We are delighted to announce that Erin O’Brien Edmonds KC, TEP is the recipient of the Society’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award (DSA).
Established in 1999, the DSA is presented to a member who has made significant contributions to their community, the legal profession, and the Society.
The DSA Committee reviews nominations based on nominees’ commitment to integrity, professional achievement, service to the profession, and commitment to reform.
Congratulations, Erin!
“The most important part of the work I do is the time I spend with clients to make sure they have a full understanding of what is being done, so they can feel confident as we move forward together.” – Erin O’Brien Edmonds
About Erin O’Brien Edmonds KC, TEP
Having practised for nearly 42 years, Erin is an experienced real estate and estate planning lawyer. She maintains a robust practice in both real estate and estate planning—applying her combined knowledge to deal with methods of real estate ownership that precisely meet her clients’ estate planning needs.
Erin also advises the executors of estates on how to manage and transfer real estate from the estate to the beneficiary, or to sell real property held by an estate. She works extensively in the Land Registration system, completing land migrations, subdivisions of land, and creating easements and restrictive covenants.
Erin’s experience as a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) enables her to provide advice to clients who hold assets inside their companies and family trusts, and to craft estate plans with tax savings in mind. She is able to prepare tax planned estates with lasting relevance.
Erin has been recognized by Best Lawyers® in Canada every year since 2010 and was named as Halifax Real Estate Lawyer of the Year four times, in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Having written and lectured on the topics of real estate and estate planning for many years, several of her papers are cited broadly as seminal materials in their subject areas.
When not working in her law practice, Erin enjoys exercise including yoga and swimming and enjoying time with friends and family. Erin is proud to have her son Matthew practising law with her at Arcus Legal and is working to transfer her longstanding law practice on to Matthew over the next few years.
Erin’s volunteer and professional affiliations are extensive, and include the following.
Professional organizations
- Practising Member of Nova Scotia Barristers Society (1984-present).
- Appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2002.
- Member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Will Standards Committee.
- Former Chair of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Real Estate Standards Committee (2007-2016).
- Real Estate Lawyers’ Association of Nova Scotia (RELANS) former chair (2008-2017) and current board member.
- Halifax Estate Planning Council former President and current member.
- Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP) member; recipient of Volunteer of the Year Award (2015).
- Canadian Bar Association member (1987-present).