Canadian Lawyer

34 M a r c h 2 0 1 4 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m TOP QUEBEC REGIONAL FIRMS By Charlotte Santry ADVANTAGES L ast year's ratification of a deal allowing lawyers to practise across common and civil law jurisdic- tions is seen as a boon for Quebec's regional law firms. The national mobility agreement, expected to be fully implemented this year, will make it easier for the province's lawyers to work wherever their clients need to be. The law firms in Canadian Lawyer's 2014 Top 10 Quebec regional firms say they already serve clients across the country, but the agreement will undoubtedly help to further smooth the path. The development comes as Quebec firms are increas- ingly vying for work with firms in other provinces. "Regional firms in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta are all becoming our competition more and more," says Chantal Chatelain, managing partner of Langlois Kronström Desjardins LLP. The province's lawyers benefit from some distinct advantages, she believes, not least their European connec- tions. "We have the advantage of being bilingual — unlike firms in other provinces like Ontario," she says. Fees also tend to be lower in Quebec, and the bijuridical system encourages creativity, she adds. "We have more pots to pick from, to come up with inventive ideas for our clients. That gives us an advantage." But the requirement for fluent French- and English- speaking lawyers can pose a challenge for Quebec firms, admits Don McCarty, Lavery de Billy LLP's managing partner. "There aren't as many [fully bilingual candi- dates] as we'd like to see," he says. Despite gloomy economic forecasts, there is no short- age of optimism among senior law firm figures. Desjardins Economics has predicted the province's gross domestic product will grow by just 1.8 per cent in 2014, well behind the national average of 2.3 per cent. But Mario Charpentier, managing partner of BCF LLP, sees bright spots in areas such as information technology and aerospace. He high- lights the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union as being "hugely important" to Quebec firms, many of which have French clients. Charpenter is also buoyed by the "huge pool of talent in Montreal," spilling out of the city's highly regarded uni- versities. Some of the big-name talent recruited by his firm recently has come from national competitors including Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Norton Rose Fulbright. A regional firm that can offer competitive remuneration and a more flexible approach is a strong proposition from a hiring perspective, he believes. With the shuttering of Heenan Blaikie, which has its roots in Montreal, quite a few regional firms have taken in some of those lawyers and bulked up their numbers including BCF, LKD, and Lavery. From a client's point of view, Quebec's regional firms still feel they have the upper hand when it comes to value, compared to national rivals. Although many of the lat- ter have been forced to reduce fees in recent years, they haven't yet dropped to the level of Quebec's regional firms, argues Chatelain. "There's a big difference. Sometimes it's almost double the price." McCarty agrees. "I don't think the extreme cost in a national firm is always worth what they say it is," he argues. As Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd.'s former general DISTINCT Its bilingual lawyers, bijuridical system, and close ties to Europe give the top Quebec regional firms a leg-up on their competitors. HOW WE DID IT Canadian Lawyer asked lawyers and in-house counsel from across Canada to vote on top full-service firms based primarily in Quebec. They were asked to rank their top 10 firms from a preliminary list, with a chance to nominate a firm that was not included. Respondents' rankings were based on firms' regional service coverage, client base, notable mandates, service excellence, and legal expertise. To be considered in the vote, firms were required to have offices primarily in the province of Quebec and offer a wide range of legal services. The final rankings were determined through a points system, in which firms were rewarded on a sliding scale for the number of first to 10th place votes received.

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