Brian Forbes
(613) 238-1424 ext. 22
brian@forbessingersmith.com
Areas of Practice: Commercial/Corporate/Charitable and Non Profit Organizations (NFP), Estate Planning and Administration, Real Estate, Family Law and Employment Law
Brian Forbes graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1971, Magna Cum Laude, a recipient of the Law School Gold Medal. Brian is a founding partner (1973) of the law firm of Forbes Singer Shouldice.
Over the 30 years of his practice, Brian has specialized in various aspects of his role as a Barrister and Solicitor including extensive involvement in the Corporate/Commercial field, his work with Charitable and Non-Profit organizations, Estate Planning and Administration, Real Estate, Family and Employment Law.
In addition to his general practice, Brian holds the position of Honourary Secretary-General of the National Council of Veterans Associations in Canada. He has been the Association Solicitor for The War Amputations of Canada since 1975. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the War Amps and has been involved in the administration of many of the charitable programs of the Association. He has a vast knowledge of Veterans' legislation and he has developed an excellent working relationship with Ministers and senior staff of Veterans Affairs Canada going back many years.
Brian has extensive experience in making presentations to the various adjudicative tribunals and appellate bodies which govern the Pension Act and ancillary legislation dealing with the Veteran community. He has made a number of submissions to Parliamentary Committees and on two occasions has taken successful appeals to the Federal Court of Canada which had significant relevance to the interpretation of the Pension Act as affecting the pension for seriously disabled Veterans and a substantial expansion of the definition of "Exceptional Incapacity Allowance."
In furtherance of his specialization with regard to international human rights law, he has made a number of appearances before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and has presented petitions to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of Canada's Hong Kong Veterans, Canada's Thalidomide children and, more recently, on behalf of Canada's Aboriginal Veterans. He was instrumental in obtaining a Non-Governmental Organization status for The War Amputations of Canada in regard to the United Nations human rights system.
He was a longstanding member of the Board of Directors of the Perley Hospital and the Perley Rideau Veterans Health Center. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian War Museum. He has just completed a lengthy term as a member of the Canadian Forces Advisory Council, a body established by the Department of Veterans Affairs to advise the Department on new legislation to address the concerns of members of the Armed Forces and their families.
More recently he has been appointed to the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, the Gerontological Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee to the New Veterans Ombudsman.
