Queen�s Counsel appointments

Premier Brian Tobin is pleased to announce that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council (Cabinet) has appointed 20 lawyers as Queen�s Counsel. The Queen�s Counsel is comprised of senior barristers who have served at least 10 years in the legal profession and have gained the respect of their clients and peers.

The new Queen�s Counsel are: Nicholas J.G. Avis, Denis G. Barry, Donald H. Burrage, William English, Wayne Gorman, Aubrey Gover, Michael J. Griffin, Derek Hillier, Lois R. Hoegg, David Jones, Thomas R. Kendell, Dana K. Lenehan, Donald MacBeath, Alexander MacDonald, Beverly L. Marks, A. John Noel, Kelvin L. Parsons, Jamie Smith, James Smyth and Gerlinde C. van Driel.

Nicholas J.G. Avis received his Law Degree in 1980, from Queen�s University in Kingston, Ontario and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar that same year. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, which he received in 1976. Avis is currently an associate with the law firm Avis & King in Corner Brook.

Denis G. Barry, senior partner with the St. John�s law firm Barry, Walsh and Associates, graduated from the University of New Brunswick Law School in 1972, and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar that same year. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland, which he received in 1969.

Donald H. Burrage, a lawyer with the Civil Division of the provincial Department of Justice, is responsible primarily for aboriginal and constitutional matters. He graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1979, with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters of Business Administration in 1981. From there, Burrage attended Dalhousie University Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated in 1984. He was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1985, and practiced law with the firm Hally Hunt, now called Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy.

William English, who holds a Bachelor�s Degree from Memorial University, graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1976, and was also called to the Newfoundland Bar that same year. He is also a member of the State Bar of California and the Bar of Washington, D.C. English is currently an area director with the province�s Legal Aid Commission in St. John�s.

Wayne Gorman is the provincial director of Public Prosecutions with the Department of Justice in St. John�s. He graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1982, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1983.

Aubrey Gover, former Minister of Justice for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is currently a lawyer with the Civil Division of the provincial Department of Justice in St. John�s. He graduated from York University Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario, in 1983, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1984. Gover holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is currently studying towards a Masters of Business Administration degree, also at Memorial.

Michael J. Griffin graduated from the University of Saskatchewan Law School in 1980, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar that same year. He also holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Griffin operates the law firm Michael J. Griffin Law Office in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Derek Hillier is a partner with the law firm Easton, Facey, Hillier and Lawrence, in Gander. In 1973, Hillier was awarded Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1981 he graduated from University of New Brunswick Law School and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar that same year.

Lois R. Hoegg, who is a partner with Ches Crosbie Barristers in St. John�s, graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1982, and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1983. She is also a graduate of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

David Jones is a lawyer with the Civil Division of the provincial Department of Justice in St. John�s. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, which he received in 1981. Jones graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1984 and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1985.

Thomas R. Kendell joined the Newfoundland Bar in 1977, after receiving the Gold Medal for Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland and his Law Degree from the University of New Brunswick. He has served as president of the Newfoundland Law Society and chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee. Kendall is currently a partner with McInnes Copper in St. John�s.

Dana K. Lenehan graduated from Wolfville, Nova Scotia�s Acadia University in 1976, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his Law Degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1980, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1981. A former president of the Newfoundland Law Society, Lenehan is currently a partner with the law firm Martin, Whalen, Hennebury & Stamp in St. John�s.

Donald A. MacBeath graduated with a Law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1974, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1975. MacBeath is currently a partner with MacBeath Edwards in Marystown.

Alexander MacDonald, who is a partner with the law firm Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy in St. John�s, graduated from Dalhousie University Law School in 1981, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar that same year. MacDonald also holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

Beverly L. Marks is managing partner with the law firm Stagg, Marks & Parsons, in Port aux Basques. She received her Law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1983, and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1984. Marks also holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, which she received in 1980.

A. John Noel, clerk and law clerk with the province�s House of Assembly, graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree. In 1970 he received a Masters degree from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. From there, it was on to Dalhousie University Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated in 1973. Noel was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1974.

Kelvin L. Parsons, the province�s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, was elected to the House of Assembly on February 9, 1999, and appointed to Cabinet on January 13, 2000. He is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland, having received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree in 1976. In 1979, Parsons graduated from the University of New Brunswick Law School, and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1980.

Jamie Smith graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1980, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He received his Law degree from Dalhousie University Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1987, and was called to the Newfoundland Bar in 1988. Smith is managing partner with the St. John�s law firm Smith Coffey.

James Smyth graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1969, with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Political Science and History. From there, he attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with a Law degree in 1972. Smyth was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1973, and is currently a partner with the firm Smyth, Woodland & Del Rizzo in St. John�s.

Gerlinde C. van Driel received her first law degree from Rijksuniversiteit of Leiden, in The Netherlands, in 1977. She was awarded a Masters of Law degree in 1980, also from Rijksuniversiteit of Leiden. In 1980, van Driel received a law degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1984. She is currently a partner with the law firm Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy in St. John�s.

The appointees will receive their commissions as Queen�s Counsel from Hon. A.M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, on a date to be announced.

Media contact: Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Communications, (709) 729-6564.

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