Our Take On Things

This week we held our firm’s annual Fun Day.  Each year we pick something interesting to do that can be worked into a competition and everyone tries hard to make sure Paul Voorn’s name does not end up on the victory plaque again . This year we chose target shooting. ...

Within the past few weeks I have had the joy of hearing how two of our former Articling Students have come to realize their “dream positions” and I have been asked to reflect on my personal career path that lead to my life as a Business Trial Lawyer. I was interviewed...

It’s almost autumn, when a young girl’s fancy turns to movies. Maybe it’s the changing leaves, resplendent in the colours of a Woody Allen set. Or the start of another school year, which brings to mind The Breakfast Club, Rushmore and, erm, Animal House. Most likely...

Lately we’ve had a lot of inquiries from clients about preparing their wills. This seems to happen when the weather turns cold: much like squirrels gathering nuts for winter, people organize their affairs for when they pass away. However, many people, carrying through...

Earlier this week the press treated us to the intimate details of the life of a Manitoba judge and her lawyer husband.  As reports go, a few years ago, the husband took some private pictures of his wife and then, during a period of depression, posted them on the...

The Court System in Canada is in the news this week,  in particular the allegation that judges are appointed in Quebec in an unethical manner.  I don’t practice in Quebec, so I have no opinion on that story, well, not one I’m putting in a Blog in any event. The Civil...

A recent Court of Appeal decision has reminded me of the sage teachings of my Father; if you don’t have anything nice to say, shut your big fat mouth…or something to that effect.   In Black v. Breeden, the Court held that Conrad Black is free to pursue a libel action...

What does the field of psychology have to say on how to collect a debt from your customer?  You may not think it has much to offer.  But you would be wrong. Consider what psychologists call the “anchoring effect”.  It’s a simple concept.  If you give a debtor a...

There is word on the wire from the World Cup watch that several Dutch women have been arrested for engaging in a scantily clad “ambush campaign” to promote a Dutch beer at the games in South Africa.  And of course, as this firm officially supports the Oranje and all...

In the Greater Toronto Area we're about to enter a few weeks that likely will result in some notable challenges for businesses including  absences of employees from the workplace. The World Cup starts tomorrow (Hup Holland! ) and with that, there may be a temptation...

I am hoping that two consecutive blogs about pending legislation doesn’t mean this is turning into a political blog.  But the introduction of the bill this week caught me by surprise and it looks like it might have a few tidbits that will be of interest to many of my...

Experts predict that sweeping changes to our current copyright system will be tabled in Parliament sometime next month.  With mounting pressure from the United States, it is likely that the current effort will bring about actual legislation this time – a fate...