Lawyers
John W. Atwood
John Atwood was called to the Ontario bar in 1975 and practices as a solicitor in the areas of real estate, estates, and corporate law. John holds an Honours B.Sc from Lakehead University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto. Married with three children, John is a member (and has been Chair) of the Thunder Bay Law Association, the Thunder Bay Institute of Professional Advisors, and the St. Patrick's Cathedral Finance Council. He is also President of the Thunder Bay Country Club. He is a Life Director of St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay, and was its Chair. John has also been a Director of the United Way, a Director and Chair of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, and was a founding Director and Chair of the Catholic Family Development Centre of Thunder Bay.
Gilbert L. Labine
Gilbert Labine was called to the Ontario bar in 1977 and practices in the areas of criminal litigation, and environmental and other regulatory litigation. He is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in criminal litigation. Gil holds a B.A. and LL.B. from Queen's University. A father of four children, he is a member (and was Chair) of the Thunder Bay Law Association, the Thunder Bay Legal Aid Area Committee, the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, and the Youth Justice Steering Committee. He is also a Director of the Criminal Lawyers Association and the Ontario Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section), and is a member of the Advocates Society. He sits on the Board of Governors for Lakehead University, and for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. He was a Director and Chair of William Creighton Youth Services. Gil has also been an active speaker and panelist for a variety of continuing legal education programs.
Christopher M. Arnone
Christopher Arnone was called to the Ontario bar in 2004. He practices in the areas of family and civil litigation. Christopher holds an Honours B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, with a major in political science, and LL.B. from Queen's University's Faculty of Law. He articled at Atwood Shaw Labine of Thunder Bay (as our firm was formerly known), where he received extensive experience in one of the city's most active family and civil litigation practices. Christopher is married. He is a Director of Habitat for Humanity - Thunder Bay, and a Director of the North of Superior Film Association, contributing to the organization of NOSFA's extremely successful annual film festival.
Neil J. McCartney
Neil McCartney was called to the Ontario bar in 2004. He practices in the areas of criminal and regulatory litigation. Neil holds a B.A. (Hons.) from Queen's University, M.Phil from the University of Cambridge (U.K.), and LL.B. also from Queen's (with the Jurisprudence and Environmental Law course prizes). He articled at the Ottawa Crown Attorney's Office. He has contributed papers to the educational events of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Law Society of Upper Canada, and local seminars. He is a Director of the Thunder Bay Law Association, and a member of the Criminal Lawyers Association. Neil is married. He has been a Director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and has participated locally in musical, theatrical, and other cultural events.
Terry-Lynn Miettinen
Terry-Lynn Miettinen was called to the Ontario bar in 2004. She practices in the areas of corporate and commercial law, wills, estate administration, and estate litigation. Terry Lynn articled locally, and also has past experience in the area of family litigation. She holds a B.A. with a major in sociology from Lakehead University, and LL.B. from the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Law. She is a Director of the Thunder Bay Law Association, and is chair of the Association's Continuing Legal Education Committee. Terry-Lynn also sits on the executive of the Thunder Bay Institute of Professional Advisors.
Michael D. Ballantyne
Michael Ballantyne was called to the Ontario bar in 2004. He holds a B.A. (Hons.) in economics from Lakehead University, and an LL.B. from Queen’s University. Michael practises in the areas of general corporate/commercial and tax law. He assists clients with transactions and other business arrangements, such as corporation reorganizations, acquisitions and sales, and financings, as well as with their general corporate matters, including incorporations, PPSA registrations, business name registrations, shareholder agreements and disputes, and business contracts. Michael also has experience representing companies and individuals in their dealings with the CRA, including with tax objections and appeals. In many instances, Michael is providing professional services to clients which complement and support the services provided by their accountants. Michael practised business law in southern Ontario at a national law firm before returning to his hometown of Thunder Bay in 2010.
Kate D. Brindley
Kate Brindley was called to the Ontario bar in 2010. She holds an Honours B.A. from the University of British Columbia, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto. She practices in the fields of criminal and general litigation. Kate articled at Ontario's Crown Law Office – Criminal, where she worked on criminal cases at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also gained trial-level experience through work at Toronto's Downtown Legal Services. She is a member of Ontario's Criminal Lawyers' Association, and participates as a presenter in the Thunder Bay Law Association's continuing education programs for lawyers.
Note: the designation "LL.B." stands for Legum Baccalaureus, latin for "Bachelor of Laws." The double "L" signifies the plural form legum, "of laws." This is the academic degree traditionally awarded by Canadian law schools. "J.D." for Juris Doctor, latin for "Doctor of Law," is the title now preferred by some Canadian law schools for their degrees.
