John Ratchford

About John

John Ratchford is a Principal and General Counsel at Navigator with over twelve years experience in the practice of law, and providing communications and strategic advice to premiers and cabinet ministers. John’s legal background is primarily in commercial litigation. His public and government affairs experience has included serving as Counsel to the Premier of Ontario; Chief of Staff to the Deputy Premier of Ontario; and Campaign Press Secretary and Director of Media Events to Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm.

Before joining Navigator, John directed a corporate acquisition project for a major mobile telephone company in Prague, Czech Republic, with particular emphasis on the communications aspects of the transaction. John has pursued similar work at Navigator, managing communications projects involving corporate mergers and acquisitions. John practised law with a leading law firm in Halifax Nova Scotia, Stewart McKelvey, before coming to Toronto in 2000 to join one of Canada’s largest law firms, Gowlings LLP.

John has served on numerous political campaigns, and as a member of the boards of directors of the Arthritis Society, the United Way (Halifax), the Parkinson Society and on the executive of the PC Party of Nova Scotia. He is also active in the St. Francis Xavier University alumni association and the PC Party of Ontario.

John received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and his LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick. John was called to the bar in Ontario in 2000 and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.