Business Details
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Halifax
Ritch Williams Richards (RWR) is a mid-sized law firm based in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, with roots tracing back to the late 1940s. Our practice focuses on delivering legal expertise to insurers, ship owners, carriers, employers, and local businesses. We prioritize a collaborative team approach, ensuring our lawyers build strong relationships with clients to develop tailored legal solutions. Our team extends beyond legal professionals to include experienced analysts, assistants, and support staff dedicated to addressing all client matters.This integrated approach enables us to provide timely, cost-effective service while maintaining a professional yet approachable work environment. We take pride in our long-standing relationships with local, national, and international clients and have been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's Best Places to Work. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our ability to navigate complex legal challenges while fostering a supportive workplace culture that values teamwork and mutual respect.
Services
Insurance Defence
Insurance Subrogation
Marine Law
Casualty Claims
Product Liability
Transportation Claims
Oil Spill Claims
Fire Loss Claims
Highlights and features
- We combine over 70 years of collective legal experience in Atlantic Canada.
- Our team approach ensures personalized service and strategic collaboration.
- Specialized expertise in insurance, marine law, and complex litigation matters.
- Recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's Best Places to Work for workplace culture.
- Direct communication with lawyers and support staff for transparent collaboration.
What people say
Deep legal expertise
Collaborative approach
Timely responses
Industry specialists
Strong courtroom presence
Services
Insurance Defence
We represent insurers in casualty, professional liability, and transportation claims. Our team combines litigation expertise with industry-specific knowledge to develop defensible strategies. Clients benefit from our proactive approach to risk mitigation and cost-effective resolution of complex insurance disputes.
Insurance Subrogation
Acting for insurers, we recover funds from liable parties in product liability, oil spill, and fire loss cases. Our experience spans investigation through trial preparation. We prioritize early identification of high-success claims while maintaining courtroom readiness for contested matters.
Marine Law
Our marine practice covers ship owners, carriers, and insurers in Atlantic Canada and federal courts. Services include intermodal transport issues, property insurance, and on-site case assessment. We combine legal expertise with technical understanding of maritime operations to deliver practical solutions.
People
Lisa Richards
Partner
With over 25 years of insurance law experience in Atlantic Canada, Lisa leads our insurance practice. She specializes in subrogation and defence claims while mentoring junior lawyers. Her strategic approach balances early resolution with courtroom preparedness.
Matthew G. Williams
Partner
A senior partner with expertise in marine law and complex insurance matters. Matthew regularly appears in Federal Court and provides guidance on intermodal transport issues. He combines legal acumen with hands-on case investigation.
Courtney Palmer
Partner
Specializing in insurance defence, Courtney brings practical solutions to casualty and professional liability claims. With 15+ years of experience, she focuses on achieving cost-effective outcomes while maintaining strong client relationships.
Ali Buchan
Controller
Managing financial operations since 2010, Ali oversees accounting and administrative functions. She ensures seamless back-office support for legal teams while maintaining compliance with financial regulations.
John Hedley
Legal Analyst
With 12 years of experience, John provides critical support in marine law cases. He specializes in case documentation and technical analysis, working closely with lawyers to prepare for court proceedings and client meetings.
Questions
What areas of law does RWR specialize in?
We focus on insurance defence, subrogation claims, and marine law, serving insurers, ship owners, and businesses across Atlantic Canada.
Do you handle international insurance cases?
Through our Canadian Litigation Counsel network, we coordinate with global partners to address cross-border insurance matters and international marine claims.
How does your team approach client communication?
We maintain open communication through direct contact, on-site visits, and informal brainstorming sessions to ensure clear understanding of client needs.
What experience do you have with marine litigation?
Our lawyers regularly appear in Federal Court and have handled marine cases involving intermodal transport, cargo damage, and insurance disputes since the 1940s.
