Conduit and Deloitte part ways, new chief for Canadian Olympic Foundation
At its Call to the Bar ceremony in Toronto last week, the Law Society of Upper Canada presented Justice Harry Laforme with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Called to the Bar in 1979, Justice LaForme has been recognized as a highly respected and dedicated leader within the legal profession and the Indigenous community. He is Ojibwa and a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.
Robert Lapper steps down as LSUC CEO
Robert Lapper, who served as CEO of the Law Society of Upper Canada for six years, has tendered his resignation effective Oct. 31. “After almost six years as CEO of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) I have decided that it is time to leave, to focus on new opportunities and life priorities,” he said.
On Sept. 29, Conduit Law, which bills itself as offering “outsourced lawyers to support in-house legal teams,” providing “on-demand solutions for law firms,” and assisting clients “with short-term projects and special engagements,” announced “its renewed independence.”
Conduit Law founder Peter Carayiannis’ explanation of the split suggests that attempts to integrate Conduit with the organizational behemoth that is Deloitte were futile.
“We have decided that Conduit Law can scale more rapidly as an independent firm,” he said. “We are professionals with the highest standards of client service, but in a rapidly changing world we also need to be able to move in an agile and responsive way to deal with immediate client issues.”
The merger with Conduit Law was widely viewed as an important part of Deloitte’s strategy to access the legal services market.
Scott Fairley appointed to CFTA arbitral roster
Shulman Law Firm expands to Vaughan
Family law boutique Shulman law firm has opened an office an Vaughan to go with its locations in Toronto and North York. The office is intended to serve clients north of Toronto in response to what the firm calls an “ever-increasing demand for its family law expertise.”
The Law Society of Upper Canada has approved its 2018 insurance program for Ontario insured licensees. Highlights of the program include:
— Fees will remain unchanged at $2,950 per insured licensee;
— The billing limit for the Part Time Practice Option Discount has been raised to $90,000;
— Civil litigation transaction levies will be waived for family litigation beginning in 2018; and
— The transaction levy on civil litigation matters generally will be increased from $50 to $100.