Canadian Lawyer

Two law firms and the Half Mile of Hell Law firms see value in purchasing some 'canvas' on a chuck wagon. if you see the senior partners of one of Canada's biggest law firms toting a bucket of feed or even cleaning out a horse stall. A chance of getting up close and all "hi par'dner" to the cowboy way of life is part I of what a company buys when it purchases a "canvas" — that' wagon — and buying one not only gives you the right to put your company logo on it, but also to have unrivalled access to trackside and yes, to the barns. The "chucks" have become one of the hottest tickets in Stampede-crazy Calgary. Getting a canvas is a key strategy for compa- nies, including law firms, wanting to build employee morale, entertain clients, and give out-of-town guests an unforgettable experience. But to get your company's name on s the cover on a chuck that canvas you have to outbid your com- petitors at an auction held every March. That bidding, particularly among Calgary's flush and ambitious corporate players, can be fierce. The high rollers, some dressed in cow- WEST firm that does a lot of oil patch business, hosted its huge Stampede bash. With the world financial crisis making itself visible even in the oil-happy streets of Calgary, the firm decided there were better things to do with its promotional budget than serve up more booze and hot canapés. The firm's favourite charity is the f you are in Calgary for the Stampede next month, and anywhere near the chuck wagons, don't be surprised anniversary — the gawkers weren't disap- pointed as the canvas auction pulled in a record $4 million in a frantic hour-and-a- half bidding frenzy. Sitting in the middle of the crowd was Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP's Calgary managing partner Tammy Coates. "It was exhilarating, to the auction and the fact she held the FMC bidding paddle. This is not only the Stampede' " she says of her first visit 100th anniversary in Calgary, so bidding for a canvas for the first time "was a pretty simple decision," says Coates. Winning that bid took $120,000, but Coates figures it was a good deal given that the firm' s 100th birthday, it's also FMC's because it is so colourful. The PR flaks call it a "Half Mile of Hell, all that over-the-top when the chucks start wheeling around the Stampede' their four-horse teams at full gallop, inches between the rigs, and the crowd roaring. It' " which doesn't seem s track with up spectacle. Another Calgary law firm was also at boy gear, gather for the auction at a theatre on the Stampede grounds. Along with them there are a lot of other people who want to see just how high the high rollers will roll. This year — the Stampede' s 100th s a heart-thumping, jaw-dropping, fired- the canvas auction in March, and while it likes to whoop it up during the Stampede with the best of them, it has a whole different strategy about how to use the canvas, one that grew out of the global financial crisis of 2008. That was the last year Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP, a News Feed HELP US GIVE MORE Visit our charity Facebook page and anniversary "is really significant for us." Chuck-wagon racing is popular s we'll donate $1 for every "Like" to the highlighted charity up to a maximum of $2,500 per month. This month is ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION. PH'S HEAL www.facebook.com/LernersLLP LERNERS' TOP 5 Lerners picks the Court of Appeal's Top 5 civil decisions and, for diversion, our Top 5 holes at the Masters. NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK! Lerners Commercial Litigation Group has launched its new website. Drop in and see us! http://bit.ly/IcMQHs www.lerners.ca www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JUNE 2012 11 erners_CL_June_12.indd 1 12-05-10 3:45 PM Calgary Food Bank. So in 2009 it opted to buy a chuck wagon canvas, then re-sell each of the 10 nights the chuck wagon would run. It sold the package to clients and friends. For a single night they got to put their company name on a canvas as well as reward employees and enter- tain clients with trackside seating and a visit behind the scenes. All the profits go to the food bank. It meant the Stampede revelry would Continued on page 12 Bill marsH

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