Lee C. Bell-Smith, K.C.

Previously the Deputy Attorney General for the Province of New Brunswick, in-house corporate counsel with Cooke Aquaculture and a partner with the law firm Stewart McKelvey, one of the 20 largest law firms in Canada with over 200 lawyers. While at Stewart McKelvey, maintained a practice focused on commercial lending and insolvency law and developed significant expertise in personal property security legislation and practice.Involved in a number of managerial roles at Stewart McKelvey including chairing the recruiting committee, acting as practice manager of the Corporate / Commercial practice group for the New Brunswick offices, acting as practice manager of the firm wide Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency group and acting as the practice manager of the firm wide Lending and Insolvency group.Contributed to the “Doing Business in Atlantic Canada” publication and was also a contributor to the Bankruptcy & Insolvency materials for the Bar Admission Course for the Province of New Brunswick. Also a past chair of the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Law Section of the New Brunswick Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.Taught Commercial Law at UNB Law School as part-time faculty.Has been the recipient of a number of distinguished professional and industry recognitions including being named by Best Lawyers in Canada for Banking and Finance and named by Best Lawyers in Canada for Insolvency & Financial Restructuring. Has also been ranked by Lexpert in Asset / Equipment Finance & Leasing and in Banking (including Financial Institutions Regulatory Law) and was named by Best Lawyers in Canada as the 2015 Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” in Saint John, New Brunswick. Received King's Counsel designation in 2017. Named a 2026 OnCon Icon Top 10 Corporate Counsel Award winner.