Brian practices on the firm’s Business and Criminal Litigation teams. He routinely conducts trials and appeals in commercial, civil, criminal and disciplinary matters. He has been successful counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada and in the Courts of Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador and Prince Edward Island, as well as before the Federal Court and a variety of administrative boards. His court appearances have resulted in more than 200 reported decisions.
Brian is licensed to practice in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador and has appeared as counsel for the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society; Canada Trust; the Bank of Nova Scotia; the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association; Fenwick MacIntosh; Dr. Henry Morgentaler; Paul Watson; the Law Society of Newfoundland & Labrador; Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro; the Christian Brothers of Canada; the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal; the Newfoundland & Labrador Human Rights Commission; the Newfoundland & Labrador Nurses’ Union; the IFAW and as Consumer Advocate before the Public Utilities Board. He has been a special prosecutor for the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador and renewed his practicing status there in 2011.
In 2019, Brian was selected as a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, recognized for his excellence and accomplishments in litigation. Brian was one of the 2012 recipients of the Nova Scotia Council for the Family Award of Merit for his volunteer work with HomeBridge Youth Society. He teaches part time at the Dalhousie Law School and is the debate coach at Sacred Heart School of Halifax, where his wife, Patricia Donnelly, has recently completed her term as Headmistress. For Brian, working with young people is satisfying because you see immediate, tangible improvement.
