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Nancy Rubin, K.C.

Partner

Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2

+1.902.420.3337

+1.902.420.1417

nrubin@stewartmckelvey.com

LinkedIn Profile

Language(s) spoken: English

Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 1992

Legal Assistant(s): Leona Clements

Nancy’s diverse group of clients includes developers, print, and broadcast media, insurers, electricity consumers and renewable energy generators. Nancy has acted as counsel before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, New Brunswick Queen’s Bench, Federal Court, private arbitration tribunals and the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (“UARB”). Her practice includes:

  • Administrative tribunal work at the UARB on land use planning and development matters, expropriations, municipal annexation/amalgamation.
  • Regulatory work relating to electricity and natural gas utility rate hearings, renewable energy and cost of service, efficiency programs, feed-in tariffs, payday loans, liquor licensing and petroleum products pricing.
  • Pre-publication advice, access to information, privacy and reputation management. Specific litigation results include striking out unconstitutional sections of legislation that closed disciplinary hearings, confirming a qualified privilege in defamation law, resisting publication bans, securing access to court records.
  • Commercial litigation including professional liability, breach of contract, and insured claims.

Practice Areas

Cannabis

Class Actions

Education

Energy

Environmental & Natural Resources

Health

Insurance

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Media, Advertising & Marketing

Municipal

Privacy

Real Property

Education & Career

Education

University of Ottawa, LLB (magna cum laude), 1991
Dalhousie University, B.Sc., 1987

Activities

Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Governance Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, 2020 – present
American College of Trial Lawyers, Emil Gumpert Awards Committee; Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee
Member, Partnership Board, Stewart McKelvey, 2017 – present
Supreme Court Liaison Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, Chair 2013 – 2019; Member, 2002 – 2012
Canadian Media Lawyers Association/Ad IDEM, President 2015 – 2017; Atlantic Regional Board Representative, 2006 – 2014, Past President/Board Member 2017 – present
Member, Media Liaison Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, 2005 – present
Standards Council, Advertising Standards Canada, 1999 – 2018
Past chair, Municipal Law Section, Nova Scotia Branch, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Canadian Defence Lawyers
Part-time faculty, Civil Trial Practice, Dalhousie Law School, 1998 – 2001
Guest lecturer, Media Law, School of Journalism, University of Kings College, 2003 – present
Past member Marketing Committee, Students Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Stewart McKelvey
Mentor, Schulich School of Law, 2009 – 2010
Board Member, Phoenix Youth Programs, 2012 – 2017
Member, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), 2023

Accolades

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2018
Chambers and Partners Canada 2022-2025 Litigation: General Commercial – Atlantic Canada, Band 3 lawyer
King’s Counsel, 2012
Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (General Commercial), 2015 – 2022
Best Lawyers 2025 Corporate and Commercial Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2023 Defamation and Media Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2015 Defamation and Media Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2013 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers: Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2009 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Defamation and Media Law, 2006, 2008 – 2025
Best Lawyers: Energy Regulatory Law, 2008 – 2010 and 2012 – 2025
Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, Defamation and Media Law, 2013, 2018
Lexpert rating: Energy (Electricity), 2021 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Litigation – Defamation & Media, 2008 – 2024
Martindale-Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished®

Thought Leadership

Publications

Presentations

Presenter, “Importance of Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness in Hearings”, Halifax Hockey Summit, 2022

June 24, 2022

Panelist, “Arrest and Detention of Journalists”, CMLA/Ad Idem National Conference, 2019

Panelist, “Journalism and media law” Canadian Association of Journalists, CAJ2019

Presenter, “Practice at the NS Utility and Review Board”, CBA Municipal Law Section, 2018

Panelist, “The Public’s Right to Know & The Media’s Right to Ask”, Media & the Law: Working Together to Improve Access & Public Trust, 2018

Panelist, “Principles of Open Court – Media & Criminal Law”, Annual NS Crown Fall Education Conference, 2017

Presenter, “Land Use Planning for Legalization”, Licensed Professional Planners Association of Nova Scotia – Cannabis Legalization, Community Impacts Conference, 2017

Panel member, Forging Your Own Style: Creating Confidence and Embracing Your Voice, Atlantic Women in Litigation conference, 2016

Panel member, Demand Management – A Blessing or a Curse?, CAMPUT, 2016

Presenter, How to Write the Story Without Getting Sued, Nash 77 Conference, 2015

Panel member, #YouKnowHerName, Nash 77 Conference, 2015

Panel member, Fair use of images and video online, CAJ conference, 2015

Panel member, Production Orders – Bill C-13 Amendments to the Criminal Code, and Is Resistance Futile?, CMLA/Ad IDEM national conference, 2015

Panel moderator, Copyright – Fair dealing/Fair Use, “Hot news” and other topics, CMLA/Ad IDEM national conference, 2015

Panel member, Maintaining Service Quality in Tough Times, CAMPUT, 2014

Seminar, Privacy Issues for Educators, School Insurance Program, 2012

Co-Presenter on access to court records, pub bans and privacy issues for journalists and media lawyers, CMLA/Ad IDEM National Conference, 2012

Co-presenter with Ernst & Young, Getting the Information Needed to Quantify Business Losses for Damages, NSBS, March 2011

Presenter, Cyber-Libel: How to Take a 17th Century Tort into the 20th Century, NSBS, May 2008

Volunteer Chambers Judge, Discovery Practice, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Bar Admission Course, 2005 – present

Privacy Seminar, Insurance Brokers of Nova Scotia, November 2003

Zoning and Land Use in Nova Scotia, Jurisdictional Issues – What Council Can Regulate And What The NSUARB Is Permitted To Do On Appeal, Lorman Seminar, August 2003

Freedom of Information and Municipal Practice, Canadian Bar Association, Professional Development Conference, January 1999

Volunteer Member of The Speakers Bureau, Nova Scotia Public Legal Education. Presented topics including nursing liability, officers’ and directors’ liability and issues relevant to the Epilepsy Association, 1992 – 1997

Prepared papers and presented at the annual Stewart McKelvey Insurance Day Seminar. Topics included “How to Advance a Small Claim in Court,” “Section B Expenses,” “Occupier’s Liability,” and “Fatal Injuries Actions”, 1992 – present

 
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