Canadian Lawyer

42 A P R I L 2 0 1 8 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m released indicated a record number of almost 10,000 left Vancouver in 2016-2017 — Vancouver law firms thrive as 35,000 new immigrants arrived in the city during that time. Vancouver's legal services market has picked up considerably in the last couple of years, says Mike Race of ZSA Legal Recruitment, with all sizes of firms looking for experienced associates. "There is a real talent shortage at associate level in this city," he says. The market is particularly tight in real estate, securities, commercial litigation and tax law." But, Race says, Vancouver is a double- edged sword of some of the most expensive housing prices in the country alongside lower salaries than either Toronto or Cal- gary. "No one moves to Vancouver any- more for lifestyle reasons," he says. "There has to be a more compelling draw to con- sider moving to the city, such as returning home to family." Even the Fraser Valley and surrounding suburbs come with trade-offs; housing is less expensive but still pricey and commuting time to downtown can be excessive. Vancouver law firms, though, are adapt- ing to keep good lawyers. Boughton Law shareholder Luca Cit- ton predicts firms will accommodate more working-at-home lawyers. "For a lot of our interviews [for new hires], we are asked the question would we be averse to that person working from home one or two days," he says. "That is not a question we would have been asked 10 years ago." Dodging a long and unnecessary urban or rural commute, child-care issues or remote locations in northern B.C. make signing into the office cloud platform as effective when there's no client to meet. Lawson Lundell managing partner Clif- ford Proudfoot has also made alternative work arrangements when the firm wanted to keep a lawyer who left to live in Kam- loops. The individual now travels to the Vancouver office when needed and works remotely the other days. Both Proudfoot and Citton say they still have a good supply of resumés from new lawyers or lawyers with years of call, proof positive that large firms still have drawing cachet. "We get resumés from Toronto, Calgary, the Prairies — it is pretty steady," says Proudfoot. The firm has just added six new partners — both associates who have grown with the firm and lateral hires. But even large firm lawyers working large accounts want more. Corporate cul- ture is becoming increasingly important. "Our culture is based on three things — trust, respect and teamwork — and we want to reflect in all parts of the firm," says Proudfoot. The firm is known for build- ing a strong diversity and inclusion pro- gram within its doors. Proudfoot believes it makes a difference when attracting new talent. The firm employs 25 women and Proudfoot tells of one instance where a woman lawyer joined after speaking with a senior woman within the firm. Diversity is also good business. Law- son Lundell, the city's third largest firm with 106 lawyers and corporate law the mainstay, has added its China Initiative, headed by partner Jack Yong, who assists Chinese clients in acquiring or investing in major commercial real estate deals. At Boughton's 52-lawyer firm, corpo- rate culture is also important. Citton says it is Boughton's learning environment that attracts. Younger lawyers enter, hone legal knowledge and then after five or six years, with expertise, embark upon devel- opment as individual business centres. "We try to educate that lawyer in how to develop business, bring in business and how to develop a client base. It is a skillset." Citton says the ability to grow business has made the firm a regional one, moving beyond geographical boundaries. Aided by technology, it is possible to carry on corporate transactions across Canada and internationally as Vancouver is a hotbed of commercial real estate and develop- ment activity. "Commercial real estate lawyers are one of the most in demand in the city," he says. Residential real estate is also brisk in major B.C. centres, spurred by retirees, growing populations and immigration. It's all good news to Metro Vancouver con- veyancing lawyer Tony Spagnuolo and his group of residential real estate companies. He has 18 business outlets throughout Metro Vancouver and B.C., which collect deals and bring them to a central office. "Business is booming — we are fly- ing," says Spagnuolo, who has five law- yers on staff. He's honed efficiency into art with conveyancing software, auto- mated accounting, emails, texting and a ratio of 10 support staff for each lawyer. The 18 offices gather work to a central office in Coquitlam where 5,500 deals churn through a year — enough to build a small town. Spagnuolo, like other law firms, sees shortages of support staff. He's currently working on putting together an appren- tice-style course for conveyancing para- legals that move them over a 24-month training program. "Right now, training is spotty," he says, and individuals want to be compensated for their skill levels. He's still fine-tuning the program, but, once in place, there will be components (with evaluations) that will acknowledge both skill level and pay grade. The rolling-boil residential real estate market shows signs of cooling. "As long they build them and sell them, we will close them," Spagnuolo says. British Columbia Regional Report

• Cover