The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50805
Here are country's top lawyers. But it's not for everyone, and especially not those who lead the firms listed in the latest round of Canadian Lawyer's top boutiques. There's no doubt that the insurance defence, personal inju- I ry, trusts and estates, and commercial real estate boutiques listed below have followed different paths to find the success they now enjoy. And while this year's crop of firms comes from disparate, and at times competing, segments of the profession, what links them all is a drive to create a lean and nimble law firm that aims to be the best at just one thing. Many of the lawyers whose firms have made the list are like John McLeish of McLeish Orlando LLP, who spent several years with a full-service firm before establishing his personal injury boutique. He sees a wide range of benefits to operating a spe- cialized firm, with streamlined staff training, efficient informa- tion systems, and a more cohesive presence in the marketplace at the top of the list. "Everyone is singing from the same hymn book, right from the most senior lawyers down to the person working in the photocopy and scanning room," says McLeish. Of course this isn't to say that boutiques lack challenges. There's no doubt it can be hard to attract clients bred to look first to the big-name national, and increasingly international, firms across the country. For many boutiques it has there- fore become essential to join forces with their like-minded peers. McCague Borlack LLP identified that need long ago by establishing an affiliation of similar insurance defence 's top fi ve boutiques in the areas of insurance defence, personal injury, trusts and estates, and commercial real estate. t's safe to say most budding lawyers these days have a similar outlook on the career that lies ahead of them. They will land an associate position at a large firm, and hopefully contribute to the bottom line well enough to one day join the partnership. It's an enviable plan that has produced some of the By Robert Todd boutiques called Canadian Litigation Counsel. That group has since linked up with its counterpart in the United States, the Harmonie Group, which consists of at least one firm in each state. The groups in both countries have recently created a global partnership called Harmonie International, which brings into the fold firms in Europe, South America, and Mexico. Howard Borlack, a founding partner at McCague Borlack, notes that the affiliation has been essential at a time when insurance companies are increasingly doing business across borders. "They love when they can get co-ordinated ser- vices, which we can provide," he says, noting that Harmonie International members must pass a strict vetting process. "Clients know that when they call us, they have a certain qual- ity and level of experience and professionalism." Other leaders at the country's top boutiques cite a long list of additional reasons why they thrive in a legal services marketplace often dominated by large firms. They say lower overhead costs translate into smaller bills for clients; modest lawyer head counts make way for a more personal touch; and the availability of new technology levels the playing field when it comes to research, drafting documents, and communicating. The firms that made the following list of Canada's top boutiques were selected on an informal basis through calls to leaders in their respective practice areas. Winners were credited for superior client service and expertise. The list is sure to create some heated discussions, and it is possible that some excellent firms just missed out. But based on the experts we canvassed, what follows are the five boutique firms that rise above their counterparts in each of the areas of insurance defence, personal injury, trusts and estates, and commercial real estate. They are listed in alphabetical order. www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A PRIL 2011 37 A cutabove Canadian Lawyer