Queen’s Counsel appointments named

Alanna Taylor, Thomas Laughlin, and John Maynard have been selected as 2017 appointments to Queen’s Counsel, a top recognition in the field of law.

“Lawyers who receive the Queen’s Counsel designation are selected by their peers for their outstanding career achievements and their work in the community,” said Premier Wade MacLauchlan, minister of Justice and Public Safety and attorney general. “Alanna Taylor, Thomas Laughlin and John Maynard have all made valuable contributions to the top-calibre justice system in our province.”

Presented annually, the Queen’s Counsel designation goes back to 16th century England, when one or two senior barristers of the High Court were entrusted with providing the Crown with legal counsel.

This year’s recipients will be formally recognized during a ceremony at Government House by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor Antoinette Perry.

Media contact:
Katie MacDonald
katiemacdonald@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

Alanna P. Taylor attended the University of New Brunswick Law School, and was called to the bar of Prince Edward Island in 1997.  She is the Chair of the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal and Vice-Chair of the Prince Edward Island Criminal Code Review Board; and practices in the areas of litigation, family law, property, employment and labor.  Alana is active in the community with Special Olympics and coaching various sports.  She was a recent inductee into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame.  Alanna practices with Cox & Palmer in Charlottetown.

Thomas P. Laughlin was called to the bar in 1999.  He has volunteered his time with the Canadian Bar Association, serving as local President in 2015-16, the Hospice Palliative Care Association of PEI, and Habitat for Humanity.  Tom has extensive litigation experience and is the Charlottetown agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.  He also defends medical malpractice suits and has expertise in administrative law.  Tom practices with Stewart McKelvey in Charlottetown.

John W. Maynard was called to the bar in 1984 after graduation from Dalhousie Law School.  He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, all levels of the Prince Edward Island courts and administrative tribunals. John’s litigation experience includes criminal prosecution, personal injury, insurance defence work, commercial litigation and estate litigation.  He is Past President of the Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association, a Director of the Stars for Life Autism and a member of the PEI Law Foundation Board of Directors.  He practices with Key Murray Law in O’Leary and Summerside.