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James M. Dickson,
K.C., P.Eng.

Counsel

james m dickson

Language(s) spoken: English

Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 1987

Legal Assistant(s): Melanie Waugh

Jim is a leading corporate finance professional with over 30 years of experience advising both public and private businesses across Canada. Jim is well known for his many years advising Empire Company Limited, Sobeys Inc. as well as the Sobey Family and other public companies. He has acted for many of Atlantic Canada’s greatest entrepreneur success stories and advised some of Canada’s largest and most successful businesses. Jim has experience advising clients from both a legal and financial perspective and his clients include families, small privately-held businesses, large public and private companies, entertainment and media providers, manufacturers, food service companies, energy firms and one of Canada’s leading national food retailers. In addition to Jim’s extensive legal experience, he is also a professional engineer with extensive experience in Canada’s Energy Sector.

Practice Areas

Education & Career

Education

University of Calgary, LLB, 1986
Technical University of Nova Scotia, Bachelor of Civil Engineering, 1979
Mount Allison University, Certificate in Engineering, 1977

Activities

Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, board of trustees, Crombie REIT, 2017 – present
Chair, board of directors, Empire Company Limited, 2016 – present
Lead Director, Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated, 2012 – 2021
Past chair, board of regents, Mount Allison University, 2014 – 2016
Past chair, Mount Allison executive committee
Former chair and member, board of trustees, IWK Health Care Foundation
Former director, IWK Health Centre
Chair, Partnership Board, 2008 – 2011
Executive vice-president, chief development office and corporate secretary, Sobeys Inc., 2001 – 2004
Member, Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia
Member, Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation

Accolades

King’s Counsel, 2010
Best Lawyers 2017 Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Recipient, Lexpert Zenith Award, 2014
Best Lawyers: Banking and Finance, 2013 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Corporate Law, 2006, 2008 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Natural Resources Law, 2008 – 2025
Lexpert rating: Mergers and Acquisitions, 2016 – 2020
Lexpert rating: Infrastructure, 2015 – 2017
Lexpert, “Deal of the Year”, 2012 / 2013
Martindale-Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished®

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Presentations

Co-presenter, “What if they Revolt? Managing Difficult Shareholder and Member Meetings”, Maritime and Newfoundland and Labrador Chapters of the Institute of Corporate Directors

Panellist – ABA Mid-Year Meeting – Presidential Showcase on Value Billing

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