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REGIONAL WRAP-UP Yergeau, chairman of the board of direc- tors at Lavery de Billy. He devotes all his professional time to environmental mat- ters. Yergeau has pleaded cases involving matters ranging from transportation of hazardous goods/waste and elimination of industrial residues to the protection of fl ood-prone areas and rate structures for domestic waste removal. In the past two years, the barreau has taken offi cial positions on proposed pro- vincial legislation on sustainable devel- opment, environmental quality, off-road/ all-terrain vehicles as well as natural re- sources, wildlife, and parks. It is currently preparing a dissertation and preparing to participate in the government's commis- sion on the future of agriculture. Even at the grassroots level, the bar- reau is putting in place a sorting/recy- cling program announced in May. A group of its employees has already cre- ated the Baro Vert, a column providing environmental tips and advice featured in the internal Dixit newsletter. — MIKE KING mking@videotron.ca L East Coast fi rms developing environmental edge aw fi rms throughout Atlantic Canada are practising green. In ad- dition to building up expertise in such areas as wind energy and carbon- credit trading, and representing clients such as Nova Scotia's solid-waste strat- egy operator, fi rms are looking inward to see how their practices can be fi ne- tuned to help the environment. Patterson Law, which has offi ces in Halifax and Truro, N.S., is currently putting in place a proposal that calls for the establishment of a "green team" to oversee environmental efforts and keep the issue top-of-mind. That plan, says Derek Simon, a lawyer with the fi rm and co-author of the proposal, was "overwhelmingly" endorsed by members. Perhaps one reason for the hearty seal of approval was the two thrusts in the proposal. "We made both an envi- ronmental case and a business case," notes Simon. The business case in- cludes cost-saving and client expecta- tions. "We are doing business with cli- ents that are in the green community," says Simon. Those clients are looking to their law fi rm to follow suit. As a starting point, Patterson Law is tackling the mountains of paper that litter law offi ces. Interestingly, much of that paper is generated as a result of e-mail. To reduce the often-automatic hitting of the print button when a message arrives in an inbox, the green team sponsored an e-mail tag contest to remind lawyers and others that the paper trail leaves a big footprint. Now appearing on all Patterson Law e-mail is this message: "One World — Help offi ces in all four Atlantic provinces, took part in a national commuter challenge (and held their own chal- lenges between fl oors). "We saved over 11,000 kilometres," says Rogers. Both Stewart McKelvey and ATLANTIC CANADA us keep it green by only printing this e-mail if necessary." McInnes Cooper is in the early stages of developing a corporate so- cial-responsibility policy, which will have a strong green focus, says Sandra Avolese, regional director of marketing with the fi rm in Halifax. The fi rm's new Halifax offi ce also refl ects green thinking. In particu- lar, the fl oor-to-ceiling win- dows that dominate the of- fi ce are well-positioned for helping reduce energy use by increasing the amount of natural light. Stewart McKelvey has put in place McInnes Cooper (along with several other law fi rms) are tenants in Purdy's Wharf, one of the largest offi ce com- plexes in Nova Scotia's capital. Purdy's Wharf has an impressive cooling sys- tem that doesn't require energy-in- tensive equipment. As it is nestled at the harbour's edge, an abundant and eco-friendly alternative is used: cold sea water. Across the harbour at Derek Simon Boyne Clarke, in Dartmouth, a green committee is looking at a number of initiatives to help the fi rm become more eco-effi cient, says executive director Diane Norris. "We had an environmental and energy review conducted late last fall by the Dalhousie University Eco-Effi ciency Centre," she notes. "They a sustainability committee to lead the charge, says John Rogers, the managing partner in Nova Scotia. "We are try- ing to tie sustainability into the value proposition of the fi rm," he notes. As a result, environmental concerns are now part of purchasing decisions that include everything from hiring cater- ers to buying computer hardware. To celebrate Environment Week this year, 123 members of the fi rm, which has provided us with a very comprehen- sive report covering opportunities for energy reduction, water reduction, and waste management." Most changes, like these Atlantic Canada's law fi rms are actively putting in place, are but the tip of the envi- ronmental iceberg. That doesn't make them any less noteworthy, says Simon. "Every little bit counts. It's a small im- pact, but it's an impact nonetheless." — DONALEE MOULTON donalee@quantumcommunications.ca www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com SEPTEMBER 2008 15