Melanie Gillis

About Melanie

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Melanie is an experienced litigator in our Halifax office. Beyond her general litigation practice, she is an integral member of both the Construction and Energy practice groups. Melanie enjoys advocating for clients through litigation, and advancing clients’ goals in the complex arenas of construction and energy.

Melanie has litigated a wide variety of complex commercial and construction disputes, including claims brought under builders’ lien legislation. Melanie has advocated for clients before all levels of court in Nova Scotia, including before the NS Court of Appeal, the NS Supreme Court, the Federal Court, the NS Small Claims Court, and the NS Provincial Court. Melanie also represents clients before the Nova Scotia Energy Board and the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (formerly the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board), and the Canada Energy Regulator.

She also regularly provides business advice to clients in relation to large-scale construction projects across Atlantic Canada. She advises utilities and private clients operating in the ever-evolving energy sector on matters such as energy policy and regulation, environmental regulation, electricity rate design, and the development of renewable energy projects.

As Co-Chair of the Environmental section of MC’s ESG Working Group, Melanie strives to be a leader in the firm. She also enjoys engaging in thought leadership, and has authored legal articles published in a variety of notable publications, including the Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Energy Regulation Quarterly, and the Annual Review of Civil Litigation. Melanie is keen to deepen her legal knowledge in a variety of areas, and to that end has completed the CAMPUT Energy Regulation Course, and the Osgoode Certificate in ESG, Climate Risk & The Law through Osgoode Hall Law School of York University.

In her spare time, Melanie enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and young son. She also enjoys playing music and writing stories. Most recently, Melanie authored a children’s book which is set in her community of downtown Dartmouth, by Sullivan’s Pond.

Papers & Presentations

Gillis, M., & MacDuff, J. (2020). When Climate and Construction Collide: How Net Zero Legislation Might Be Used to Challenge High-Emitting Infrastructure Projects. Energy Regulation Quarterly, 8(4).