Aird & Berlis
- Aird & Berlis LLP — A&B for short, is a mid-size, full-service Canadian law firm. It is located in the Bay Street business district of Toronto. It's comprised of over 120 of Canada's most talented lawyers, many of whom participate in a wide variety of speaking and writing engagements.
Practice Areas
- The firm provides a wide range of legal services. Main areas include Corporate Finance, Corporate/Commercial, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Municipal and Land Use Planning, Real Estate, and Tax.
- Industry teams include Energy, Entertainment (including Media, Sports and Communications), Environmental, Gaming, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Technology and Transportation.
History
- Aird & Berlis is the product of the 1974 union of Zimmerman Grant Hugo Paddon Worley & Bennett, founded in 1919, and Edison Aird & Berlis, founded in 1953. Today, Aird & Berlis enjoys a strong reputation as a leading corporate finance, real estate, and development law firm. Toronto Mayor David Miller once practiced law with the firm, specializing in employment and immigration law and shareholder rights. While Aird & Berlis once had an Ottawa office and an association with a Vancouver firm, it is now content to maintain a single Toronto office, says managing partner Eldon Bennett. Bennett says the firm's size leaves it well-positioned to cope with a consolidating Canadian business world that is placing downward pressure on the domestic legal services market. "We're on the opposite side of lots of sides of deals with larger (law) firms," he says. "The way they man the deal is so much more expensive than the way we do the deal."
Notable Members and Alumni
- David Miller (Canadian politician)
- Current Mayor of Toronto
- Current Mayor of Toronto
- John Black Aird
- Ontario's 23rd Lieutenant Governor
- Ontario's 23rd Lieutenant Governor
- The Honourable Barbara McDougall, P.C., O.C., CFA, LL.D.
- Legal Advisor, Aird & Berlis
- Board of Directors, Scotiabank
- Minister, Canadian Parliament
- Minister Secretary of State for External Affairs (1991.04.21 - 1993.06.24)
- Minister of Employment and Immigration (1988.03.31 - 1991.04.20)
- Minister responsible for the Status of Women (1986.06.30 - 1990.02.22)
- Secretary of State / Minister of State Minister of State (Youth) (Acting) (1990.01.24 - 1990.02.22)
- Minister of State (Privatization) (1986.06.30 - 1988.03.30)
- Minister of State (Finance) (1984.09.17 - 1986.06.29)
Recognition
The firm has various lawyers represented in:
- Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers
- Ranked #5 in Canadian Lawyer Magazine's 2006 Canada Law Firm rankings
- Ranked #1 in Planning and Development Law
- Twelve A&B Lawyers named the Best Lawyers in Canada 2008
- Jack Bernstein - Tax Law and Trusts and Estates
- Frederick D. Cass - Energy Regulatory Law
- Adam Chamberlain - Environmental Law
- Joanne C. Coldwell - Transportation Law
- Robert G. Doumani - Real Estate Law
- Harry M. Fogul - Insolvency and Financial Restructuring
- Donald B. Johnston - Technology Law
- Leo F. Longo - Real Estate Law
- Bernie McGarva - Construction Law
- N. Jane Pepino - Real Estate Law
- Joel M. Rose - Gaming Law
- Steven A. Zakem - Real Estate Law
Affiliations
- Aird & Berlis LLP is the Toronto law firm representative of Interlaw, an international association of independent law firms. Interlaw’s members work together on a worldwide basis to provide quality, cost effective, value-added legal and business solutions.
Pro Bono & Community Service
- Currently sponsoring heptathlete Jessica Zelinka in her run up to the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.
- Lawyer Sam Babe participated in the 2006 Tour for Kids, a four-day, 800 kilometre charitable bike ride that raises funds for camps for children with cancer. In 2007, Sam participated in the Race Across America, helping to raise money and awareness the Sick Kids Hospital Foundation.
- Sponsored speed skater and Olympic gold medallist Clara Hughes during the 2005-2006 competitive season.
- Lawyer Nick Torchetti awarded the Villa Charities "Heart and Hand" award for embodying the true spirit of volunteerism.
- Lawyer Bill VanderBurgh was granted the Arbor Award for his voluntary service to the University of Toronto.
- Jane Pepino received the Order of Canada for "lending her voice to those less fortunate or marginalized by society."