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Lydia Bugden & Daniela Bassan appointed Queen’s Counsel

Chief executive officer and managing partner Lydia Bugden, and Halifax partner Daniela Bassan, join 12 others in Nova Scotia in receiving a Queen’s Counsel designation, as announced by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mark Furey. This recognition is given to those who demonstrate professional integrity and have made significant contributions to the practice of law as well as the community at large.

Lydia became Stewart McKelvey’s CEO in 2015, making her the first female CEO of a law firm in Atlantic Canada. She has a forward-thinking commitment to innovation in the practice of law and an unfailing commitment to supporting our communities, serving as president, chair and board member of over half a dozen organizations. Atlantic Business Magazine recognized Lydia as a Top 50 CEO in 2018 and 2019.

Called to the Nova Scotia bar in 2003, Daniela works with diverse clients in complex commercial litigation. She is chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and has been listed by Benchmark Canada and Lexpert as a leader in Intellectual Property Law.  She is also active both inside and outside of the legal community, most recently as vice chair of the board of directors for 2b theatre company.

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At a glance: Key changes coming to Prince Edward Island’s Employment Standards Act

Murray L. Murphy, K.C., CPHR and Jacob E. Zelman Prince Edward Island’s new Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) received Royal Assent on November 29, 2024, with an effective date to be to…

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Making AI work for your business

Sarah Dever Letson and Lauren Agnew Interested in understanding the impacts of AI on your business? Looking to understand how these intersect with concerns around privacy and cybersecurity? Curious about…

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Navigating the “Towns Act”: Key changes and transition considerations for towns in Newfoundland and Labrador

BY Stephen Penney & Danielle Harris

By Stephen Penney and Danielle Harris Introduction On January 1, 2025, the Towns and Local Service Districts Act (the “Towns Act”) came into effect, changing the legislative landscape for towns…

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Dealing with Canadian “retaliatory” tariffs: A primer for importers

BY Michelle Chai & Graeme Hiebert

By Michelle Chai & Graeme Hiebert In response to the 25% tariffs levied on virtually all Canadian goods by the United States, Canada has announced United States Surtax Order (2025-1)…

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Balancing inclusivity and workplace safety

BY Sheila Mecking & Lauren Sorel

By Sheila Mecking and Lauren Sorel Introduction Arbitrator Trisha Perry addressed the complex interests between inclusive education and workplace safety in a recent decision (New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation v New…

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University governance in Nova Scotia: The impacts of Bill 12

BY Colleen Keyes,
K.C.
& Harper Metler

By Colleen Keyes, K.C. and Harper Metler On February 19, 2025, the Nova Scotia Government introduced Bill No. 12: An Act Respecting Advanced Education and Research (“Bill 12”), which is…

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Privacy rights in the workplace: Supreme Court expands charter protections for public school teachers

BY Chad Sullivan & Chiara Nannucci

By Chad Sullivan and Chiara Nannucci Introduction A recent Supreme Court of Canada decision (York Region District School Board v. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, 2024 SCC 22) has once…

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New rules allowing Nova Scotia private sector employers to join Public Service Superannuation Plan take effect

BY Dante Manna & Noah Archibald

By Dante Manna and Noah Archibald The Provincial Government recently proclaimed the Private Sector Pension Plan Transfer Act (the “Transfer Act”) and newly released regulations on February 4, 2025. The…

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Outlook for 2025 proxy season

By Andrew V. Burke, Colleen P. Keyes, Gavin Stuttard, David F. Slipp and Logan G. Walters With proxy season on the horizon, many public companies are once again preparing their…

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Here we go again … how recent updates to Canada’s supply chain transparency reporting guidance may impact your 2025 reporting obligations

By Christine Pound, Colleen Keyes, K.C., and Daniel Roth As reporting entities and government institutions prepare their supply chain transparency reports, Public Safety Canada (“PSC“) has updated its guidance for…

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