Joel Watson

Strategic Advisor

• Queen’s Marque
  600-1741 Lower Water Street
  Halifax, N.S.
  B3J 0J2
• +1.782.641.4503
• +1.902.420.1417
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Language(s) spoken: English, French

Bar Admission(s): Ontario, 1996

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Legal Assistant(s): Jamie Parris

Joel is a trusted strategic and legal advisor, who brings diverse real-world experiences to support clients in achieving their objectives and building value. Equally adept in the courtroom as the board room, Joel is committed to helping companies and organizations realize their goals.

Joel is an experienced litigator and commercial lawyer, having practiced before every level of Court in Canada, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He has appeared before numerous tribunals, including before the Grand Council of the Cree. Notable matters include: representing the minority shareholders of the Maple Leaf Hockey Club, acting for Telus Inc. in the music sharing cases, and the leading Ontario case on the ownership of mining rights in tailings. Looking to support clients in avoiding litigation, Joel transitioned to a commercial practice and has piloted numerous infrastructure, energy, and mining projects to completion in Canada and Bermuda.

In 2015, Joel was seconded to Canada’s Federal Ministry of Veterans Affairs as Director of Legal Services, where he supervised two, billion-dollar constitutional class actions, drafted legislation, and worked to restructure the legal department, all under intense media scrutiny. Joel has also worked in the private sector, most notably as the global Head of Operational Excellence at Barrick Gold Corporation. He continues to act as the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Continental Currency Exchange.

Joel provides advice and guidance to clients in all aspects of the Mining, Energy, Technology, Infrastructure, Insurance, Defence, and Banking Industries.

Joel served in the Canadian military before his legal career and continues to work with veterans and governments to improve their return to civil society. Joel has taught university classes, authored articles in nationally and internationally peer reviewed journals, and authored a chapter in an upcoming book from the director of the Canadian War Museum, Tim Cook.

Joel was a John and Elizabeth Irving Fellow at the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society, (University of New Brunswick), and recipient of a research grant for his work on veterans’ transition.  Joel has also provided historical commentary on Veterans Transition and employment on a CBC episode of “Good People” hosted by Mark Sakamoto.