Lexpert Magazine

LEXPERT MAGAZINE | MAY 2017 37 | LOOKING BACK | ford was everywhere: "He was the chair- man of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), chancellor of Mount Al- lison University and chairman of AT&T Canada. He was a corporate director for Canadian National Railway and was a member of the board of the Maple Leaf Foods as well as governor of the University of Waterloo." Most memorably for Canadian deal- makers, Crawford chaired "the Pan-Cana- dian Investors Committee for ird-Party Structured Asset Backed Commercial Pa- per; was the former chair of the Five-Year Review Committee appointed to review securities legislation in Ontario and was also the chair of the Securities Industry Committee on Analyst Standards … In 2000, he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and named Ivey Business Leader of the Year. Horner inherited the legacy of Craw- ford, absorbing much of it side-by-side. If practising corporate law is really about relationships, it starts by the example of a mentor supporting a mentee: "Purdy Crawford would ask me to dra something, then he would revise it three times," says Horner. "But when the client came, he would say, 'look what Clay did. You should go directly to Clay'." Crawford gave over files to Horner and others once he knew they would rise to the occasion. Horner has tried to emulate his example. Lexpert asked Horner: Within those relationships and on the deals, how im- portant are ethics and can you teach them? Horner replied, "Ethics cannot be underes- timated; they are so important. Firm lead- ers need to teach them – and embody them – and every lawyer needs to learn them. Professional responsibility and a client-first ethos must always take priority over firm or individual self interest." is becomes critical, he explains, es- pecially when a lawyer makes a mistake. Horner modestly tells of an early mistake in his own career, the kind where he "couldn't sleep for two nights" and then told the cli- ent, who might never have discovered it otherwise. "e importance of owning up to a mistake is critical. You shouldn't carry that burden on your own. If you don't own up, the mistake may become more difficult to correct. Besides, it's just plain wrong." HORNER TOOK TO heart the matters of law firm leadership and broader community contribution. He is a former Co-chair of the firm. He was also pleased to lead on the establishment of its first Strategic Plan, citing its importance in everyone pulling together in the firm, on the team. And he made the celebration of the firm's United Way giving totals one of the three special moments in the firm's annual calendar. One lesson new lawyers might take from Horner is to make time for a passionate in- terest outside of law. In Horner's case he is a passionate Standardbred Horse-Racing enthusiast. Having said that, he chairs the Woodbine Entertainment Group Board of Directors, which means he has built up good relationships there too. .ca TAKE A TOUR OF The Lexpert.ca media platform works to highlight Lexpert-ranked lawyers and law firms and the work they do to a coveted target audience including in-house counsel, C-Suite executives, law firm partners and associates, and other legal professionals - making Lexpert.ca an unparalleled tool for business development. We invite you to visit Lexpert.ca. INCLUDING: • Lexpert Magazine • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory • Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada • Lexpert CCCA Corporate Counsel Directory & Yearbook • Lexpert Special Editions (in the ROB) and Guides PLUS: • Deals coverage found in the DealsWire e-newsletter • Information on Lexpert courses and webinars • Awards and events updates Custom-designed for Lexpert-ranked lawyers, law firms, and their clients, Lexpert.ca brings together all Lexpert media properties in one portal.

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