James Chipman, Q.C.

Partner

“Have a touch of practical. Not everything should be speculation; you must also act. What good is knowledge if it isn’t practical?”
- Gracian

Facing problems head on.

Jamie’s clients appreciate his no-nonsense approach to the practice of law. He informs clients early on of the potential strengths and weaknesses of their cases and, in doing so, provides cost-effective, timely and practical advice.

Representative matters

For 20 years, Jamie has worked with clients on a host of legal issues, including insurance and medical malpractice claims. He appears as lead counsel before all levels of courts and represents clients in arbitration, mediation and before disciplinary bodies. His clients include:
  • International insurance companies
  • Mutual insurance companies
  • Hospitals and physicians
  • Corporations

Some recent Court decisions include:

  • The first case to consider the PEI personal injury cap, which resulted in the two plaintiffs receiving the $2,500 limit, only;
  • A chronic pain/total disability case brought by a nurse who was seeking in excess of $1,000,000, who received $25,000 at trial (upheld on appeal);
  • The dismissal of a claim brought by a motorcycle-riding teenager who became head-injured after going off a dirt road; 
  • The claim of a pizza delivery man for the Nova Scotia personal injury cap and 3.5 years of past lost income, which was, "dismissed in its entirety"; and
  • On an alleged traumatic brain injury case where the plaintiff was seeking approximately 1.5 million dollars, an overall award by the judge of less than ten percent of the claim.

Areas of practice

  • Insurance
  • Litigation
  • Medical Negligence
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

BAR ADMISSION(S)

Nova Scotia, 1992

LAW SOCIETY(IES)

Nova Scotia Barristers' Society

EDUCATION

Dalhousie University, LL.B., 1991
Acadia University B.Ed., 1982
Acadia University, B.A., 1981

QUEEN'S COUNSEL

2008

ACTIVITIES

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Partnership Board, Stewart McKelvey
  • Chair, Insurance Client Service Group, Stewart McKelvey
  • Member, Halifax Office Students' Committee, Stewart McKelvey
  • Director and Finance Chair, Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission
  • Mentor, Nova Scotia Barristers' Society Mentorship Program
  • President, Halifax West Conservative Association
  • Member, PCNS Fund Committee
  • Past Council Member, Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and Member of the Complaints Investigation, Courts Education, Electoral Reform, Administration of Justice and Annual Meeting Committees
  • Past Canadian Bar Association National Health Law President
  • Past Canadian Defence Lawyers President
  • Past Chair Autism Nova Scotia Board
  • Past Chair Regional Residential Services Society Board
  • Past Chair Nova Scotia Law Day

LANGUAGE(S)

English

LEXPERT RATINGS

Personal Injury

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL RATINGS

BV

EXTERNAL RATINGS

  • Best Lawyers: Insurance Law, 2012
  • Best Lawyers: Personal Injury Law, 2006, 2008-2012
  • Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (Commercial Litigation, Insurance, Personal Injury, Product Liability)

Publications

  • January 2010, Co-authored and presented paper, "Are We Responsible for That?: An Overview of Hospital Liability", Canadian Bar Association, Professional Development Conference, Halifax
  • June 2008, Co-authored and Co-presented paper, "Lost & Found: Protecting Your Personal Information in the Digital Age" - CICMA-CIAA Joint Conference
  • February 2008, Co-authored article, "Expert Witnesses Lack Credibility Without All Relevant Information" - The Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 27, No. 36
  • April 2007, Co-authored and presented paper, "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy: The Invisible Pain", Nova Scotia Medical Legal Society Meeting, Halifax
  • February 2007, Co-authored and presented paper, "Reflex Sympathetic DystrophyL The Invisible Pain", CICMA/CIAA 40th Annual Joint Conference.  Paper published in: The Canadian Independent Adjuster Magazine, February, 2007
  • December 2006. Co-authored article, "Award LEssened by N.S. Court for Not Following Medical Advice" - The Lawyers Weekly, Vol. 26, No. 30
  • August 2004, Authored article "To Believe or Not to Believe - Athey v. Leonati and Causation" published in DRI magazine For the Defense
  • October 2003, Authored and presented paper, "Section B Provisions of the Standard Automobile Policy", Canadian Bar Association refresher course
  • Co-authored and presented paper, "Examinations for Discovery - Back to Basics", Canadian Defence Lawyers Conference
  • May 2001, Authored and presented paper, "Dancing With Wolves, a discussion of requests for proposals", Canadian Defence Lawyers Conference
  • January 2001, Co-authored and presented paper, "Field Trips or Mine Fields, a discussion of various liability issues referable to school and recreational field trips", a Canadian Bar Association refresher course
  • June 2000, Authored and presented paper "The Use of Hospital Records in Legal Actions", Lorman Education Services Conference

Presentations

  • June 2011, CICMA/CIAA Joint Conference, Digby Pines "The Devil You Know - Dealing with Plaintiff's Counsel in The Cap Era."
  • May 2011, CCIMA Conference, Dartmouth "THE CAP: What's Changed, What Hasn't: Plaintiff Arguements, Defence Strategies."
  • March 2009, Moderator: Hot Topics Panel, Canadian Bar Association, Insurance Law Conference, Halifax, "New Rules of the Game"
  • October 2007, Organized and co-chaired, "Sending Out an SOS... Calling the Court Expert", Canadian Bar Association, Nova Scotia Conference
  • May 2004, Organized and chaired Canadian Defence Lawyers Conference "Recipes for Successful Practice"
  • October 2003, Organized and chaired Canadian Defence Lawyers Atlantic Canada Seminar, "Defensible Positions"
  • November 2002, Organized and chaired Canadian Defence Lawyers Atlantic Canada Seminar, "Defensible Positions"
  • October 2001, Organized and chaired Canadian Defence Lawyers Atlantic Canada Seminar, "Disturbing Trends in Upper Canada"
  • November 2000, Co-chair, "Curing or Killing the Sick Real Estate Deal", Canadian Bar Association refresher course
  • Various Dates, Guest lecturer, Bodily Injury Claims Course, Insurance Institute of Canada

Suite 900
Purdy's Wharf Tower One
1959 Upper Water Street
Halifax, NS, Canada
B3J 3N2

P 902.420.3368
F 902.420.1417
C 902.449.7930

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Providing legal services through a professional corporation.

LEGAL ASSISTANT(S)

JoAnn Andersen

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