Twelve senior lawyers in Newfoundland and Labrador have received the honorary King’s Counsel designation, marking their contributions to the legal community and public service. The province’s Justice and Public Safety Department announced the appointments on January 24. Each lawyer met the 10-year bar membership requirement and was recommended by the legal appointments board under the King’s Counsel Act.
“King’s Counsel is reserved for those who have truly demonstrated their exceptional commitment to their community and the legal profession,” said Justice Minister Bernard Davis.
The following new King’s Counsel appointments are of particular interest to employers, including those with labour and employment responsibilities. Lawyers who practise or have experience in labour and employment law are listed first.
Labour and Employment Law
Michelle Willette
Practising primarily management-side employment and labour law, and administrative law, Ms. Willette was admitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 1999. She has advised employers in public health, social enterprise, municipal government, post-secondary education and private industry on workplace matters, and has appeared before various tribunals and courts. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. Ms. Willette is a member of the disciplinary panel of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and has served on several non-profit boards.
Ian Patey
A partner with O’Dea Earle, Mr. Patey focuses on litigation, labour and employment law, and criminal law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in 1997 from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Laws in 2000 from the University of New Brunswick. Called to the bar in 2001, he has served as past president of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and chaired its accounts and finance, complaints authorization, and mandate review committees. He currently chairs the finance and audit committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.
Other Appointees
Meghan Gardner
A chartered insurance professional who holds degrees from Mount Allison, Dalhousie and Osgoode, Ms. Gardner was called to the bar in Ontario in 2004. After practising commercial litigation and trade law, she moved in-house as director of legal and compliance, and later became vice-president of human resources. She is now vice-president, claims Atlantic, for Intact Insurance.
Heidi Marshall
Originally from Burin, Ms. Marshall was called to the bar in 2000. She spent more than a decade at Legal Aid NL and now serves as manager with the Family Litigation Unit in the Department of Justice and Public Safety. She maintains child and adult protection litigation files and also works on various committees related to family law.
Lauren J. Chafe
Called to the bar in 1999, Ms. Chafe oversees Legal Services for Legal Aid NL. She practised primarily in family and criminal law before joining Legal Aid in 2006. She is a bencher of the Law Society and chairs the access to justice committee.
Catherine Boyde
Ms. Boyde began her career at Mills Hussey Pittman in Clarenville and was called to the bar in 2004. Since joining Legal Aid NL in 2009, she has represented clients across the province in family, child protection and adult protection cases. She is currently deputy area director in St. John’s.
Colin Feltham
A partner at Roebothan McKay Marshall, Mr. Feltham focuses on civil litigation, victims’ rights and legal advocacy. He has appeared before all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick, as well as the Federal Court of Canada. He was peer-selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Canada in 2023 and 2024.
Susan Gover
Ms. Gover has been a lawyer for over 30 years, with roles including registrar of deeds and companies for the province, and more than two decades with the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board. She holds commerce and law degrees, as well as certificates in negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution.
Tannis King
Ms. King has spent her career in public service, first as a Crown attorney for 21 years, then as a solicitor with the Civil Division. She is now director of legal services for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. She also serves on several committees with the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Greg Moores
Called to the bar in Alberta in 2000 and in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004, Mr. Moores joined Stewart McKelvey in 2005. He practises energy regulation, construction and commercial litigation. He has represented clients before courts, regulatory bodies and arbitration panels, including at the International Court of Arbitration in Singapore.
The Honourable David Orsborn
A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Orsborn graduated from Memorial University and later earned a law degree at Dalhousie. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993, he served as Chief Justice beginning in 2009, taking supernumerary status in 2014 and retiring in 2020. He currently practises with Benson Buffett.
Geoffrey Spencer
Mr. Spencer, the office lead partner at McInnes Cooper in St. John’s, focuses on corporate and commercial law, including financings and secured transactions. He has appeared in all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has taught business law at the bar admission course for more than two decades.
