About Dennis

Dennis is a partner at Patterson Law, providing leadership in commercial litigation, municipal law, employment law, Aboriginal law, and health law. In more than 36 years of practice, he has conducted trials at all levels of court in Nova Scotia as well as before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and other administrative tribunals. He serves as solicitor to the Municipality of the County of Colchester and the Town of Westville, and advises municipalities on the Municipal Government Act, employment issues, land use planning, and governance. Dennis has taught at Dalhousie University and lectured on Business Law at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. He was appointed King's Counsel in 2014 and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada for corporate and commercial litigation since 2018, municipal law since 2021, and labour and employment law since 2023. He earned his LL.B. from Dalhousie University in 1986.

Practice areas

Indigenous Law Administrative & Regulatory Law Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Employment & Labour Law

Education & credentials

Law school
Dalhousie University
Undergraduate
Dalhousie University, B.A. Honours, 1983

Listing compiled from public sources in July 2026. Confirm Dennis J. James’s licence and standing in the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society directory ↗