Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm – Book Launch with Author Adam Dodek

Event Description

"An incredible story of a titanic competition in a great law firm between the best of legal professionalism and the most seductive of market imperatives." 
(Rosalie Silberman Abella, retired justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and Samuel and Judith Pisar Chair, Harvard Law School)

Join us to celebrate the release of Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm and listen to a fascinating discussion with the author, Professor Adam Dodek. Professor Dodek, in conversation with Anne Stewart, KC and Geoff Cowper, KC, will speak about the book, the rise and fall of the firm, and how we can learn from this legendary tale.  Allard Law Dean Ngai Pindell will also be offering some opening remarks.  

Released on October 15, the book can be ordered from Indigo or Amazon and will be available for purchase from Upstart & Crow at the event.  Adam will also be available to sign books following the presentation.

Register

About the Book: 
In 1973, three young lawyers established Heenan Blaikie. It would become one of Canada’s highest-profile law firms, counting former prime ministers, premiers, and Supreme Court justices in its ranks. It was like a family, according to many who worked there. In 2014, the firm’s dramatic collapse became front-page news. Based on extensive interviews with firm lawyers and legal industry insiders, Heenan Blaikie is the story of a respected law firm that ultimately buckled under weak governance and management. Adam Dodek situates the firm’s evolution within the context of a changing legal profession and society, producing an account that is gripping from beginning to end.

About the Author

Adam Dodek is a professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. Among his numerous publications are The Ethical Lawyer, the second edition of The Canadian Constitution, named by The Hill Times as one of the top 100 books on Canadian public policy, and Solicitor–Client Privilege, which won the Walter Owen Book Prize. He is a recipient of the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Prize for Academic Excellence, the Mundell Medal for excellence in legal writing, and the Law Society of Ontario’s Law Society Medal. He is also a director of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics and the Canadian Legal Information Institute, and a past governor of the Law Commission of Ontario.

Moderators

Anne Stewart, KC has acted for public and private companies and provided proactive legal and business advice. She has also been involved in major project work, including corporate structuring and reorganization; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; major financings; and commercial contracts.  Anne has written and spoken extensively on many legal topics. Anne is also active in various professional, community and charitable organizations and has served on committees and boards for organizations such as the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships,  Law Society of British Columbia, Music on Main Society and Active Aging Society. In addition to being a Dame of the Order of St. John, Anne has been repeatedly recognized for her professional and community contributions including a Vancouver YWCA Women of Distinction Award and a Allard Law Alumni Award of Distinction.

Geoffrey Cowper, KC is a partner at Fasken Martineau and has served as counsel in landmark cases involving public and private disputes. Geoff was the chair of the inquiry that reported on reforms to criminal law administration and has been counsel to commissions of inquiry into the death of Frank Paul, federal indigenous policy, and provincial securities regulation. He has been counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada on cases involving constitutionality of legislation, charter rights, commercial, tort, and administrative law issues.  Geoff has served the community in various roles involving healthcare, young offenders, homelessness, the environment and social policy.

*This event is eligible for 1.5 hours of Law Society of British Columbia CPD credits (Code: BC24EVT05P).

This event is supported by the Allard School of Law, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch and UBC Press.

 

***Please note that there are two events celebrating the launch of Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm.  The first takes place at 12:30pm on Monday, November 4 at the Allard Hall and is intended for law students, faculty and staff.  The second takes place at 5:30pm on Tuesday, November 5 at UBC Robson Square and is intended for alumni and members of the legal community.  If you have any questions, please reach out to us at alumni@allard.ubc.ca.