29
CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/INHOUSE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
The Top 5
Aboriginal law
boutiques
Devlin Gailus Westaway Law Corp.
Victoria
dgwlaw.ca
Dionne Schulze s.e.n.c..
Montreal
dionneschulze.ca
Maurice Law
Calgary, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa
mauricelaw.com
Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP
Toronto
oktlaw.com
Pape Salter Teillet LLP
Vancouver, Toronto
pstlaw.ca
support. It is included as part of the fi xed
retainer I have with one of the fi rms — it's
part of their general work."
Lee prefers boutiques because of the
investment they are willing to make in
understanding TimberWest's business. "I
equate that as value in the sense that with
the boutique fi rm you're often dealing with
the principal and that person will do the
work and invest the time in your company,"
he says. "It's also easier to have creative
billing arrangements with that person than
it is with a big fi rm that has compensation
committees. There is just more fl exibility
dealing with boutique fi rms."
TimberWest has a number of fee arrange-
ments with boutiques including fi xed fees per
project and monthly retainers, but no hourly
billing. "It's based on historical billings and
how much work I expect to send out to the
fi rm. You will have a deviation of between 10
and 20 per cent and it usually works out in the
client's favour. If, as general counsel, I have to
decide to send work out, it becomes an easy
decision because they get a fl ow of work and
they prefer I call them and get them involved
rather than be afraid to," he says.
While Lee says the company still does
work with its primary national fi rm for one-
off deals, he has been increasingly hiving
off work to boutiques. "With big M&A and
bet-the-company litigation, there is value
in having the bench strength in a national
work and invest the time in your company,"
he says. "It's also easier to have creative
billing arrangements with that person than
support. It is included as part of the fi xed
retainer I have with one of the fi rms — it's
part of their general work."
Lee prefers boutiques because of the
We've Got Your Back
• Experience • Bench strength
• Reputation • Independence
For a list of representative engagements visit our website or contact us.
Untitled-2 1 2015-10-14 12:11 PM
