Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/318918
BIZ 'peg MAY 2014 18 | How has Fillmore Riley evolved over the last few years? The last few years have been characterized by measured, steady growth, with a focus on strengthening our regional presence and the scope and depth of our services. In addition to the continued growth of our traditional core strengths, such as banking, fi nance, tax, insurance and labour, we have established strength and depth in securities, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, environmental, aboriginal, business immigration, alternative dispute resolution and other emerging practice areas. We responded to our clients' need for national and international services by aligning with TAGLaw, a global alliance of quality, commerce-oriented law fi rms. We now truly offer a full-service, one-stop shop for our clients' legal needs. As one of North America's fi rst ISO-certifi ed law fi rms, we adopted a culture of continuous improvement long ago. This has greatly assisted our ability to react and adapt to our clients' needs and has translated into better service offerings and savings for our clients. What makes Fillmore Riley different from other law fi rms? Our clients tell us our approach differentiates us from other fi rms. Our lawyers treat our clients with respect and take a direct, pragmatic approach to fi les. We make an effort to understand our clients' business goals and needs and then to work with them as a part of their team. This team approach also greatly assists and fosters the continued growth of our agency relationships with national and international fi rms. Our clients know and expect that they will be well taken care of and will receive prompt responses from their lawyers from start to fi nish. How do you balance your roles as Fillmore Riley's managing partner and a practising commercial lawyer? I fi nd the two roles give me a unique perspective in that I am a practising lawyer but I am also managing the fi rm and make business decisions on a daily basis. This provides me with fi rst-hand knowledge of the challenges businesses face in the current economic environment and assists me in offering practical, results- oriented advice to our clients. What does the fi rm's future look like? It looks very bright. As always, our clients come fi rst and we will continue our tradition of exceptional client service. We will look for opportunities to grow and develop our role as a full-service, regional fi rm, continuing to offer our clients leading-edge, relevant legal solutions. No one knows for certain what the professional services playing fi eld will look like down the road, but I am very confi dent that our people and our models and systems will allow us to adapt quickly and successfully to our clients' evolving needs and expectations. TALKING SHOP A Q&A WITH FILLMORE RILEY MANAGING PARTNER GLEN R. PETERS GLEN R. PETERS AT A GLANCE: EDUCATION: University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Laws, 1985 NUMBER OF YEARS WITH FILLMORE RILEY: 29 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Member, Board of Directors, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation; Member, Board of Governors, St. Charles Country Club; Member, Major Donor Cabinet, United Way of Winnipeg q&a (Founded in Manitoba more than a century ago, Fillmore Riley LLP is a premier, full- service law fi rm based in Winnipeg. With a team of lawyers, paralegals and support staff more than 130 strong, Fillmore Riley brings a pragmatic, action-oriented approach to help clients solve any legal challenge in over 20 practice areas.)