Firm History
The Lawyers and staff of Creighton Shatford today
From Left to Right : Vikki Locke, Kirbi Dickson, Doug Shatford, Crystal Simmonds, Brian Creighton, Donna Buchanan, Catherine Hirbour, Angela Bourgeois, Kim Petten and Heather Shatford.
Creighton Shatford can trace its history as an operating law firm in Amherst back to 1866 having links to R. B. Dickie., one of the Fathers of Confederation, through the three generations of the Milner family to the present. What follows is a brief history .
THE ORIGINS-R.B. Dickie
As one of the fathers of confederation and member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Council, Robert Barry Dickie (better known locally as R. B. Dickie) was admitted to the bar in 1834 after studying under his father-in-law, Alexander Stewart. He began practicing in Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1866 and was later joined by Charles J. Townshend.
Dickie & Townsend
After being admitted to the bar in 1878, Arthur Rupert Dickie, son of R. B Dickie, and J. Medley Townshend, brother of Charles Townshend, joined Dickie and Townshend and they all continued to practice together until Charles J. Townshend was appointed to the bench in March of 1887. Townshend later became a Chief Justice in 1907. A. R. Dickie later became a Member of Parliament for Cumberland County.
T. Sherman Rogers graduated from Dalhousie University and was admitted to the bar in December 1887. He joined J. Medley Townshend to practice under the firm name Townshend and Rogers until J. Medley Townshend died in 1904.
Rogers Jenks & Purdy
After the death of J.M.Townshend, T. Sherman Rogers joined with Stuart Jenks and Harry Purdy to form the firm Rogers Jenks & Purdy and practiced under this name until 1909 when Stuart Jenks was appointed to the bench. The firm then became known as Rogers & Purdy.
In March of 1910, T. Sherman Rogers left Rogers & Purdy to join Harris, Henry, Rogers & Harris, a Halifax, Nova Scotia firm later to be called Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales.
Rodgers, Milner & Purdy
After T. Sherman Rogers’s departure from Rogers & Purdy, Frank Leopold Milner was recruited from Bridgetown, Nova Scotia to join Purdy in April 1910 to form Rogers, Milner and Purdy. T. Sherman Rogers was appointed to Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1921.
Frank Milner and Harry Purdy changed the firm's name to Milner and Purdy in 1911. This partnership dissolved in 1928 when Frank L. Milner became the chairperson for the Worker's Compensation Board. Harry Purdy continued to practice as a sole practioner until his death in 1940.
Alfred Milner, son of Frank L. Milner, started his sole practice in Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1928. However this would be short lived as Alfred Milner contracted Tuberculosis in 1930. He did not practice law again until after being discharged from the sanitarium and his father completing his term with the Worker's Compensation Board.
Milner & Milner
Frank L. Milner, after his son's release from the sanitarium, decided to set up the practice of Milner & Milner in 1938. Frank L. Milner died in 1946. Alfred Milner decided to practice as a sole practioner once again until he was joined by his son, David Milner, in 1969 and practiced under the firm name Milner and Milner until they were joined by David Cole in 1971.
Milner,Cole & Milner
The firm then came to be known as Milner, Cole & Milner until 1977 when David Cole was appointed to the bench.
Milner Milner Pare & Creighton
After David Cole's appointment to the bench in 1977, Alfred and David Milner were joined by Michael Paré to form Milner Milner & Paré, and later by Brian S. Creighton in 1979 to form Milner Milner Paré & Creighton.
Milner Shatford & Creighton
Brian Creighton, Doug Shatford,
Paul Drysdale, Sharon French
(2009)
Creighton Shatford & Drysdale
After Alfred Milner retired from practice, and Michael Paré joined Ross Archibald and Tony Morely, Douglas B. Shatford left his position at Nova Scotia Legal Aid to join the firm in 1981 to form Milner Shatford & Creighton.
Creighton & Shatford
David Milner was appointed as a Nova Scotia Family Court Judge in 1985 leaving Douglas B. Shatford & Brian Creighton to practice under the firm name Creighton & Shatford in 1986.
During the late 1980's and early 1990's a number of associates practiced with the firm amongst them, Bruce Baxter who later went on to join the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. Carol Beaton who left the firm and became a founding partner of Beaton Blakie & Farrrel . She was appointed a Provicial Court Judge in 2005.Robert Gregan who articled with the firm and later left to join Nova Scotia Legal Aid .
Creighton Shatford & Drysdale
In 1994 Paul Drysdale was called to bar and joined Creighton & Shatford to form the firm known as Creighton Shatford & Drysdale.
In 2004 Wanda Severns joined the firm as an associate after completing her articles with the firm .Wanda remained with the firm until 2006 when she left on maternity leave .She has since developed a practice in Sackville N.B.
In June 2007, after her call to the Bar, Creighton Shatford welcomed a new associate, Sharon A. French. Ms. French left the firm in 2009 to join n Novs Scotia Legal Aid
Creighton Shatford
Throughout the summer of 2009 Creighton Shatford & Drysdale experienced many changes in a short period of time. Sharon French accepted a position with Nova Scotia Legal Aid working in Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury. Shortly after Ms. French's departure in August 2009, Creighton Shatford & Drysdale welcomed a new associate, Angela Ryan Bourgeois. Angela, a native of Springhill, brought with her many years of experience, and practices in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In September 2009, Paul Drysdale left the firm to become the Senior Crown Prosecutor in Truro, Nova Scotia. Once again practice under the firm name, as it was in 1986 became Creighton Shatford. In October 2009 Catherine M. Hirbour, B.A., M.A., LL.B. admitted to the Bar in British Columbia and Ontario joined the firm as an associate. She was admitted to the Bar in Nova Scotia in November 2009.
The years of extensive history and new vibrant additions to the firm make Creighton Shatford what it is today. We are the law firm where customer service and the needs of our clients come first and foremost. We have been providing trusted legal counsel since 1866 and will continue to do so for many years to come. Our success is based on our clients and our clients are our success.
.