SHELLEY HOUNSELL-GRAY, K.C.

shounsellgray@blackburnlaw.ca | (902) 835-8544 | LinkedIn

“Everyone has a story.” These are the words that have guided Shelley in her family law practice for over 22 years. Since joining Blackburn Law in 2018, Shelley has enjoyed working in the area of Family Law which covers a lot of interesting legal issues. She appreciates being able to support her clients and their children through, what can be, challenging life events. She strives to reach a negotiated resolution, but, at times, when this is not possible, she engages the court process. She is comfortable appearing at all levels of court in Nova Scotia.

A recent career-high point was receiving the King’s Counsel designation in 2019 in recognition of her contribution to the legal community. Shelley enjoys opportunities to collaborate with others on issues such as child’s rights, intimate partner violence, ethics, and family law legislation reform. Recently she has been a member of two advisory committees for the Federal Department of Justice and is an executive member of the national family law subsection for the Canadian Bar Association.

In addition to her practice, Shelley is an adjunct professor at the Schulich School of Law and a returning presenter at the National Judicial Institute All Courts Seminar, Federation of Law Societies National Family Law Program, the Canadian Bar Association, Nova Scotia Legal Aid and community-based organizations.

Shelley has also served as an elected member of the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society Bar Council and as a member of the Complaints and Investigation Committee. In service to her community, Shelley often volunteers her time to provide legal information with the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) and the organizations they support.

Shelley enjoys working with her colleagues at Blackburn Law, who she calls incredibly thoughtful and kind. When she is not working, Shelley enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and quilting.