SeanForeman

Sean Foreman

Sean is a lawyer and Partner at Wickwire Holm in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sean graduated in 1995 from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (B.E.S.) and from Dalhousie Law School in 1998 with his LLB and a Certificate of Specialization in Environmental Law. He now has a practice emphasis on commercial litigation, environmental, energy & resources law, with constitutional and human rights law "on the side".

He has been actively involved in a number of legal, charitable and community organizations throughout Nova Scotia and across Canada, having served as: Chair of the Lesbian Gay & Bisexual Youth Project, Chair of the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project (NSRAP), Vice-Chair and Treasurer of Clean Nova Scotia, Chair of the National Environmental Energy & Resources Law Section (NEERLS) of the CBA (Canadian Bar Association), Chair of the CBA Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC), Chair of the Environment Committee of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Nova Scotia, and most recently Chair of the Nova Scotia Lawyers' Assistance Program (NSLAP). He also served a 2-year term on the CBA National Finance Committee. He continues to serve on the Board of NSRAP as a long-time Director and Treasurer.

Sean has lectured in the area of human rights and environmental law at various conferences and continues to co-author articles for the Environmental Policy & Law (EPAL) newsletter. Since 2000, he has lectured as a part-time faculty member at Dalhousie Law School and since 2007 now teaches Business & Environmental Law. Most recently, he co-authored the Atlantic Chapter of "Climate Change Law In Canada", released in 2010.

Sean was counsel for NSRAP and 3 Nova Scotia couples who successfully challenged the federal and provincial governments before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, seeking the recognition of same-sex marriage in Nova Scotia. Justice Heather Robinson issued a final Order on September 24, 2004, giving same-sex couples in Nova Scotia the legal right to marry.

Sean also had the privilege to represent EGALE Canada and couples in Newfoundland & Labrador, who also successfully challenged the common law in that Province, resulting in a 3-day hearing and final Order from Chief Justice Derek Green of the Newfoundland & Labrador Supreme Court on December 21, 2004, giving same-sex couples in Newfoundland the right to marry.

During the Parliamentary hearings into the Liberal Government's proposed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage rights across Canada in 2005, Sean presented written and oral submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in Halifax (for NSRAP) and in Ottawa (with the President of the Canadian Bar Association).

Sean was honoured to receive the inaugural Zoe Odei Young Lawyers’ Award from the CBA (Nova Scotia) in 2003, and one of three ‘Outstanding Young Canadian’ (Vanier) Awards presented across Canada in September 2005, for Leadership and Community Service. He was also honoured that year to be chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Halifax Pride Parade. Most recently Sean was recipient of the 2007 Dalhousie University Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year Award.

On January 30, 2019, Sean was appointed Queen's Counsel, a designation which recognizes exceptional merit and outstanding contributions to the legal community.