The appointment of three Prince Edward Island lawyers as Queen’s Counsel is a tribute to their professionalism and integrity, says Environment, Labour and Justice Minister Janice Sherry.

”I am proud to offer congratulations to Nancy Birt, Loretta Coady MacAulay and Murray Murphy on their appointments,” said Minister Sherry. “Appointment as Queen’s Counsel is a recognition by their peers of their outstanding contributions to their profession and to the community.”

Nancy Birt was admitted to the bar in 1989, and is the president of the Prince Edward Island branch of the Canadian Bar Association. Loretta Coady MacAulay was admitted to the bar in November of 1995. A past president of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, she is currently manager of Family Law with the Department of Environment, Labour and Justice. Murray Murphy was admitted to the bar in 1996, and is a former president of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island.

The appointments are made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Queen’s Counsel Recommendation Committee, which includes representatives of the legal and judicial professions. Those appointed must be learned in the law, have consistently exhibited a high standard of professional integrity and be of good character.

BACKGROUNDER

Nancy E. Birt

Nancy Birt graduated Cum Laude from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Laws in 1988. She graduated with Honours from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1990.

Nancy Birt was admitted as a member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island in 1989 and was an associate at Ross Hooley (currently Cox & Palmer) from 1989 to 1993, before founding Birt & McNeill with partner Kim M. McNeill. Nancy also served as a sessional lecturer in Business Law at the UPEI School of Business for more than six years. In her practice, her primary areas of focus include corporate and commercial law, real estate law, wills, and estates. She is president of the Prince Edward Island branch of the Canadian Bar Association and serves in a number of other leadership positions with the CBA. She has also served as chair of the Labour Relations Board.

Nancy is the mother of three children and has always chosen to be a hands-on participant in her children’s educational and recreational pursuits. She is a well-known volunteer in a variety of programs at West Royalty Elementary School and Colonel Gray Senior High School. She has also been involved with both the Canada Winter Games and the National Gymnastics Championships.

Loretta Coady MacAulay

Loretta Coady MacAulay graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1990 and the University of New Brunswick Law School in 1994. She was admitted as a member of the Law Society in 1995. Loretta was in private practice for five years and has been employed by the Government of Prince Edward Island since 2000, currently as Manager of the Family Law Section of the Department of Environment, Labour and Justice.

She represents Prince Edward Island on the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee of Senior Officials Family Justice (CCSO-Family Justice) and is the Central Authority for Prince Edward Island under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Loretta has been active in the Law Society of Prince Edward Island and is currently past president, having served as president in 2012-2013. In March 2013, the Family Law Centre was awarded the Adventure Group’s Champion for Youth Award for dedication, commitment and service to Prince Edward Island youth.

Loretta resides in Mermaid with her husband, Andy. They have been actively involved in the Christian Marriage Preparation Program, having served as leader couple and presenters.

Murray L. Murphy

Murray Murphy graduated from the University of New Brunswick with Bachelor of Arts (honours) in 1992 and received a Bachelor of Laws from UNB in 1995. He was admitted to the Prince Edward Island bar in 1996. He was president of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island from 2011 to 2012. He specializes in labour, employment and workplace human rights law.

He represents leading institutions and businesses in a variety of sectors, including education, medical services, construction, primary resources, IT, governments and media, providing strategic advice and counsel.

Murray has extensive experience in Labour Relations Board matters, employment standards proceedings, human rights complaints, and grievance arbitrations. Murray is also a certified Canadian Human Resources Professional (CHRP). He is a labour relations arbitrator, appointed by the Prince Edward Island Minister of Labour, and has presided over several labour arbitrations. He is a past president of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island and a former member of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee to the federal Minister of Justice.

Murray lives in Charlottetown with his wife Carla Turner, and his daughter Ava.