About Jennifer

Jennifer is a co-managing partner of Patterson Law. She advises business clients through every stage of their business life cycle, from incorporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements to tax-planned corporate reorganizations, succession planning, and wind-ups. Business owners turn to her for contract negotiation, supply and non-disclosure agreements, commercial leasing, financing, and mergers and acquisitions, and she also assists major Canadian and US law firms with Nova Scotia matters including corporate restructuring and unlimited liability companies. Jennifer advises individuals on trusts and estate planning, including family trusts, tax-planned wills, and powers of attorney, drawing on her tax planning background to help minimize taxes where possible. She was appointed King's Counsel in 2026 and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada for corporate law since 2020, including as Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year in Truro in 2022 and 2024. She earned her LL.B. from Dalhousie University in 2006.

Practice areas

Business & Corporate Law Tax Law Wills, Estates & Trusts Intellectual Property Administrative & Regulatory Law Indigenous Law

Education & credentials

Law school
Dalhousie University
Undergraduate
Acadia University, B.B.A., 2003
Other degrees
In-Depth Tax Course, Parts I and II, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants

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