Experienced Business Lawyers Based in Ottawa
D. Kenneth Gibson, B.A., LL.B.
Senior Partner
Education
Bachelor of Laws: University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Arts (Political Science): University of Manitoba
Call to the Bar of Ontario: 1974
Areas of Practice
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Corporate-Commercial Law
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Bankruptcy & Insolvency
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Municipal and Environmental Law
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Environmental Remediation
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Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
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Commercial and Residential Real Estate, Financing and Leasing
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Development and Construction Financing
Ken is the senior partner of Gibsons LLP. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1974. He founded his practice in 1977 which has grown into a substantial partnership. The hallmark of Ken’s practice is dedication to client service. His creative approach to problem solving has attracted both individual and corporate clients with a wide range of needs requiring innovative and focused approaches to problem solving. Through leadership and team management Ken has spear-headed multi-million dollar commercial acquisitions and complicated commercial arbitrations and litigation processes to provide holistic solutions for his clients. At the same time he maintains a constant open door policy for his colleagues and his staff. Ken actively promotes a multi-disciplinary approach to providing integrated client service. This results in more predictable outcome in a timely fashion. He provides corporate counsel services to many business clients who rely on him for services similar to in-house corporate counsel including strategy formulation, direction to other legal professionals and extensive legal testimony and depositions in place of corporate officers.
Ken has also appeared as counsel in Ontario Superior Court, Ontario Court of Appeal, Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal and Ontario Municipal Board
Ken is an avid runner having completed his first National Capitol Marathon in 1975 and his most recent in New York City. His determination extends to the delivery of client services which require stamina and durability. The entire firm reflects his attitude and approach to practice.
D. Lewis McCowell
Partner, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B.
Education
Bachelor of Laws: University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Arts (Honours History):University of Western Ontario
Call to the Bar of Ontario: 1986
Lew has extensive experience in the areas of residential real estate, mortgage financing and real estate development. He also has considerable knowledge and expertise in the areas of Wills, Trusts and Estate and Trust management and administration. He holds seminars from time to time on Wills and Estate planning issues. Lew brings insight and experience gained through over 30 years of practice to provide timely and knowledgeable advice to our clients.
Lew is a former member of the Board of Directors for Ottawa Salus Corporation, a non-profit organization providing supportive housing for those recovering from mental illness.
Lew is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa and has been practicing law in Ottawa since his call to the Bar in 1986.
Russell Gibson, B.Soc.Sci., LL.B., ICD
Partner
Education
Bachelor of Social Science: University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Laws: University of Western Ontario
ICD - Telfer-Rotman, Directors Education Program
Call to the Bar of Ontario: 1998
Registered Trade-Mark Agent: 2000 - 2012
Languages Spoken
English
French
Areas of Practice
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Corporate Law, including not for profit and registered charities (municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals)
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Commercial Law and Real Estate, including buying and selling business, secured financing, restructuring and insolvency matters
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Intellectual Property Matters, including procuring trade-mark applications, Opposition Proceedings, licensing, and supervising related litigation
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Estate Matters and Estate Planning with a particular emphasis on advanced forms of giving including planned giving, creative use of trusts and other estate planning tools
Russell Gibson is a partner in the Firm. Russell is a senior solicitor and trademark lawyer, part of the solicitors’ team and has worked with various institutions, corporations, and charities, often as corporate counsel, as well as with individual clients of the Firm. Prior to joining the Law Society of Upper Canada and his enrolment as a Solicitor of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and of the Ontario Court of Justice, Russell worked with the Financial Post Directory of Government, United Press International and was a member of the National Parliamentary Press Galley.
Russell is the author of various legal articles and has taught seminars at the University of St. Paul for the Leadership of Catholic Religious Institutes, has been a presenter for the Canadian Canon Law Society, and appeared before various Parliamentary committees in Ontario on Private Bills (including the Standing Committees on Private Bills regarding the Ronald McDonald House, Municipal Tax exemptions, regarding the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton Amendment Act), and the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Long-Term Care Homes Act, and others. Russell has acted as Chief Agent for L’Entraide Insurance Company and is the current Chief Agent for La Survivance Insurance Company with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Russell has appeared before various boards and tribunals including the Trade-marks Opposition Board and Ontario Municipal Board and acts as corporate counsel to various corporations and charities.
Professional Affiliations
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Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
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Canadian Canon Law Society
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Association of Gift Planners
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Carleton County Law Association
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International Bar Association
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Charter Member of the Knights of Columbus 13781
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Russell is active in his local community as Board Member on the Rockcliffe Park Community Council
Boyd Aitken. CD, B. of Com., LL.B, BCL
Tax Litigator
Education
Bachelor of Laws (Common Law), Western University
Bachelor of Laws (Civil Law), Université Laval
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Queen’s University
Call to the Bar of Ontario: 1999
Boyd Aitken is an experienced tax litigator. He has appeared before the Federal Court of Appeal, Federal Court of Canada, Tax Court of Canada, Canadian International Trade Tribunal and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Fluently bilingual, Boyd has argued cases involving small to medium sized businesses throughout Canada in such
areas as arbitrary assessments, directors' liability, third-party assessments and scientific research and experimental development incentives. He has also acted on behalf of the Canada Revenue Agency in bankruptcy matters.
Armed with this unique experience, Boyd can assist you in resolving disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency in a cost-effective and expedient manner. He strongly believes that negotiated solution is better than the cost of litigation. Boyd employs an interest-based
approach to negotiation which has shown to be very effective. He can also provide with advice and assistance in proactively addressing potential enforcement and compliance issues using the Voluntary Disclosure Program.
Boyd attended Queen’s University where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in 1992. Concurrently, he operated two small businesses in Kingston in order to finance his education. Boyd
attended law school at Western University and Université Laval obtaining a Bachelor of Laws in common law and a Bachelor of Laws in civil law. He subsequently clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal for Justice Robert Décary.
Following his Call to the Bar in 1999, Boyd worked in private practice before joining the Department of Justice in 2002 where he practiced for fifteen years.
For over twenty years, Boyd served Canada as an infantry officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. His operational experience includes deployments to Kosovo and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the United Nations. He recently retired from the Army.
In his spare time, he enjoys sailing on the Ottawa River and in the Thousand Islands.
Peggy E. Gibson. B.A., M.E.S. (Planning)
Urban and Environmental Planner
Education
Master in Environmental Studies (Planning), York University
Bachelor of Arts (English Literature), Carleton University
Peggy Gibson practises in association with Gibsons LLP. She brings over 25 years of diversified experience from being a registered builder of residential housing, land development, and holding a master’s degree in planning. She works closely with our team of lawyers to develop strategic plans with multi-disciplinary approach that includes consultation with government agencies, preparation of development applications supported by sound planning rationale. She has given planning opinion at the Ontario Municipal Board. Her knowledge of municipal affairs, construction, environmental and planning issues provide a comprehensive consultancy base from which to formulate legal strategies to propose solutions for client issues crossing those areas of concern. She has served on a number of Boards including Chair of the Committee of Adjustment of the former Rockcliffe Village, and the Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church, as well as many volunteer community and charitable organizations. She is an avid runner and traveller having completed many marathons in various high profile running venues around the world.
