I practiced law for 39 years, primarily in a medium sized law firm in Mississauga, Ontario. I was the practice head for the corporate department for much of that time and the managing partner of the firm for 5 years.
I started my practice with no natural inclination towards marketing and over time developed a substantial client base, much of which was comprised of medium sized and large entrepreneurial business.
There were many things that I enjoyed about practicing law, including in particular helping clients build their businesses and achieve their goals, and sometimes playing an instrumental role in helping them work their way out of shareholder disputes or financial difficulties. I also enjoyed working with families on inter-generational business transition.
In particular, I enjoyed teaching and mentoring younger lawyers.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I enjoyed the very many lunches with interesting people that I had in the course of marketing my practice.
There was one thing that I never enjoyed, and that is the relentless pressure of the legal profession and its impact on family life and physical and mental health.
In April of 2020 I retired, moved to Buckhorn, Ontario and bought a pick-up truck. When I am not hiking in the woods, I now do some teaching of lawyers and law clerks and mentoring of younger lawyers.
I also write about my insights into life in the legal profession in an attempt to encourage law students and lawyers to plan their careers with their eyes wide open and a view to their families and health.
