Alan is one of the
most prominent litigation lawyers in Atlantic Canada. A native
of Toronto, Alan completed his higher education at the University
of Toronto (B.A., 1970; J.D.,1973) and at Victoria University
in Wellington, New Zealand (LL.M., 1975). He was admitted
to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1974 and the Ontario Bar in 1980.
He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1997.
Alan's preferred areas of practice are complex commercial
litigation, securities litigation, media law and disability
insurance. Alan's practice has involved appearances in all
levels of court including the Supreme Court of Canada, the
Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Nova Scotia
Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Alan
has also appeared frequently in the Supreme Courts and Courts
of Appeal in the other Atlantic Provinces.
Alan has been a regular speaker at a variety of professional
development conferences over the last two decades: "Long Term
Disability Benefits" for the CBA, "Guarding against unfair
Competition: A Look at the Two Sides of Non-Competition and
Non-Solicitation Contracts and Severance Agreements" at an
Insight Conference in Halifax, "Legal Liability of Stockbrokers"
for the Canadian Bar Association Annual Update Lectures in
Halifax, "Recent Developments in the Law of Defamation" for
the Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, "Fiduciary
Duties of Stockbrokers" for Scotia McLeod, " The Law of Contempt
After Deganais" for the National Media Law Conference, "Procedural
Issues in Defamation Cases", at a CBA National Media Conference.
He lectured in media law for several years at Dalhousie Law
School and at one time authored the law school's case book
on that subject.
Alan's community involvement has been impressive and has covered
a wide array of interests and organizations. He has been the
president of the Heritage Trust Society of Nova Scotia, president
of the Canadian Media Lawyers Association, and president of
the Halifax Club. He has served as Secretary of the
Liberal Party of Canada, chair of the Public Consultation
Committee for the review of the new Environment Act proclaimed
by the province in 1995, chairman of the Clean Nova Scotia
Foundation, director of the Ashburn Golf Club, director of
the Nova Centre for the Performing Arts, member of the Nova
Scotia Round Table Conference on the Economy and the Environment,
vice-chair of the Lunenburg Fishermen's Memorial Hospital
and presidentof the Lunenburg Heritage Society.
Alan has been listed in "The Best Lawyers in Canada"
in the fields of corporate/commercial litigation and media
and defamation law (2010). Alan has been listed in L'Expert
as consistently recommended in defamation and media litigation
and repeatedly recommended in corporate/commercial litigation
(2009).
Alan's recreational
activities include golf and a variety of other sports, gardening,
antiques and a vintage TR-6. He lives in Halifax and spends
weekends at his farm in the Annapolis Valley.
