When the firm was founded on March 21, 1975, it was a very different time.  A period of  substantial transition in the legal field resulted in an assault on the traditional approach to the practice of law.  The older generation will recall that lawyers and law firms, in general, didn't offer a user friendly environment.  The practice of law was stiff with a visible barrier between lawyer and client. Law firms in London, Ontario, were particularly business like and perhaps even aloof about the realities of everyday life.  Staid would be an appropriate adjective to describe the majority of law firms of the day.

When establishing our firm, we faced many “doubting Thomases”.  London's legal community was conservative.  It was committed to the past and tradition.  It did not want to change.  It certainly did not have a place for upstarts who failed to accept the status quo.  But our founders were determined that they could create and build a successful law firm based upon their beliefs and that change was a necessary and integral part of the new practice of law.  It was time - clients needed more from their advocates than traditional remedies.  They needed lawyers who were approachable and understanding, and who considered solving problems promptly as the first order of business.

We started out by trying to be all things to all people; an ambitious and overreaching goal.  We provided services across the board because we were just starting out and we had to learn from experience how best to fulfill our mandate.  Over the years, we learned that while offering estate planning and real estate were worthy endeavours, they did not provide us with the satisfaction that came from actually solving disputes.  It was obvious that conflict breeds discontent, uncertainty and stress.  It was equally obvious that resolution of conflict breeds satisfaction and contentment, and allows the combatants to leave the struggle behind and move forward with their lives.  For us, resolution of conflict provided purpose and fulfillment.  Litigation became our focus and our strength.  We became advocates for those in need of what we had to offer.

Unfortunately, litigation became excessively time consuming and expensive.  Results were unpredictable and depended upon findings of fact and law by third parties, whether by judge or jury.  Clients were rarely satisfied at the end of the day.  They had allowed the fight to consume their lives for far too long, and at far too great a price.  Even victory took its toll.  Our firm stepped back to carefully consider the needs of our clients.  We studied what was happening in other jurisdictions.  We learned about alternatives to the standard litigation process.  We evolved.  The result:  Conflict Management and Alternate Dispute Resolution.

We remain competent and fearless in courtroom litigation; but that has truly become the “court of last resort.”  Today, we are committed to engaging our clients in the resolution of their particular conflict.  We focus on the development of evidence to prove a particular issue.  Once all the evidence is available, we involve the client in face-to-face negotiation and/or mediation of their claims.  They control and direct the process, with the advice of counsel.  They participate directly in the process, and ultimately make the decision as to whether the matter can be resolved through the process of negotiation or though the fires and rigours of trial.

We have become Damn Fine Litigators, committed to the welfare of our clients.