Minister Davis Announces King’s Counsel Appointments
January 24, 2025
The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, is pleased to announce the province’s newest appointments to the King’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
The honorary title of King’s Counsel recognizes senior lawyers for exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession. These lawyers have served a minimum of 10 years as a member of the bar, have gained the respect of the legal community and are in good standing with the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Appointments are made after consultation with the legal appointments board as outlined in the King’s Counsel Act.
Those appointed to King’s Counsel are Catherine Boyde, Lauren Chafe, Colin Feltham, Meghan Gardner, Susan Gover, Tannis King, Heidi Marshall, Greg Moores, David Orsborn, Ian Patey, Geoffrey Spencer, and Michelle Willette. Biographies of each appointee can be found in the backgrounder below.
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“King’s Counsel is reserved for those who have truly demonstrated their exceptional commitment to their community and the legal profession. To these deserving appointees, I congratulate and thank them for their contributions to our province.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Justice and Public Safety
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BACKGROUNDER
Biographies for King’s Counsel Appointees
Catherine Boyde
Catherine Boyde began her legal career as an articling student at Mills Hussey Pittman (now Mills Pittman Twyne) in Clarenville, where she was fortunate to have Arnold Hussey, KC, as a principal and mentor. She was called to the bar in June of 2004 and remained in private practice until 2009, when she joined the Legal Aid Commission in Clarenville as a staff solicitor. In 2014, Ms. Boyde moved to the St. John’s office of Legal Aid NL, where she currently holds the position of deputy area director, practicing primarily in the areas of family law, child protection, and adult protection. Since joining Legal Aid NL, she has had the privilege of representing clients across the province, including two years as the principal bail lawyer in St. John’s. Ms. Boyde enjoys teaching in-house continuing legal education sessions with Legal Aid and meeting new students training for the bar course. Ms. Boyde is an active participant in the local running community.
Lauren J. Chafe
Lauren Chafe currently oversees the provision of Legal Services as the deputy provincial director – legal services with Legal Aid NL. She began her career articling under Gerald F. O’Brien, KC, at O’Brien Furey Smith, when she was called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1999. She continued to practice with O’Brien Furey Smith, maintaining a general practice with a focus on family and criminal law. While offering pro bono services Ms. Chafe found her calling. She later joined Legal Aid NL in 2006 to assist those individuals that did not have the means to retain a private lawyer. In 2011, Ms. Chafe became the area director of the St. John’s office, and three years later, was promoted to the role of deputy provincial director – legal services that she holds today. She graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 and received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in 1998. She is also a bencher and chair of the access to justice committee. Lauren Chafe lives in St. John’s with her husband Craig Rodgers.
Colin Feltham
Colin Feltham graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Laws in 2000. After a brief stint in New Brunswick, he moved home to Newfoundland and Labrador and a career with Roebothan McKay Marshall, where he is now a partner, focusing on civil litigation, victims’ rights and legal advocacy. In 2023 and 2024, Mr. Feltham was peer selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Canada for work in personal injury litigation. Throughout his career, Mr. Feltham has appeared as an advocate before all levels of court in the Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick, as well as the Federal Court of Canada. A member of the disciplinary adjudication panel for the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, he also sits on the society’s insurance committee, and was past chair of the health law section of the Canadian Bar Association – Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also an active member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. Mr. Feltham lives in Paradise with his wife, Lesley, and their children, Allyson, Ryan and Jayden.
Meghan Gardner
Meghan Gardner is a chartered insurance professional who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie and a Master of Laws from Osgoode. Called to the bar in Ontario in 2004, her legal career began with Blakes, where she practiced commercial litigation, trade, and regulatory law, appearing regularly before the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, as well as the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and other federal regulators. After moving to Johnson/Unifund as director of legal and compliance as in-house counsel, Ms. Gardner was eventually promoted to vice-president, human resources. She currently serves as the vice-president, claims Atlantic for Intact Insurance. An active community volunteer, she serves as a director for two national charities, Team Broken Earth and Mercy Wellsprings. Ms. Gardner lives in St. John’s with her husband Ben and their two children, Sarah Wynne and Adam.
Susan Gover
Called to the bar of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1993, Susan Gover holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School. In 2009, she received a certificate in negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution from St. Mary’s University, and subsequently has participated in the program on negotiation at Harvard Law School. Having commenced her career with MacBeath Colbourne in Marystown, she later moved to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, becoming the first female to hold the position of registrar of deeds and companies for the province. For the past 24 years, Ms. Gover has been employed with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, serving as chief legal officer and corporate secretary for almost a decade of her tenure. While she previously served as an instructor with the bar admission course, Ms. Gover is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, as a board member (2019-21) and branch president (2012). She is currently a board member of Shallaway and is active in volunteer endeavors involving youth. Susan Gover is the proud mom of Amy and lives in St. John’s with her husband Darrell.
Tannis King
Tannis King has spent her entire legal career in public service, originally as a Crown attorney, where she spent 21 years prosecuting a wide variety of matters at all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador, then as a solicitor with the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Currently, Ms. King is the director of legal services for the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. An active member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, she serves as chair of the criminal law section of the Law Society bar admission course, and sits on the Law Society’s disciplinary panel and fitness to practice committee. Ms. King also taught criminal law on a national level as a member of the faculty of the Federation of Law Societies’ National Criminal Law Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg and Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie Law School as a part of the Class of 2000. An active volunteer in the volleyball community, Tannis King lives in Mount Pearl with her husband, Geoff Penney, and their daughter Lilah.
Heidi Marshall
Originally from Burin, Heidi Marshall holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) from St. Francis Xavier University (1996) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick (2000). After four years in private practice, Ms. Marshall spent over a decade at Legal Aid NL in various positions, including staff solicitor, duty counsel lawyer (Supreme Court Family Division), deputy area director, and area director (acting). In 2016, she joined the Family Litigation Unit with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, becoming manager in 2023. She also serves as senior counsel for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Inquiry Respecting the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System. Ms. Marshall maintains a practice of child and adult protection litigation files and sits on multiple work-related committees. In her spare time, Heidi Marshall enjoys the company of her husband Tony.
Greg Moores
Greg Moores earned his law degree from Dalhousie University in 1999. He was called to the bar in Alberta in 2000, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004. Since joining Stewart McKelvey in 2005, he has built a distinguished practice in energy regulation, construction, and commercial litigation. His career highlights include representing clients before courts, regulatory bodies, and arbitration panels. Notable engagements include extensive involvement in the development phase of an east coast offshore energy project, appearing at the International Court of Arbitration in Singapore and a policy advisory project in Sri Lanka focused on energy regulation. An inductee of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Mr. Moores is recognized for his expertise and commitment to the legal profession. He has also contributed extensively to his community, through volunteering with the St. John’s Legends and with organizations such as the United Way, the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Canadian Energy Law Foundation. Mr. Moores resides in St. John’s with his wife, Julie, a professional engineer. Together, they are proud parents of Sara and Lauren, who are both pursuing their studies at McGill University.
David Orsborn
The Honourable David Orsborn is the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Orsborn graduated from Memorial University in 1966 with a first-class honours degree in commerce; and in 1968, received designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland. After a tenure in administration and finance at the Salvation Army Grace General Hospital in St. John’s, he received a Bachelor of Laws at Dalhousie University in 1979. Mr. Orsborn practiced law from 1979 to 1993, and while in practice, he served as counsel or commissioner on various commissions of inquiry including: the Royal Commission on the Ocean Ranger Marine Disaster in 1982; the Royal Commission on Hospital and Nursing Home Costs in 1983; the Single Commission of Inquiry into Provincial Court Judges’ Salaries and Benefits (Newfoundland and Labrador) in 1985; the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr. Prosecution; and the Triennial Commission on Judges’ Salaries and Benefits (Courtois Commission) in 1989. In 1993, Mr. Orsborn was appointed to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division and in 2009, was appointed Chief Justice of the Court. He elected supernumerary status in 2014, retiring in 2020. Mr. Orsborn currently serves as counsel with Benson Buffett in St. John’s.
Ian Patey
From Lewisporte, Ian Patey received his Bachelor Arts (Hons.) in 1997 from Memorial University, his Bachelor of Laws in 2000 from the University of New Brunswick, and was called to the bar in 2001. A partner with O’Dea Earle, Mr. Patey focuses on litigation, labour and employment law, and criminal law. Elected to benchers of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2015, where he served as past president and chaired the accounts and finance, complaints authorization, and mandate review committees, and instructed in the bar admission course. Currently, he serves on the honours and awards committee. In 2020, Mr. Patey was nominated to the Council of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, where he presently serves as chair of the finance and audit committee, member of the litigation committee and member of the continuing legal education program committee. Mr. Patey is active in his community, including the board of The Rooms Corporation, the 2016 Provincial Summer Games host committee, and currently as president of the Rotary Club of Avalon Northeast. Mr. Patey lives in CBS with his wife Corinna and children Abigail and Andrew.
Geoffrey Spencer
Geoffrey Spencer is the office lead partner in the St. John’s office of McInnes Cooper. A graduate of Memorial University, he obtained his law degree from Dalhousie University in 1993. Mr. Spencer has a corporate/commercial practice that focuses on commercial financings and secured transactions, with a particular focus on commercial fishery matters. He has appeared in all levels of court in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for his practice in insolvency and financial restructuring law, mergers and acquisitions law, and transportation law, he has also been named the Best Lawyers Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Lawyer of the Year in St. John’s. A teacher of business law, he has been presenting at the Newfoundland and Labrador bar admission course for over 20 years. Mr. Spencer has served his community through several not-for-profit boards, including chair of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra and past president of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association; and currently sits on the executive board of the St. John’s Board of Trade. Geoffrey Spencer lives in St. John’s with his wife, Lisa Spencer, and is a very proud father of Megan and Nicole.
Michelle Willette
Michelle Willette was admitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1999, having completed her law degree at Dalhousie University. Ms. Willette practices primarily management-side employment and labour law, and administrative law. She has advised employers in public health, social enterprise, municipal government, post-secondary education, and private industry on all aspects of law related to the workplace. Ms. Willette has appeared before various administrative tribunals and before all levels of court in the province, as well as the Federal Court, Trial Division. Listed as a leading practitioner by the Best Lawyers in Canada for her practice in the areas of labour and employment law, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has also recognized Ms. Willette as a leading practitioner in employment law and labour law. Ms. Willette is a committee member of the disciplinary panel of the Law Society. Outside of work, she has served on various non-profit boards, including a term as a director of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers and the Learning Disabilities Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, she serves as co-chair of Iris Kirby House. Michelle Willette lives in St. John’s with her husband, Wade Gillard, and is the proud mom of two young adult daughters.
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