Canadian Lawyer

REGIONAL WRAP-UP lsUc eyeing changes to conflict rUles Continued from page 10 the concerns. He said most provinces are in the process of considering the changes. "I know British Columbia, like the law society, is in the process of considering these changes," he said. "Most have started to adopt minor changes in the language but they're also paying attention to the WEST london olympics stir Bittersweet memories for calgary lawyer looking and a senior partner in Wolch Hursh deWit Silverberg & Watts, a prominent Calgary criminal law firm. He is married with four grown kids and two grandchildren. His numerous high-profile cases mean he is often in the media spotlight. He loves his work and with his children now out of the house he's looking forward to spend- ing more quiet time with his wife. But something is bugging deWit and it will be in the back of his mind as he watches the London Olympics later this month. He used to be a boxer, a very good A nyway you look at it, Willie deWit is one successful guy. He is 51, fit, ruggedly good- conflicts of interest section, too." rules have changed this year. The LSUC approved an amendment to the rules in April that requires lawyers to protect themselves against being used by a client or any member of the public to engage in illegal conduct. At the time, some bench- ers also spoke out against the amendments over concerns they were too vague and In fact, this isn't the first time the potentially dangerous. But despite the con- cerns, the motion was carried. For now, Convocation has approved the latest motion calling for input on the additional changes. The law society will be receiving feedback on them from bench- ers and members of the legal community until the end of August. kendyl.sebesta@thomsonreuters.com — KENDYL SEBESTA boxer. In the summer of 1984, he rep- resented Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics as a heavyweight. He was tall and fast with a powerful right hand and he made it all the way to the gold medal match against American boxer Henry Tillman. DeWit was the aggressor throughout that fight chasing Tillman around the ring. Legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell was calling the fight for ABC-TV and like most Olympic broadcasters Cosell favoured his own country's athletes. But at the end of this match, while the crowd was waiting for the judges' scores, he went as far as to say to his American audi- ence, "I believe Willie deWit won this 'A good cross-examination is not quite as good a feeling as landing a left hook and knocking someone down on their butt, but it's close,' says Willie deWit. fight." But Cosell's unpatriotic predic- tion proved wrong. Tillman, against all expectations, was declared winner of the fight on points, and became the Olympic gold medallist. "What do you know, Cosell's only comment. "I still think I won the fight," says " was a slightly embarrassed deWit sitting in his firm's book-lined boardroom on the 15th floor of an office tower near the Calgary court- house. Old tapes of the fight suggest deWit has a point. He says it has taken him almost 30 years to get over losing 10 JULY 2012 www. CANADIAN Lawyermag.com the gold medal and it still grates on him. He fought Tillman four times: twice as an amateur, once as an Olympian, and later as a pro — he won every one except for the gold medal match. The silver medal deWit received that August day in L.A. sits in a frame in his office, but it was his wife who put it there. "It's just a piece of the furniture, career following the Olympics, deWit retired from the ring. He remembers thinking even then "not to stay in the game too long. Getting hit in the head is After a brief and rather ordinary pro " says deWit. geoff ellwand

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