Practice Groups

Municipal law

Ritch Durnford understands municipal law because its lawyers have experience in all aspects of the field.

The firm's practice and its clientele have been shaped to minimize possibility of conflict with municipal clients. For many years, Ritch Durnford has advised and represented municipalities on municipal, administrative, labour and employment, human rights, litigation, assessment, and planning and development matters.

Ritch Durnford has advised clients in every facet of a municipality's administrative sphere, from city councils through its police and fire departments through its human resources department and its treasury.

Our lawyers have successfully dealt with municipal administrative law issues in matters including:

• public access to information;
• council and commission procedures;
• requirements of the rules of natural justice;
• conflicts of interest;
• council duties and responsibilities;
• municipal elections;
• drafting municipal by-laws, private and local bills and city charter provisions;
• making representations to Private and Local Bills Committees and the Law Amendments Committee of the provincial legislature on municipal legislation;
• drafting, interpreting and applying municipal development plans;
• representing various municipalities in planning matters before the Utility and Review Board and its predecessor boards;
• dealing with police employment and disciplinary matters in the context of the Police Act and regulations;
• litigating Police Act matters before Nova Scotian courts;
• providing advice in relation to business occupancy, real property taxes and assessment matters generally.