About Melanie

Melanie’s practice focuses on working with insurance clients, as well as self-insured organizations and adjusting companies. She has extensive experience resolving casualty claims, including injury, fatality and abuse claims. Melanie has also effectively managed and resolved claims relating to commercial, property, professional liability, product liability, and life and disability matters. Melanie is listed in Best Lawyers in Canada for her practice in Insurance law and is also ranked in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. In addition to her insurance work, Melanie regularly assists professional regulatory bodies address policy, registration and discipline issues.

Melanie has been involved in cases at all levels of adjudication, including Nova Scotia Supreme Court–Trial Division and Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. She also has developed a keen interest and skills in alternative dispute resolution, including mediations, arbitrations and settlement conferences. She is a Harvard trained mediator.

Melanie is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association and Canadian Defence Lawyers. She is past Chair of the CBA Insurance Law Section of Nova Scotia. She is also a competitive curler and has represented Nova Scotia in national competitions, including the Canada Cup, the 2005 Mixed National, and the 2011 and 2012 Scotties.

Education

  • LL.B. (Dean's List), University of New Brunswick (1998)
  • B.A. (Dean's List and University Scholar), Acadia University (1995)

Bar Admissions

  • Nova Scotia (1999)

Languages

  • English

Awards & Recognitions

  • Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Litigation - Commercial Insurance (2023)
  • Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Personal Injury (Represents Defendants) (2023)

Appointments & Community Involvement

  • Former Chair of the Lunenburg Academy Foundation, 2018-2022