An experienced team
Frank Metcalf, K.C.
Frank Metcalf, K.C. is a senior member of the Nova Scotia Bar having practised law in Halifax for over 55 years mainly in the areas of maritime law, insurance, financing and corporate law. His client base is P&I and Hull & Machinery Underwriters and businesses involved in the marine and fishing industries.
For 5 years he managed an offshore supply ship company that provided support services to Mobil, PetroCanada, and Shell Oil amongst others in the East Coast offshore. Frank is a long-standing member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association and the Eastern Admiralty Law Association. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986. Frank served as Honorary Consul for Finland from 1992 to 2016 and is a past Chairman of The Association of Average Adjusters of Canada.
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In 2002 and 2003 he served on a four-member panel appointed by the federal Minister of Transport to review the Canada Marine Act. Frank is named in the maritime law section of Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal, Best Lawyers and Lexpert.
Email: frankmetcalf@metcalf.ns.ca
Eric Machum
Eric Machum has practiced law since 2005. Prior to joining Metcalf & Company he practised with Clyde & Co. in Venezuela. His practice is directed to marine, transportation, insurance and corporate-commercial law. Eric regularly advises ship owners, freight forwarders, marine service providers, exporters and their insurers on technical, regulatory and commercial/contractual matters including charter and sales documents. He holds a Master’s degree (LLM) in Marine Law and Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Dalhousie University Law School.
Eric has supplemented his legal experience by serving with Atlantic Towing Limited as a cadet on its coastal and harbour tugs in Canada and working as a certified scuba diving instructor. He also teaches part-time at the Dalhousie University Marine Affairs Program and has given intensive training courses on maritime law in Latin America.
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While at Dalhousie University Law School Eric was recognised with the CCH Canadian Limited award for highest mark in Legal Research and Writing. Since then he has authored several articles on maritime law matters and continues to be published on a regular basis.
Eric is a director of the Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA), the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association (CTLA) and the Mission to Seafarers Halifax. He is Vice President of the CMLA and Vice-Chair of the Eastern Admiralty Law Association. Eric is named in the maritime law section of Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal, Best Lawyers and Lexpert.
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As of December 2016 Eric was appointed Honorary Consul for Finland.
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Eric is fluent in English, Spanish and German.
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Email: ericmachum@metcalf.ns.ca
Norm Letalik​
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Norm Letalik has practiced law in Ontario since 1989 and in England and Wales since 1998. He spent over 25 years at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), where he was a litigation partner focused on marine, aviation, automotive, and insurance law. He formed and headed BLG‟s Automotive Practice Group and at times was the national head of BLG's Product Liability, Arbitration and ADR, International and IT Practice Groups and the Toronto Head of the Marine Practice Group. From 1996 to 1998, he was Managing Partner of BLG’s London, UK office, acting for global clients in complex litigation and product liability matters.
From 2015 to 2017 Norm was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Volkswagen Group Canada where he was responsible for all legal and regulatory matters and was the Chief Privacy and Compliance Officer. He has also served in senior legal roles for Audi Canada Inc., Automobili Lamborghini Canada, and Bentley Motors Canada, Ltd., and as a Director of the Global Automakers of Canada.
Before entering private practice, Norm taught marine and shipping law at Dalhousie Law School, was a Visiting Fellow at the National University of Singapore, and lectured at U of T and Queen’s. He has published over 50 legal articles and is a frequent speaker at legal conferences
He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for product liability defence, Lexpert for Shipping and Maritime Law and Who’s Who Legal: Shipping.
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​Email: normletalik@metcalf.ns.ca
Seamus Ryder
Seamus Ryder assists clients in the marine, transportation, and related industries with all aspects of maritime, corporate, commercial, administrative and environmental matters. He holds a Bachelor of Management (B. Mgmt.) degree from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia), a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Bond University (Australia), a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in the Law of the Sea from UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (Norway) and a diploma in ocean law and policy from the Rhodes Academy of Ocean Law and Policy (Greece).
Prior to joining Metcalf & Company, Seamus interned with the Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Later he was Research Fellow at the K. G. Jebsen Centre for Law of the Sea in Tromsø, Norway, responsible for teaching and research on various topics related to maritime law, international law of the sea, and fisheries law. Seamus continues to teach law and policy at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies (SRES) where he is a lecturer in the Masters of Resource & Environmental Management (MREM) program.
In addition to his legal practice, Seamus is also an experienced yachtsman and sailing professional. He has sailed, coached, and managed sailing programs throughout Canada, the Caribbean, and beyond.
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Seamus is named in the maritime law section of Who's Who Legal, Best Lawyers and Lexpert.
Seamus is a member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA), the Law Society of Ontario, and the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society. He is licensed to practice law in both Ontario and Nova Scotia. Seamus offers legal services in English and French.
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Email: seamusryder@metcalf.ns.ca
Luke Hunter
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Luke joined Metcalf & Company in 2019 as an articling clerk after receiving his law degree from Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. Luke advises on all areas of the firm’s expertise, including marine, transportation, insurance and corporate/commercial law, as well as complex contract negotiation for offshore, tug and tow, and related activities.
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During law school, Luke was a member and treasurer of the Environmental Law Students’ Society. Prior to that, Luke studied history and received his B.A. (First Class) from University College London in the UK. He is a current member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA) and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
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Outside the law, Luke enjoys spending time outdoors fly-fishing and exploring Nova Scotia.
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Email: lukehunter@metcalf.ns.ca
Alex Hyndman​
Alex joined Metcalf & Company in 2024 as an articling clerk after earning his law degree from Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. Prior to law school, he studied economics and received his B.Sc. from Dalhousie University. Alex advises on all areas of the firm’s expertise, including corporate, commercial, insurance, administrative, construction, and employment law. He is a current member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
During law school, Alex was a Vice President and Treasurer of Law Hour, the school’s longstanding guest-speaker series. In his third year, he spent a semester at the initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic, advising startups and honing his skills in drafting and negotiating complex contracts. Alex’s interest in innovation and technology has carried over to the marine and transportation industries, from shipping to offshore wind energy.
Outside of the office, Alex can be found running, hiking and biking around Nova Scotia.
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Email: alexhyndman@metcalf.ns.ca