Two Halifax Partners appointed King’s Counsel

Two Halifax Partners appointed King's Counsel

We are pleased to announce that two Halifax Partners, D. Fraser MacFadyen and Level Chan, have been appointed King's Counsel.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Government of Nova Scotia. This prestigious honour is awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions and shown remarkable merit within the legal community.

Fraser graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University in 1982 and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University in 1985. Since joining Stewart McKelvey in 1986, and becoming a partner in 1994, Fraser has built a distinguished practice with exceptional depth of experience in commercial and real estate law, including commercial leasing, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. Throughout his career, Fraser has advised on major matters such as significant property acquisitions and complex commercial financing transactions, delivering results for clients in high-stakes legal matters. Fraser has been actively involved in the legal profession and community service, having served as President of the Canadian Bar Association Real Estate Subsection for Nova Scotia, Chair of Feed Nova Scotia and on the board of the Sacred Heart School in Halifax. He has also contributed to legal education, including instructing in the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society Bar Admission program. Fraser has been regularly recognized by Best Lawyers and Lexpert across multiple practice areas, including Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Commercial Law, and Real Estate Law.

Level is a graduate of Dalhousie University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1999 and Bachelor of Laws in 2002. After joining Stewart McKelvey in 2003, and becoming a partner in 2012, Level established an outstanding practice focusing on Labour and Employment. Level advises employers, pension and benefit plan sponsors and administrators, providing strategic counsel on governance, administration, investment management, and amendment of pension and employee benefit plans, as well as labour and employment matters. Level has been actively engaged in advocacy, law reform, and community leadership. He has contributed to law reform submissions on pension and equality legislation and has championed equity, diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. Level serves in leadership roles with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, in their Atlantic Canada Chapter, and the Racial Equity Committee of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and has served on numerous committees at Dalhousie University, the Canadian Barrister's Society and other community organizations. Recently recognized by the Canadian Bar Association - Nova Scotia Branch, Level received the Community Service Award, honouring his leadership on issues of equity and inclusion in the legal profession. He is regularly recognized by Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners Canada, and Lexpert in areas of Labour and Employment Law and Pensions and Employee Benefits Law, and was recognized by Lexpert® Rising Star as a Leading Lawyer Under 40 in 2016.

We congratulate Fraser and Level on this well-deserved honour and significant career achievement.