MBiz

29 MBiz | june 2017 By Geoff Kirbyson N orm Snyder, the managing partner of Winnipeg-based law firm, Taylor McCaffrey LLP, has a message for young lawyers — get out of your comfort zones. "They need to create areas of niche practice and distinguish themselves from other lawyers," he says. "More people are competing for the same work. We look at the need to have bench strength and expertise across a number of different fields as critical with competing with the larger firms." Snyder points to Carrie Ho, who recently joined the firm after more than a decade of practicing law in Regina, where she specialized in natural resources and land use. "We have a number of people who have done some work in (those areas), but she is the first person who specializes in it. We see this as an opportunity to expand into a growth area," he says. Legal work in the resource sector isn't dependent on the price of oil — although the recent recovery certainly won't hurt — as much of it focuses on the use of the land where oil and minerals can be extracted. Land ownership and the right to earn income on private property extends to other industries, too. For example, Taylor McCaffrey acts for a number of telecommunications firms that have built towers around the province and want to build more. Ho, who will also increase the firm's corporate commercial strength, believes there is a constant need for land use expertise, thanks to the growing activities of utilities, energy companies and other commercial developers. This includes easement options, leases and licences for right of way. The more new land is in demand, the more stakeholders require legal advice and representation. "The goal is to get the parties to be able to work together and for each party to be able to get what they need in a mutually satisfying way," Ho says. Taylor McCaffrey LLP has 65 lawyers working out of its downtown office, but many of them spend an increasing amount of time outside the Perimeter Highway. "There's a general feeling that there are a lot of prosperous businesspeople around the province, not just in Winnipeg," Snyder says. Lawyers who expand their geographic horizons are often pleasantly surprised with the amount of work that comes their way. "While we will continue doing the things that have made Taylor McCaffrey successful for more than 50 years, we're also more proactive in areas of potential growth. We have a collegial workplace culture and our team is always willing to try new things as we support entrepreneurship and provide all clients with a full range of services."■ Taylor McCaffrey LLP lawyers (from left): Alex Nordal- Budinsky (Associate, Family Law), Kim Antonio (Partner, Family Law), Kyla Pedersen (Associate, Civil Litigation & Construction Law & Insurance), Elona McGifford (Associate, Corporate & Commercial & Wills, Estates & Trusts), Doug Finkbeiner (Senior Partner, Corporate & Commercial, Financial Services & Restructuring), Ataf Khokhar (Associate, Corporate & Commercial, Property Development & Real Estate, Financial Services & Restructuring), Katherine M. Bayer (Associate, Corporate & Commercial, Intellectual Property & Information Technology, Securities), Carrie G. Ho (Associate, Corporate & Commercial). Photo by Darcy Finley BROADENING HORIZONS Taylor McCaffrey LLP expands Manitoba business focus TAYLOR McCAFFREY LLP

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