About Kelly

Kelly obtained her Bachelor of Commerce with distinction from Dalhousie University in 1985 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1988. She was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1989 and has been working as a lawyer in Halifax since that time. Kelly joined Burchells as a partner in 2005, and served for over eight years on its Management Committee.

Kelly advises on estate planning and elder law issues including preparation of wills, alter ego and joint partner trusts and testamentary trusts, enduring powers of attorney, and personal care directives. Kelly acts as proctor for many estates, advising personal representatives and beneficiaries on issues arising in connection with the Probate Court requirements and issues relating to the distribution of assets to beneficiaries and to heirs-at-law.

Kelly acts as counsel for business organizations of various sizes and provides advice relating to a wide variety of business law matters including shareholder and buy-sell agreements, partnership agreements, leasing, contract negotiation and preparation. Kelly represents and provides advice to limited and unlimited liability companies, professional corporations and societies, and has extensive experience with amalgamations, windups and other corporate reorganizations.

Kelly acts for vendors and purchasers on asset and share transactions, including preparation and review of purchase and sale agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, conveyancing and other supporting documents, along with due diligence investigations and advising on compliance with provincial or federal regulatory regimes. She acts for borrowers and lenders in securing financing transactions, with both real and personal property security. 

Kelly acts on commercial and residential real estate transactions including commercial financing, freehold and condominium land developments as well as conveyancing and related matters and has experience with development and financing of wind farms and long term conservation of lands.

Kelly is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Halifax Estate Planning Council. She has lectured at various entrepreneurship and small business seminars and various estate planning seminars.

Kelly is the Chair of our firms’ Wills, Estates & Trusts Practice Group, a past volunteer Chair of the National Wills, Estates & Trusts Section of the Canadian Bar Association, and has volunteered in many capacities for the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.  She is a past Public Representative for the Atlantic Consumer Response Council of Advertising Standards Canada, a past Chair of the Active & Safe Routes to School Committee at Park West School, past President, Scotia Chapter, of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a past President of CFB Halifax Curling Club.