Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m M A r C h 2 0 1 5 37 it is an opportunity, although the jury is still out on how profit- able it is," says Snyder. However, he adds there are "huge oppor- tunities for tax and estate planning" in agricultural-driven indus- tries, much of which is outside Winnipeg. Dividing up estates has also led to increased litigation op- portunities, says Hill. "We do more oppression cases than ever," oen related to the third generation in family run businesses in disputes over the assets. Areas such as business immigration law are also on the rise as the population of Winnipeg becomes increasingly diverse and there are more investors from outside the country. "Business cli- ents are looking to find workers. ere is a need for immigration consultation and other legal work," says Hecht, of the growth ar- eas at Pitblado. Immigration law is also a growing field at Fillmore Riley LLP, says Sofia Mirza, a partner at the firm and current president of the Manitoba Bar Association. "is is work that used to be done by a boutique. But it is critical for us as a one-stop shop." Be- ing able to help outside employees navigate requirements from a number of government departments is not necessarily about lower skilled workers, which has attracted the most attention in the media, says Mirza. "It can be executives and CEOs." e concept of a boutique within a larger firm is also cited by Snyder, in reference to the family law practice at Taylor McCaffrey. Nearly one-fih of the more than 60 lawyers at the firm are part of its family law team. "We manage to make it profitable. Our law- yers have been good at cross-marketing," says Snyder. "It has been driven by Jim Stoffman. He is very high profile as a matrimonial lawyer," Snyder says, adding that it is a sign of a certain level of independence afforded to partners at the firm. Even as the larger firms look for emerging areas in the law and in the Manitoba economy, the traditional corporate and com- mercial related practices are still what drive the revenues. At Aikins, Ferguson says the firm has been part of "every major transaction" in the province in recent years. e largest firm in the city, with more than 90 lawyers, it also has the largest securities, M&A, transportation, and tax groups, says Ferguson, "and the ex- perience that goes with it." Within each area though, the firm still tries to create "specialty teams," to serve its client base, he adds. Taylor McCaffrey has "less of a focus on the institutional clients and more on mid-market firms," says Snyder. "It was a conscious decision." Winnipeg city report Juncatta internatiOnal www.pitblado.com 2500 – ÎÈäÊ>Ê-ÌÀiiÌÊUÊ7«i}]Ê>ÌL>ÊUÊ,Î Ê{È *i\ÊÓä{®ÊxÈ - äxÈäÊUÊ>\ÊÊwÀJ«ÌL>`°VÊUÊÊÊÊÊJ*ÌL>`>Ü Ì½ÃÊÌÀÕi]ÊÜi½ÛiÊ}ÌÊ>ÊÌiÊÌ>iÌÊiViÃÃ>ÀÞÊ ÌÊ`Ê}Ài>ÌÊÜÀÊvÀÊÕÀÊViÌÃ°Ê ÕÌÊ>ÌÊ Pitblado Law]ÊÜiÊVÃiÊÕÀÊ>ÜÞiÀÃÊvÀÊ ÕVÊÀiÊÌ>ÊÌiÀÊÃðÊ7>ÌÊÀi>ÞÊ ÃiÌÃÊÕÃÊ>«>ÀÌÊÃÊÕÀÊ>««À>VÊÌÊÌiÊ>Ü°Ê 7iÊÕ`iÀÃÌ>`ÊÌ>ÌÊÌ`>Þ½ÃÊLÕÃiÃÃÊÌ>iÃÊ >ÊÌÊÀiÊÌ>ÊÕÃÌÊ>LÌÞÊqÊ̽ÃÊ>LÕÌÊ ÃÌi}ÊÌÊ>`ÊÜÀ}ÊÜÌÊÕÀÊViÌÃ]Ê ÌÊÕÃÌÊvÀÊÌi° /ÃÊV>LÀ>ÌÛiÊ>««À>VÊi«ÃÊVÀi>ÌiÊ ÃÕVViÃÃvÕÊ«>ÀÌiÀëÃÊLiÌÜiiÊÕÀÊ ViÌÃÊ>`Ê>ÜÞiÀÃ°Ê ÌÊ*ÌL>`Ê>Ü]ÊÕÀÊViÌÃÊ}iÌÊÀiÊ vÀÊÌiÀÊ>ÜÊwÀ° Meet our people and see our work at www.pitblado.com. We're proud to serve individuals and businesses in Winnipeg and across Canada. We understand relationships Untitled-4 1 2015-02-09 10:10 AM

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