Canadian Lawyer

38 M A r C h 2 0 1 5 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m Pitblado may offer "everything except criminal," but "we are still a business law firm," says Hecht. "I believe in every area, we have spectacularly qualified lawyers giving advice, for reasonable fees." Reasonable fees, is another common theme in the Winnipeg legal community. e salaries of lawyers, even senior counsel, may be lower than in other major Canadian cities, but so is the cost of living. Average prices for a home are about half of that in Toronto and a third of what it costs in Vancouver. Overhead for law firms in Winnipeg is also significantly less and along with the return of the NHL to the city, there are other sources of civic pride, including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. A thriving arts scene, numerous festivals, and of course, relatively short commutes to work, are all part of the quality of life benefits. "For those of us, who live in this market, we don't want to shout too loudly to attract competitors," jokes Fineblit. For now, outside competitors, such as the national law firms have le the business of law in Winnipeg to the local community, andd it does not appear this is about to change in the near future. In part, the geographical location, with Winnipeg somewhat iso- lated, may be a barrier, as is the fact there are long-established, full-service firms in the city. e entry of national firms is "always a possibility," says Ferguson. However, he suggests many of the clients "want a physical presence" in their legal services and there are deep business relationships that work to the benefit of local firms. New mobility rules, along with lower legal costs, have sparked a rise in Winnipeg firms seeking to pro- vide services outside Manitoba. "Our extra-provincial business is growing," says Hecht at Pitblado. e mobility rule changes have also benefited Taylor McCaffrey, says Snyder. "ere is now more work in other provinces. We have been suc- cessful in bidding on national contracts. Once we are able to get a foot in the door, we get a good reaction," says Snyder. If other firms are not entering Manitoba, for now at least, the local firms are also not looking to expand their physical presence outside the province. Instead, it is about building from within, making efforts to adapt to the changing demographics in Mani- toba and keeping legal talent in the province. Mirza says diversity within the profession is one of the key is- sues before the bar association. "ere is no question there is an increase in diversity. Many of the firms are looking [for lawyers that reflect these changes]," she says. At Fillmore Riley, the firm recognizes not only the social benefits of diversity, but the business ones too. "It helps draw in clients," says Mirza. At the University of Manitoba, the dean of the law school, I belIeve In every area, we have spectacularly qualIfIed lawyers gIvIng advIce, for reasonable fees. BenJAMin HeCHT, Pitblado LLP Winnipeg city report REACH ONE OF THE LARGEST LEGAL AND BUSINESS MARKETS IN CANADA! With more than BOBWFSBHFPG,000 page views and ,000 unique visitors monthly canadianlawlist.com captures your market. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Colleen Austin: T: 416.649.9327 E: colleen.austin@thomsonreuters.com www.canadianlawlist.com AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN PRINT Untitled-2 1 2014-12-08 11:16 AM

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