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Essays in the History of Canadian Law, Volume VII: Canadian Law Firms in Historical Perspective

1996

Edited by Carol Wilton. Published with the University of Toronto Press, 1996.

This seventh volume in our Essays series, is a pioneering study of an important but neglected Canadian institution. It offers numerous cases studies of Canadian law firms as well as more general analyses. These essays highlight significant periods in the history of a variety of law firms. Some detail the experience of very large legal enterprises that have endured for a century or more. Others probe the significance of smaller and more transitory concerns. The volume is national in scope, including papers on every region of Canada. The introduction by Carol Wilton provides an overview of the subject since 1820 which emphasizes the distinctiveness of the Canadian pattern of law firm development.

Reviews of Essays in the History of Canadian Law, Volume VII: Canadian Law Firms in Historical Perspective

A very interesting book.....very exciting and informative. It gives people the idea of what these firms are about, how they started, why they started, and the contributions they made socially, politically, economically and culturally.  Lincoln Alexander, Hamilton Spectator, March 26, 1997.
This collection of essays...offers a polished, scholarly and readable model for the exploration of new and evolving forms of legal practice.  Christopher English, Canadian Historical Review, vol 79, 1998, p. 602.

Reviews have also appeared in the following publications:

  • Douglas C. Harris, Dalhousie Law Journal, Vol 20, 1997, p. 295.
  • R.W. Kostal, Ontario History, Vol 89, 1997, p. 256.
  • Christopher English, Canadian Book Review Annual, 1997, p. 328.
  • Douglas C. Harris, Advocate (Vancouver Bar Association), Vol 55, 1997, p. 622.

Carol Wilton

Carol Wilton, formerly Assistant Professor of History at Brock University, has written and edited a number of books on Canadian legal and political history. After being called to the Bar of Ontario in 2002, she worked in both legal clinics and private practice. She has been involved in many community organizations, including the Poverty Action… Read more »

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Contents:

Contents

Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Contributors xv

1 Introduction: Inside the Law – Canadian Law Firms in
Historical Perspective
CAROL WILTON 3

2 The Making of a Colonial Lawyer: Beamish Murdoch of Halifax,
1822-1842
PHILIP GIRARD 57

3 Aemilius Irving: Solicitor to the Great Western Railway,
1855-1872
JAMIE BENIDICKSON 100

4 The Campbell, Meredith Firm of Montreal: A Case-Study of the
Role of Canadian Business Lawyers, 1895-1913
DECLAN BRENDAN HAMILL 122

5 The Transformation of an Establishment Firm: From Beatty
Blackstock to Faskens, 1902-1915
C. IAN KYER 161

6 Élite Relationships, Partnership Arrangements, and Nepotism
at Blakes, a Toronto Law Firm, 1858-1942
T.D. REGEHR 207

7 The George F. Downes Firm in the Development of Edmonton
and Its Region, 1903-1930
HENRY C. KLASSEN 248

8 Corporate Entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada: The Stewart
Law Firm, 1915-1955
GREGORY P. MARCHILDON and BARRY CAHILL 280

9 Goodall and Cairns: Commercial, Corporate, and Energy Law
in Alberta, 1920-1942
LOUIS A. KNAFLA 320

10 A Family Firm in Transition: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt in
the 1950S and 1960s
CURTIS COLE 357

11 Dominant Professionals: The Role of Large-Firm Lawyers in
Manitoba
DALE BRAWN 394

12 Raymond and Honsberger: A Small Firm That Stayed Small,
1889-1989
JOHN D. HONSBERGER 430

13 ‘A Small United Nations’: The Hamilton Firm of Millar,
Alexander, Tokiwa, and Isaacs, 1962-1993
PHILIP J. SWORDEN 469

14 Law on the Pacific Coast: Bull, Housser and Tupper, 1945-1990
REGINALD H. ROY 498

15 Hierarchy in Practice: The Significance of Gender in Ontario
Law Firms
JOHN HAGAN and FIONA KAY 530

Index 573

Publications of the Osgoode Society 601