Canada

Major Canadian Law Firm Grows in NYC

As other Canadian law firms grow—or even shrink—their international offices by merging, one “stealth mode” competitor has established a full-fledged New York City office entirely through individual lateral hiring. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt’s office there has grown from a few Canadian lawyers handling Canadian legal matters to some 30 lawyers,…

May 15, 2008 4:19 PM CDT

Toronto Abuzz About Partner Fired From Local Dorsey & Whitney Office

Lawyers from Dorsey & Whitney will be scrambling to try to make up lost ground as the firm copes with an embarrassing situation in its small Toronto office, a Canadian publication predicts. The city’s legal community is still buzzing over Gil Cornblum, a partner fired by the firm last week…

May 14, 2008 4:39 PM CDT

Dorsey & Whitney Fires Partner as Insider Trading Probe Continues

A Canadian partner of Dorsey & Whitney has reportedly been fired by the Minneapolis-based law firm, as an insider trading probe to which the lawyer has been linked continues. Gil Cornblum, the fired partner, was a law school colleague of business consultant Stan Grmovsek, one of three individuals who reportedly…

May 9, 2008 5:20 PM CDT

Suspect in Insider Trading Probe Had ‘Connection’ to Lawyer

Canadian and U.S. securities regulators are investigating possible insider trading in a probe focused on 11 Canadian takeovers during the past two years and a Minneapolis-based law firm that advised companies involved in each deal, a Canadian newspaper says. According to Ontario Superior Court documents, the Ontario Securities Commission is…

May 8, 2008 4:08 PM CDT

Canada’s Top Court Considers Controversial Khadr Case

A controversial case concerning an al-Qaida terrorism suspect who has been held in U.S. custody since he was 15 years old is being argued in Canada’s highest court today, where counsel for Omar Khadr is contending that the defense should be given access to documents concerning an interview of him…

Mar 26, 2008 7:01 PM CDT

Legal Assistant Spent $1.4M of Firm Trust Money on Herself

A former legal assistant with a major Canadian law firm reportedly stole $1.4 million from firm trust accounts over a three-and-a-half-year period by forging attorney signatures and creating falsified checks and requisition forms, among other methods. When bank statements arrived at Bennett Jones, in Calgary, Penny Marcy Myslichuk would remove…

Mar 19, 2008 4:19 PM CDT

No Associates at This Law Firm, Just Consultants

A Canadian law firm says it has never has a problem with associates over billable hours requirements. That’s because it has no associates. Instead, Thackray Burgess has “consultants” who hire desk space from the 34-attorney business firm at a cost of $800 per month, and do as much or as…

Mar 10, 2008 3:14 PM CDT

Law Firm’s New Structure Creates Parallel Management Tracks

A Canadian law firm has adopted a new management structure that is being billed as a unique approach to legal practice. Instead of having a managing partner, an executive committee and a chief executive officer, Gowling Lafleur Henderson has established a parallel management structure to deal separately with internal and…

Feb 20, 2008 10:53 PM CST

Bad Cookies Can Be a Deal-Breaker

At least among top Toronto law firms, negotiating skills and good legal work aren’t all it takes to come to terms on corporate deals. If the conference room catering doesn’t meet the parties’ expectations, that could be a deal-breaker. In particular, gourmet cookies are much on the minds of the…

Feb 20, 2008 9:25 PM CST

Bail Denied to 16-Year-Old Under Rarely Applied Canadian Provision

A Canadian judge has denied bail to a 16-year-old girl accused of inciting her boyfriend to murder a 14-year-old rival under a rarely applied rule intended to preserve public confidence in the administration of justice. The unnamed teen will not be released prior to trial even though she could be…

Jan 25, 2008 1:48 AM CST

Paralegals Sue Over Regulation By Canadian Bar Association

A group of paralegals in Ontario, Canada, has filed a court challenge to a new regulatory scheme that puts them under the authority of a bar association. While the paralegals welcome regulation, they believe they, like lawyers, should be under the authority of a group in which they are full-fledged…

Jan 23, 2008 6:15 PM CST

Canadian Senator, a Lawyer, Investigated for Alleged Overbilling

A Canadian senator representing British Columbia is under investigation for allegedly overbilling one of her legal clients, a Catholic missionary order. In one instance Sen. Mobina Jaffer is suspected of charging for 30 hours of work in a single day, CBC News reports. The Law Society of British Columbia is…

Jan 23, 2008 11:34 AM CST

Insurer Says It’s Not Responsible for TB Lawyer Tort Claims

The company that provided homeowners’ insurance for Andrew Speaker, the Atlanta lawyer who traveled despite a tuberculosis diagnosis, claims in a lawsuit it is not responsible for tort claims against him. USAA Insurance asserts in a petition for declaratory judgment that it has no responsibility for damages in a Canadian…

Jan 18, 2008 4:30 PM CST

Prominent Lawyer’s Steamy Affair Heats Up Legal Ethics Controversy

Newly publicized details of a prominent Canadian lawyer’s alleged steamy affair with a client are prompting renewed questions about whether an existing legal ethics rule concerning conflicts of interest is specific and stringent enough—as written, and as applied. George Hunter was sued in November along with his well-known law firm…

Jan 15, 2008 10:58 PM CST

From Corporate Law to Boutique Owner: Black Sheep Betty

When she worked for a top corporate law firm in Toronto, Amy Arnott found the environment too competitive for her taste. So gave up the law to become a hairdresser and artist. Now, the 31-year-old is back in business—as the owner of a Toronto boutique that sells paintings, clothing and…

Jan 14, 2008 10:14 PM CST