Preparing clients for the future.
It is Cecily’s job to make sure her clients are prepared for any situation that arises and are able to respond effectively in difficult situations. Whether it’s ensuring their operations are fully compliant with all regulatory and contractual requirements, casualty response or defending or commencing claims, she is proactive in identifying and responding to potential issues for her clients. Knowing her client’s business and goals and utilizing her wide experience, Cecily provides practical and legally sound advice that brings about the best possible outcome.
Representative matters
Cecily’s diverse client base includes offshore oil and gas interests, ship owners and charterers, protection and indemnity and other marine insurers, trans-shipment facilities, refineries and cold storage facilities. Some of the ways she has helped these clients are by:
- Acting as lead counsel for an offshore oil and gas interest in a public inquiry into offshore helicopter safety.
- Acting as lead counsel for and assisting clients in the response to and management of ship source and offshore oil pollution and other serious marine casualty matters including explosion, fire, collision, salvage etc.
- Drafting and negotiating shipbuilding, ship repair, charter party, ship management and other contracts.
- Defending product liability claims, in particular for manufacturers of engines utilized in marine applications.
- Providing advice on matters of marine insurance, jurisdiction and regulatory issues such as environmental and other compliance matters.
Areas of practice:
Marine
Energy and Natural Resources
Litigation
Insurance
Environmental
Energy-Oil & Gas Regulatory
Government/Regulated Industries
Occupational Health and Safety
BAR ADMISSION(S)
Newfoundland and Labrador, 1991
LAW SOCIETY(IES)
Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
EDUCATION
Dalhousie University, LL.M., 1991
Dalhousie University, LL.B., 1989
Marine Institute of Memorial University, Diploma in Naval Architecture Technology, 1983
ACTIVITIES
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- East Coast vice president, Canadian Maritime Law Association
- Member, Statutory Federal Court Rules Committee
- Past national chair, Maritime Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
- Practice group leader, Marine Group, Stewart McKelvey, 2008-2010
- Chair, Associates Committee, St. John's Office, , Stewart McKelvey, 2007-2008
- Member, Management Committee, St. John's Office, Stewart McKelvey, 2005-2008
LANGUAGE(S)
English
LEXPERT RATINGS
Marine
Shipping and Maritime Law
MARTINDALE-HUBBELL RATINGS
BV
EXTERNAL RATINGS
- Best Lawyers: Environmental Law, 2012
- Best Lawyers: Maritime Law, 2006, 2008-2012
- Best Lawyers: Natural Resources Law, 2012
- Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (Commercial Litigation, Energy Litigation, Environmental Law, Insurance)
OTHER INFORMATION
Enjoys travel and trekking.