Jon Domanko believes law firms provide essential training grounds for lawyers who want in-house careers By Julius Melnitzer | July 5, 2023 When Jon Domanko decided he liked the in-house counsel’s job better than his boss’, he set out on an unwavering course that took him to his current position as Tim Hortons’ top lawyer in […]
Photo by megapixelstock at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | July 4, 2023 It just doesn’t matter – Bill Murray in Meatballs I am a Boomer who never owned a Beemer. The best that I ever did was a Honda Accord and I had to make my way through a Chevy Citation, Dodge Aries, and a couple […]
By Julius Melnitzer | July 1, 2023 The Quebec Court of Appeal has ruled the province’s Bill 15, which substantially modified municipal sector pension plans, is unconstitutional with respect to retirees but justified for active plan members. The legislation, which was passed in 2014, adopted a cost-sharing formula for plans and plan deficits, established a shared-cost stabilization […]
Photo by Victoria Rain at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | June 29, 2023 The other day I heard a story about a furniture store in Toronto known to cater to the wealthy. The owner purchased an unusual item in Vietnam for twenty dollars. He brought it back to his store and promoted it as a one-of-a-kind […]
Mark Le Blanc says leaders must expand their teams’ skill sets and approach management anew By Julius Melnitzer | June 28, 2023 Shifting legal departments from cost centres to strategic centres should be consultants’ consuming objective in advising in-house leaders, says Marc Le Blanc, a former general counsel turned consultant at Toronto-based Simplex Legal LLP, affiliated […]
Photo by Antoni Shkraba at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | June 27, 2003 If any among you have not yet happened upon the writings of H.L. Mencken, you should correct that. Among his many pithy quotes are the following gems: One of H.L. Mencken’s quotes that seems particularly apt for law firm management is this one: […]
Sheila Ritson-Bennett says Corus culture has a level of courage about new ideas By Julius Melnitzer | June 26, 2023 The creative and entrepreneurial mindset at Corus Entertainment Inc., says Sheila Ritson-Bennett, the company’s first head of environment and sustainability, governance, bodes well for the goals she is striving to achieve. “People are very open and […]
Photo by Brett Sayles at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | June 22, 2023 There once was a law firm which marketed itself as lawyers with deep expertise in different areas of the law who worked together seamlessly to deliver the best possible outcomes for their clients. Let’s call them “Super Team Lawyers.” Super Team compensated its […]
When in-house teams are doing their job properly, legal services are not a commodity, says Marvin Mikhail By Julius Melnitzer | June 21, 2023 Marvin Mikhail, vice president and senior managing counsel for Mastercard in Canada, likens his role to that of a sponge. “Successful in-house lawyers are most valuable when they advise their companies from […]
Bateman says private law firm experience is not the “be all and end all” to in-house success By Julius Melnitzer | June 20, 2023 Dahlia Bateman, general counsel and lead for the Office of Legal Services and Fair Practices at Wilfrid Laurier University, is well-placed to opine on what it takes to succeed as a young […]