business offering complementary advisory services, MC Innovation – customized technological solutions for unique challenges, and MC Training – fixed‑fee training workshops to help organizations meet their legal responsibilities with confidence.
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