Shelley Hounsell, K.C.

A family law lawyer helps their client move on, sometimes this means helping the client sever ties with their former spouse, but when children are involved, this means helping them reconfigure their relationship. Moving on means that the particulars of client’s life with their former spouse must be addressed. Having practiced for 25 years, and a business owner, Shelley has a broad knowledge base about the intersection between family law and the many other areas of law that it touches: small business and corporate law, tax, shareholders’ remedies, trusts, estates, bankruptcy, torts, damages, cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts and many others.

Shelley’s strength is finding creative and practical solutions that work best for her client not only now – but into the future. Shelley is very comfortable using her extensive legal knowledge and strategic mindset to find solutions through negotiation or at court. Shelley has appeared at all levels of court in Nova Scotia.

Recognizing the rights of children is a priority for Shelley. She will only work with clients who are able to put the wellbeing of their children ahead of their own. As part of her work, Shelley often works towards finding peace in difficult family dynamics including challenging parenting cases involving intimate partner violence, and other complex matters involving children.

Shelley is passionate about family law. She is an adjunct professor at the Schulich School of Law. She often presents at continuing education programs in Canada and internationally and enjoys sharing ideas and learning from others. She recently presented at the International Academy of Family Law Lawyers conference in Boston, Mass (June 2024), and last summer she presented at the International Society of Family Law Conference, 18th World Conference Global Jubilee, in Antwerp Belgium. She routinely collaborates with provincial and national advisory groups on law reform and is the chair of the National Family Law Subsection for the CBA where she facilitates discussion on ways to improve the practice of family law. Shelley is often called to present on family law at programs offered by the National Judicial Institute, the National Family Law Program (Canadian Federation of Law Societies), the Canadian Bar Association, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, and for community organizations. To improve access to family law justice Shelley has been developing website content for family law websites.

Recently, Shelley has returned to her roots as a civil law lawyer and is applying her dedication to her clients to help those who experience misconduct at work (sexual harassment), or who have experienced a personal injury, and need help moving on with their life. Shelley puts her clients at ease with her thoughtfulness, approach, and compassion. You can expect Shelley to take full ownership of your case, caring not only about the outcome but about you.

Professional Involvement:

• Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society
• Canadian Bar Association
• Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
• Member International Society of Family Law

Education and Admissions:

Called to the Bar in Nova Scotia (1999) LLB Dalhousie University (Schulich School of Law) (1998) BSc (Hons) Dalhousie University (1995)