Lexpert magazine features articles and columns on developments in legal practice management, deals and lawsuits of interest in Canada, the law and business issues of interest to legal professionals and businesses that purchase legal services.
Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/1547047
www.canadianlawyermag.com 61 stayed consistent about the way you approach litigation over that stretch, and what has had to change? A: The main thing that has stayed the same is we're a firm that very much enjoys, and is proud of, what we do. We take pride in our work, and that came from the founders at the very beginning, John Hunter, Peter Voith, Bill Berardino, and David Harris. They were all senior practitioners who set a very high standard, both in terms of understanding the client's needs and what would best serve the client, and in advancing the law. We've always attracted people who are like-minded, and I like to think our current senior people, myself, Bill Smart, Claire Hunter, and Brian Duong, have a similar attitude and respect for the way to practise. We see a continuation of that ethic in the fact that our next generation of lead counsel are all recognized by their peers as leading practitioners. What's changed is the speed with which we have to practise. Clients want answers more quickly, courts have put processes in place to get matters on more quickly, and there are often shorter time fuses with injunctions and other types of litigation than there used to be, so we've had to keep up to date with technology to make sure we're well placed to respond. Q: Peers describe your senior counsel as consistently trusted by the courts and administrative tribunals. What do you think earns that kind of trust over time? A: The senior counsel here have worked very hard to make sure that when we go to court, the court can trust what we have to say. We're very careful and thoughtful about ensuring our client's best case, one that's accurate, is put forward to the court. There's a lot more law out there today, more reported decisions, and it's very diffi- cult for the courts to keep up with it all, so we have to be particularly careful to ensure we're representing the state of the law accurately. 2026 WINNERS AT A GLANCE Since 2012 marks a firm recognized in every cycle since the survey began Ranked by Canadian lawyers, in-house counsel, and clients in Canadian Lawyer's 2026 Top Litigation Boutiques survey. 10 firms recognized in Eastern Canada, five in Western Canada. Lenczner Slaght LLP Since 2012 Toronto · General commercial litigation Eastern Canada Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP Since 2012 Toronto · Complex, high-stakes commercial litigation Eastern Canada Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP Since 2012 Toronto · Appellate, administrative & commercial litigation Eastern Canada Stockwoods LLP Since 2012 Toronto · Securities litigation, regulatory & class actions Eastern Canada Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP Toronto · General commercial litigation Eastern Canada Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP Toronto · Criminal, commercial & public law Eastern Canada Babin Bessner Spry LLP Toronto · General dispute resolution Eastern Canada Woods LLP Since 2012 Montreal · General commercial litigation Eastern Canada Ross Nasseri LLP Toronto · General commercial litigation Eastern Canada Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP Toronto · Competition, corporate & construction litigation Eastern Canada Hunter Litigation Chambers Since 2012 Vancouver · General litigation Western Canada Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP Calgary · General commercial litigation Western Canada HMC Lawyers LLP Calgary · General commercial litigation Western Canada McEwan Partners LLP Vancouver · General litigation Western Canada Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP Vancouver · General litigation Western Canada