Overview

Providing legal services through a professional corporation.
Working with clients that range from small businesses and mid-size development and retail operations, to professional organizations and large public companies, Jim helps clients with their tax and business structuring needs. Some of the ways he helps his clients are by:
Reorganizing business ownership structures, including the structuring and implementation of estate freeze, financing and merger transactions.
Negotiating, drafting and implementing shareholders’ agreements.
Providing tax structuring advice in relation to acquisitions and divestitures.
Structuring tax-effective employee compensation programs, including designing and implementing employee stock option plans and other equity-based compensation plans.
Designing and implementing joint venture agreements and limited partnership structures.
Member, Partnership Board, Stewart McKelvey, 2014 – 2019
Member, Joint Committee on Taxation, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia
Member, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
Governor, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2006 – 2009
Best Lawyers 2020 Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2018 Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2017 Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Lexpert rating: Corporate Commercial Law, 2018 – 2026
Lexpert rating: Estate and Personal Tax Planning, 2011 – 2021, 2023, 2025
Regulations and other considerations: further impacts of the Prohibition of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
The Winds of Change (Part 5): Atlantic Canada poised to benefit from clean energy tax credits
Author of papers to various professional organizations, including: Canadian Tax Foundation, Atlantic Tax Conference, Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia Branch), Financial Executives Institute, Halifax Estate Planning Council
Presenter to various professional organizations, including: Canadian Tax Foundation, Atlantic Tax Conference, Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia Branch), Financial Executives Institute, Halifax Estate Planning Council

Practice Areas

• Commercial Law
• Taxation Law
• Corporate & Commercial Law
• Corporate Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1993 (NS)