Our Team
Recognized as a Top Labour & Employment Firm by HR Law Canada
Recognized by Best Law Firms in the fields of Labour & Employment, Administrative, and Civil Litigation
Kelly VanBuskirk, K.C., PhD, C. Arb.
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I am dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for my clients, having partnered on many successful and precedent-setting cases. Continuous improvement drives my practice.
I’ve expanded my legal knowledge through research, teaching, and learning from esteemed lawyers in Canada and the USA. As an arbitrator, I’ve gained unique insights into judicial and tribunal decision-making. Additionally, I’ve provided workplace training to over 10,000 employees across Canada, the USA, and the UK, deepening my understanding of workplace dynamics.
Outside of my legal practice, I am a devoted husband to Cynthia, father to two wonderful sons and a fantastic daughter-in-law, and a proud grandfather. In addition to walking Phineas the Bull Terrier and Vivian the Bulldog, I am active in sports, including boxing, and play the trombone in two bands.
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LLB (Dean’s List), UNB Law
LLM in Employment Law (with distinction), University of Huddersfield, UK
PhD in Employment Law, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Certificate in Employment Law Mediation, Cornell University
Certificate in Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University
Diploma in University Teaching, UNB
Bachelor of Arts, University of Prince Edward Island (Dean’s List)
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King’s Counsel
Chartered Arbitrator
E. Neil McKelvey Award for Pro Bono Service
Certified Workplace Investigator
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UNB Law School: Employment Law, Trial Practice, Strategic Negotiations, Administrative Law
UNB Faculty of Business: Employment Law, Labour Law, Strategic Negotiations, Commercial Law, Introduction to Human Resource Management, Employee Performance, Business and Society
UNB Faculty of Arts: The Sociology of Work
St. Thomas University Department of Human Rights: International Human Rights Law
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UNB Faculty of Business Teaching Excellence Award
Commendation, Stan Marsh Best Paper Prize, Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference
Golden Key Society Life Member
Vance Toner Leadership Award, Hockey New Brunswick
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, National Award of Excellence
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My legal practice has honed my understanding of client issues, with research published in a book and various journals, including:
Why Employees Sue: Rethinking Approaches to the Resolution of Employment Conflicts (Toronto: Thompson Reuters)
Journal of Commonwealth Law and Legal Education
Scribes Journal of Legal Writing
Canadian HR Reporter
Law Teacher
The Canadian Labour & Employment Law Journal
International Review of Human Rights Law
The Canadian Arbitration and Mediation Journal
The Canadian Bar Review
Sarah Brooke, LLB, FILEX
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I’ve worked in the law for more than two decades, first in the United Kingdom and for the last 14 years here in Canada. In the U.K., I am a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and enjoyed a successful conveyancing practice with two firms. For the last decade, I’ve worked in labour, employment, and human rights and have a deep passion for helping employers, employees, and unions solve complex workplace problems. To that end, I have continued to study and learn to enhance my abilities. During the past 10 years, I have:
Obtained certified workplace investigator status and have gained experience in many complex investigations
Earned an LLB from the University of London
Studied toward a Qualified Mediator (Q. Med.) with the ADR Institute of Canada.
Outside of work, I am a stained-glass artist, enjoy property projects with my husband Russ, and spend quality time with our dog Winston.
Daniel Wilband, BCL/LLB, M.A.
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For the past nine years I’ve I specialized in resolving workplace conflicts for employers, unions, and employees. My background as a philosophy instructor at King’s College in Halifax enriched my legal studies at McGill Law School, where I earned several academic awards. I’ve continued to study workplace law during my career, and have obtained a Certificate in Pension Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, as well as a Certificate in Workplace Investigations from the University of New Brunswick.
I clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal, gaining invaluable insights into judicial decision-making. I then honed my skills at a top labour law firm in Toronto before returning to Atlantic Canada. Here, I worked at leading labour firms and a general practice firm, and taught Labour Law at Dalhousie Law School. I am also a certified workplace investigator.
Beyond law, I am a dedicated husband, father of two, church member, amateur musician, and philosophy enthusiast.
Isaac Corey, B.Th., J.D.
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With experience in the Canadian Armed Forces and private industry, I observed the importance of the law in organizing and managing relationships. I became a lawyer to apply the law in resolving complex interpersonal conflicts.
At UNB Law School, I discovered a passion for workplace litigation, earning top honors in Labour & Employment Law, Trial Practice, and winning the Canadian Championship in Negotiations.
Beyond my legal career, I am a devoted husband to Naomi, father of two, active church member, weightlifter, boxer, woodsman, and musician. My life is truly fulfilling.
Norman J. Bossé, K.C., B.A., B.Ed., J.D.
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For nearly four decades, I've dedicated my career to pursuing justice for New Brunswickers as a litigation and administrative law lawyer. Since starting my practice in 1985, I've held roles that reflect a lifelong commitment to fairness, accountability, and advocacy for the vulnerable.
I began as a partner at Clark, Drummie & Co. in Saint John, later joining Atlantic law firm McInnes Cooper, where I built deep experience in complex litigation. A defining moment came as counsel to victims in the Miller Inquiry, representing survivors of sexual abuse at Kingsclear Youth Training School — work that shaped my lifelong dedication to giving voice to the vulnerable.
From 2013 to 2022, I served as New Brunswick's Child and Youth and Seniors Advocate, championing the rights of the province's youngest and oldest citizens. In 2008, I was appointed King's Counsel, and in 2021 my alma mater, Saint Thomas University, honoured me with the Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award.
Since 2022, I've served as Senior Defence Counsel with the Law Society of New Brunswick, and as of May 2026, I've been named to the Society's Council, helping guide governance of the legal profession.
Before law, I served with the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division, 2nd Medical Battalion near the DMZ during the Vietnam War era, and later taught school for four years in Sussex, New Brunswick.
Music, church, and family remain central to my life. My wife Moira and I have raised four daughters and share eleven grandchildren. Above all, I believe effective advocacy requires compassion — the practice of law is about people and the communities we build together.
Jen Davis, B.B.A., J.D.
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I joined VanBuskirk Law after building a career that combines legal practice, negotiation expertise, and extensive experience working with both public and private sector organizations. Before becoming a lawyer, I spent 15 years working in Human Resources, Labour Relations, Negotiations, and Mediation & Conciliation services, experiences that continue to shape my practical and people-focused approach to advocacy and dispute resolution.
After completing extensive training in mediation and conflict resolution, I earned my law degree from the University of New Brunswick and was called to the New Brunswick Bar in 2019. I practiced independently before joining the Rowan-Bosse family and later serving as a Partner at Bosse Davis Law-Droit. My practice focuses on family law, labour and employment law, workplace investigations, mediation, and dispute resolution.
During law school, I was honoured to receive the Shea & Aron Law Scholarship at UNB and to compete in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition. Since my call to the bar, I’ve also coached two UNB Law teams at the national competition level, both of which received recognition for excellence.
Outside of my legal practice, I have been a longtime competitor and coach in volleyball and basketball, experiences that have strengthened my leadership, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Jake Stoddard, B.A., M.A., J.D.
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I'm currently completing my legal studies at the University of New Brunswick, where I’ve been recognized as a Beaverbrook Scholar for academic excellence. Before law school, I earned a Master of Arts in Classical Studies and a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours, receiving several academic awards along the way.
My professional path has been shaped by a strong commitment to public service. I’ve served with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, including international deployments in support of NATO and United Nations missions. That experience instilled in me a sense of discipline, leadership, and responsibility that I bring to my work in law.
I'm proud to be part of the VanBuskirk Law team and will be taking a temporary leave to complete a clerkship at the Federal Court of Appeal—an opportunity I’m honoured to pursue as I continue to grow in this profession.
Jack MacKinnon, B.Sc., LL.B.
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Our friend, Jack, came to us with an eye on criminal law. We tried our best to convert his passion to Labour, Employment, Human Rights, and Administrative Law, but we came up short. We’re happy to have connected Jack with our friends at Gorham Vanderbeek, the criminal defence firm, and you can find Jack there.
Jennifer Waldschütz
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Our charming and talented colleague and friend, Jennifer, has taken on a new role at the University of New Brunswick. She is missed at VanBuskirk Law, and you can find her working her magic at UNB!
The symbolism that directs what we do at VanBuskirk Law
Not everything we do is by design, but we are trying to be intentional about our approach to our work. As examples:
Our office reminds us of our values and our purpose. We have a small, modest office. It’s not intended to be flashy, because that isn’t our style. We want to remember that we are servants to the justice system, our clients, and our community.
Our office décor is influenced by Mid-Century Modern design for these reasons:
Mid-Century Modern is a design style that puts function over form. Our goal is to make our legal work functional, as well, and the MCM style reminds us of that.
The Mid-Century Modern design emerged in the late 1940s and continued until about 1970. That was a period of family and community values and an emergent commitment to human equality. We subscribe to those values.
The bulldog. Occasionally, you will see a bulldog icon on our materials. It’s not a promotional item but, instead, a reminder of what we want to be. There have been 3 VanBuskirk bulldogs – Dick, Betsy, and now Vivian. Each one of them have embodied the characteristics of the bulldog breed, which are: honest and authentic behaviour (the bulldog does what it thinks is best, even if that requires some stubbornness); courage (the bulldog will take on anyone, anytime); and humility (the bulldog knows that it isn’t the prettiest dog, or the fastest, or the biggest. But it is the most determined, and that accounts for a lot).
Our wall art. Our wall art depicts scenes from our community, which serve as a reminder of the people and companies that we hope to help.
Our coffee: We drink Catapult coffee. By doing that, we support Outflow Ministry. Outflow works to improve the lives of the people in Saint John who live in poverty. We appreciate our place in our community, and we want to help improve the places of others.
