Claire E. Milton, Q.C.

Claire E. Milton, Q.C.

E-mail: cmilton@boyneclarke.ca

Phone: 902.460.3412

Fax: 902.463.7500

Assistant: Juanita MacKenzie - jmackenzie@boyneclarke.ca

Claire joined the firm in 2011 and is a member of the Business Law and Employment Law teams.  She provides legal services in the areas of general corporate and business advice, governance, securities, regulatory compliance, acquisitions, financing and employment. 

Claire has many years experience as general counsel of an important Canadian public company, and can anticipate and assist businesses of any size in the range of issues that arise both operationally and in special transactions. She has a great deal of experience in corporate governance and holds the ICD.D designation of the Institute of Corporate Directors. She has also assumed other business leadership roles, including interim chief operating officer of a mutual insurance company.  Claire understands the practical and strategic requirements of business owners.

She is a past governor of Mount Saint Vincent University, and has volunteered for many community organizations, including Metro United Way.  She is a trustee of Metro United Way’s Tomorrow Fund, and is a past director and secretary of the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation. Claire has written and presented to several industry organizations, and Co-Chaired the 2007 Annual Conference of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute. She was interviewed for the book, “Made in Canada Leadership: Wisdom from the Nation's Best and Brightest on the Art and Practice of Leadership”, by Amal Henein and Francoise Morissette. Claire was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010.

EDUCATION

  • 2008: Director’s Education Program, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and Institute of Corporate Directors
  • 1990: LL.B., Dalhousie Law School, Halifax
  • 1987: B.A. (Hon.), English and French, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax

EMPLOYMENT

  • 2011 – Present: Associate, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 2010: Interim Chief Operating Officer, Pictou Mutual Insurance Company, and independent consultant
  • 1997-2009: General Counsel & Secretary, High Liner Foods Inc., Lunenburg, NS
  • 1996-1997: Manager, Corporate Trust Services, Montreal Trust Company of Canada, Halifax, NS
  • 1990-1996: Associate, Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales, Halifax, NS

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

  • Member, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association, First chair of Equality Committee, NS Branch
  • Member, Institute of Corporate Directors (Atlantic Chapter) (Feb 2012)
  • Member, Finance Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers' Society ( June 2011)
  • Member, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association
  • Member, American Corporate Counsel Association
  • Editorial Board, Canadian Investor Relations Institute (2006 – 2008)

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

  • Board of Trustees, United Way of Halifax Tomorrow Foundation (May, 2011)
  • Governor, Mount Saint Vincent University (2004 – 2010), Chair Human Resources & Governance Committee, Labour Relations Advisory Council, Joint Board-Senate Liaison Committee
  • Director, Dressage Canada, Chair Dressage Canada Team Selection Committee, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (2008 – 2009)
  • Director & Secretary, Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation (2006 – 2011)
  • Board of Directors, Metro United Way (1995 – 1999), Chair Agency and Community Services Committee
  • Competition Manager, Coveside Classic Horse Show, and Maritime Fall Fair Light Horse Show

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

  • Keynote Panel, 2012 Major Business Agreements Insight Conference
  • Panel Speaker, 2011 Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Annual Meeting – “Managing Risk for Competitive Advantage.”
  • Co-Chair, 2007 Annual Conference, Canadian Investor Relations Institute
  • “What Socrates Taught Me About IR”, Canadian IR Practitioner, November 2007
  • “Shareholder Activism – A New Era”, Canadian IR Practitioner, May 2007
  • “Working with Lawyers – What Hat Am I Wearing?”, Canadian IR Practitioner, March 2007
  • “Ten Top Tips from an Annual report Pro”, Canadian IR Practitioner, March 2007
  • “Shock Treatment: Delivering News You Didn’t Known You Had”, Canadian IR Practitioner, January 2007
  • “The Role of the Federal Government in Community and Social Development Issues”, Presentation to HRDC, 1997
  • “Environmental Issues in Real Estate Transactions”, CBA Conference 1993
  • “Reality vs. The Law, Copyright Issues”, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, 1991
  • “Manual on Environmental Offences in Nova Scotia”, Nova Scotia Department of the Environment, 1992

AWARDS

  • Queen’s Counsel, 2010

AREAS OF PRACTICE AND SERVICES OFFERED