Caution: Law Firm Built On Quicksand Ahead
(A Cautionary Tale For Lawyers of All Ages) Back quite a while ago somewhere in Ontario, a fellow who I will call Sam started a… Read More »Caution: Law Firm Built On Quicksand Ahead
mentoring
Negotiating With Idiots
Back quite a few years ago, I was out for lunch with one of my associates who for today will be called “Samantha”. We were… Read More »Negotiating With Idiots
Time Travel on the HMCS Document
I attended my first closing of a commercial transaction when I was an articling student. It was a rather large share transaction. The closing started… Read More »Time Travel on the HMCS Document
Twenty-Two Tips for Keeping Legal Clients Happy
Legend has it that years ago in Toronto there was a law firm which embarked on what was then a somewhat unusual exercise. At the… Read More »Twenty-Two Tips for Keeping Legal Clients Happy
The Games That Lawyers Play
When negotiating an agreement, clients are often happy to hear that the other side’s lawyer is going to do the drafting. They assume that their… Read More »The Games That Lawyers Play
Bullies in the Boardroom
In my 6th year of practice, I represented an insolvent client in his negotiations with his Bank. The retainer came upon me suddenly as the… Read More »Bullies in the Boardroom
An Article About Articling Students
I write this from the perspective of retirement after having practiced law for four decades and having had what I believe was a successful career.… Read More »An Article About Articling Students
A Feminist Rant from an Old White Guy
Erin Durant of Durant Barristers recently posted the following on LinkedIn: “A pain point for women who create firms is the narrative that they have… Read More »A Feminist Rant from an Old White Guy
The Sharp Employ The Sharp
“The sharp employ the sharp; verily, a man may be known by his attorney.” Douglas William Jerrold Criminal lawyers are often required to represent those… Read More »The Sharp Employ The Sharp
Lessons from my Loony Early Days of Practice
When I started practicing business law immediately after being called to the Bar, I had just been rejected for hire-back with the firm where I… Read More »Lessons from my Loony Early Days of Practice