Lee C. Bell-Smith

Partner

“Be strong and laugh.”

A committed team player.

Lee is a very active member of the Stewart McKelvey team and has been involved in various management functions within the firm for a number of years. He has served as chair of the recruiting committee for the Saint John office, the corporate/commercial practice manager for New Brunswick, the firm-wide practice leader of the insolvency and corporate restructuring practice group, and the practice leader of the firm-wide lending and insolvency group.

Representative matters

Lee’s clients include banks, asset-backed lenders, trustees, large retailers and franchisors. Some examples of how he has helped these clients include:
  • Acting as one of the lead commercial lawyers for a borrower on a $350 million syndicated credit loan facility involving multiple jurisdictions.
  • Serving as commercial counsel for a borrower on a $250 million multi-jurisdiction refinancing.
  • Acting on the multi-million dollar acquisition and financing of major aquaculture interests in Atlantic Canada.
  • Serving as lead counsel on a multi-million dollar receivership of a large sugar refinery.
  • Acting on some of the largest bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring matters in Atlantic Canada.
  • Acting in connection with credit facilities on behalf of Sun-Gro Horticulture Income Fund, obtained concurrently with its $220 million initial public offering.
  • Acting in connection with $135 million senior secured credit facilities in favour of Birks & Mayors (Birks Jewellers).

Areas of practice

  • Financial Services
  • Corporate/Commercial
  • Owner Managed Business
  • Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency
  • Asset Based Lending
  • Project Finance
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Banking

BAR ADMISSION(S)

New Brunswick, 1997

LAW SOCIETY(IES)

Law Society of New Brunswick
Saint John Law Society

EDUCATION

University of New Brunswick, LL.B.,1996
Dalhousie University, B.Sc.,1993

ACTIVITIES

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Practice group leader, Insolvency & Restructuring, Stewart McKelvey, 2008
  • Practice manager, Corporate/Commercial, Stewart McKelvey, New Brunswick Office, 2007-2008
  • Past chair, Recruiting, Stewart McKelvey, Saint John Office
  • Past chair, Bankruptcy & Insolvency Law Section, New Brunswick Branch, Canadian Bar Association
  • Executive, New Brunswick Branch, Canadian Red Cross
  • Co-founder, Saint John Wine Fair

LANGUAGE(S)

English

EXTERNAL RATINGS

  • Best Lawyers: Banking and Finance, 2011-2012

Publications

  • Author, Doing Business in Atlantic Canada, Personal Property Security Chapter
  • Author, BIA and CCAA Amendments, Atlantic Business Counsel
  • Contributor, Bankruptcy Materials, New Brunswick Bar Admission Course

Presentations

  • Co-presenter with Professor Catherine Walsh, "Personal Property Security Legislation and Practice – Recent Developments and a Refresher on Key Topics", 2012 CBA Mid-Winter Conference

Suite 1000, Brunswick House
44 Chipman Hill
Saint John, NB, Canada
E2L 2A9

P 506.632.2793
F 506.634.3573

Email Lee

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LEGAL ASSISTANT(S)

Sherry Waycott

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