Arts & Ideas

Some firms stand out for their unique contribution to the arts, others for out-of-the-box ideas that expand the boundaries of how they interact with the community. Here are our winners for engaging and supporting creativity and critical thinking outside of the courtroom.

Sparking Debate

When Blakes partner and political junkie Ted Betts came up with an idea to ask candidates for this fall’s Toronto mayoral race to speak at the firm, he had no idea how popular it would be. Over 130 lawyers turned out to hear the first candidate, Rocco Rossi, speak for 15 minutes before barraging him with questions in a 15-minute scrum. “One of these candidates is going to be a mayor,” says Betts, “and all of the people at the firm will have had a chance to speak with them directly.”

True Patriot Love

In 2008, when a former McMillan lawyer heard that budget cuts would force the Vancouver-based CBC Radio Orchestra to disband, he told the firm he wanted to help. The firm rallied the support of businesses in Toronto and Montreal, then went to the CBC and brainstormed about transforming the orchestra into a not-for-profit organization. On January 8, 2010, the rebranded National Broadcast Orchestra played its first major concert. McMillan continues to act as their corporate counsel.

Hyping Hollywood

Backing the Toronto International Film Festival not only boosts Heenan Blaikie’s entertainment law practice, but it also means front-row tickets to red carpet premieres and celebrity-studded after-parties. Heenan Blaikie’s associates team up with Ernst & Young to host a joint industry roundtable. Last year’s topic: How digital technologies are changing the model for exhibition, finance and consumption of movies.
Photo above: Heenan Blaikie national co-managing partner Norman Bacal addresses an industry roundtable at TIFF