Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2
jcruickshank@stewartmckelvey.com
Language(s) spoken: English
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 1993
Legal Assistant(s): Jacquelyn Walters
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.
Education & Career
Education
Dalhousie University, LLB, 1991
Acadia University, BBA, 1984
Activities
Member, Canadian Bar Association
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
Accolades
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
Best Lawyers: Corporate Law, 2012 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Tax Law, 2011 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Trust and Estates, 2008 – 2025
Lexpert rating: Corporate Commercial Law, 2018 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Estate and Personal Tax Planning, 2011 – 2021, 2023
Martindale-Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished®