About Brian

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.

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 for many years was the debate coach at Sacred Heart School of Halifax, where his wife, Patricia Donnelly, was Headmistress. For Brian, working with young people is satisfying because you see immediate, tangible improvement.

 

Brian's Background

Education

  • 1981: LL.B., Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1978: Bachelor of Arts, First Class, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

Employment

  • 2006 - Present: Counsel, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 2002 - 2006: Associate Lawyer, Joel E. Pink & Associates, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1999 - 2002: Associate Lawyer, Burchells, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1994 - 1999 : Sole Practitioner, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
  • 1992 - 1994: Partner, Glube, Jewell Casey, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
  • 1988 - 1992: Partner, Gittens/Casey, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
  • 1986 - 1988: Associate Lawyer, O'Brien & Furey, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador

Professional Memberships

  • Member - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society
  • Member - The Law Society of Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Member - Nova Scotia Criminal Lawyer's Association
  • Member - Litigation Counsel of America
  • Member - The Advocates' Society
  • Past Member - Law Society of Ontario
  • Past Member - Law Society of British Columbia

Community Activities

  • Officer and past president, Canadian Student Debating Federation
  • Past Chair, HomeBridge Youth Society
  • Parishioner St. Patrick's Church

Teaching

  • Dalhousie Law School, Trial Advocacy Course
  • Universite de Sherbrooke, Contracts (Transitional Course)
  • Newfoundland Bar Admission Course

Publications

  • From Crime to Punishment (Carswell)
  • Legal Research Handbook (2nd ed.) (Butterworths)
  • Sentencing in Newfoundland
  • Bar Admission Materials used in Newfoundland & Labrador

Awards & Honours

  • Top 10 Prominent General Commercial Litigation Lawyers in Atlantic Canada published by Business Today (2023)
  • Lawyer of the Year, Halifax in The Best Lawyers in Canada published by Best Lawyers® (2022-2023)
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in Canada published by Best Lawyers® (2015-2022)
  • Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (2019)
  • Appointed Queen's Counsel (2014)
  • Leonard Kitz QC Award (Advocacy)
  • Horace E. Read Award (Greatest all around contribution to scholarship and student life, Dalhousie Law School)
  • Nova Scotia Council for the Family, Award of Merit: HomeBridge Youth Society