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fi rms in litigation and intellectual property By robert todd Pickcrop C the of the list of the top 10 boutique oncentrated expertise and substantially fewer conflicts have helped boutique firms secure a permanent spot in Canada's legal services landscape, with firms in the litigation and intellectual property fields enjoying particular success over the years. While corporations often turn first to large firms for IP and litigation matters, boutiques have certainly carved a niche by plucking matters when their bigger counterparts are conflicted. Many companies have also learned to love the boutiques in leaner economic times as their legal departments felt the financial squeeze. At the same time, no right-minded company is willing to sacrifice quality. "We tend to look at who's the best at doing what we need," says one in-house counsel from a major corporation in Alberta. "Cost is a factor, but getting top-quality work is No. 1. As we narrow candidates down, it may well come into play, because cost is always an issue." While many boutiques have made a living through referrals from large firms, at least one Vancouver litigator suggests that well is drying up, with more conflicts being shuffled off to other big firms. "I actually think, generally, larger firms refer 38 M ARCH 2010 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com Canadian Lawyer 's