Canadian Lawyer

30 S E P T E M B E R 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 TOP 10 ONTARIO REGIONAL FIRMS EFFICIENCY, FLEXIBILITY, AND FOCUS D espite muted activity in pockets of the legal market and the Canadian economy facing tough headwinds, Ontario's top regional law firms say they've had a solid couple of years thanks to emerging opportu- nities and their unrelenting focus on efficiency. With Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP announcing in July its merger with U.K.-based Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, the bigger shops continue the trend of going global for want of larger markets. Meanwhile, Ontario's regional firms are expanding their own reach at home by picking up new clients who are choosing leaner structures over "too big" firms. At the top of this year's Ontario regional firm rankings, Toronto-based WeirFoulds LLP touts itself as being "of a shape and size" that appeals to its clients. "We're not composed of a partnership that's looking to conquer the world geographically," says managing partner Michael Statham. "Knowing who you are is critical; that remains 100-per-cent true." As clients look to reduce legal costs, Statham says the firm is meeting its needs using fewer lawyers. "We're able to assemble leaner teams on deals, on commercial transactions — whether it involves M&A work or it involves real estate or litigation," he says. Aird & Berlis LLP, second on this year's list, says it has continued to grow in a rapidly changing legal environment. The firm has focused on spotting new opportunities and capitalizing on them, says former managing partner Eldon Bennett. The challenge, he says, is to first "figure out where opportunities are struc- turally, given the changing face of law. Secondly, it's a fast-changing world, so you look where the practice opportunities are coming down the road." While a weaker loonie may be making them attractive to clients in the U.S. and internationally, many of the regional firms say they have yet to notice a tangible impact of the exchange rate. That may be due to uncertainties over the global economy — concerns about China slowing down and doubts about Europe's recovery — have stifled the M&A market internationally, says Bennett. "Fortu- nately, being in the mid-market, that's where the vast majority of the deals that do exist are, so we certainly get our fair share of them," adds Bennett. He reports revenue-wise, each of the last two years were better for his firm than the year previously. "In a difficult market, it's been very good." Paying attention to how clients are responding to the economy is helping Lern- ers LLP thrive, according to London, Ont.-based partner Graham Porter. "Our firm emphasizes highly reactive services, we want to make sure the client always feels well taken care of, and we try to be as responsive as possible," he says. "There CANADIAN LAWYER 'S TOP 10 ONTARIO REGIONAL LAW FIRMS ARE HOLDING STRONG IN A MARKET FILLING WITH GLOBAL COMPETITORS. BY YAMRI TADDESE Canadian Lawyer asked lawyers, in-house counsel, and clients from across Canada to vote on the top full-service, regional firms in Ontario. They were asked to rank their top 10 firms from a preliminary list, with a chance to nominate a firm that was not included on the lists. 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 only in Ontario, and offer a wide range of legal services. The final rankings were deter- mined through a points system, in which firms were rewarded on a sliding scale for the number of first- to 10th-place votes received. HOW WE DID IT

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