Learning doesn’t stop when law school is over, as any first year associate will tell you. To find out which firms have serious geek cred, we surveyed the number of law-related books that Ontario lawyers wrote or edited in the last five years and the number of lawyers teaching university courses in the coming academic year. Here: Big Law’s A+ students

Author-ity

Writing “the book” on an area of law is one intelligent move — here are a few titles Precedent deems noteworthy.

The Law of Climate Change in Canada

(Canada Law Book, 2010)
“Climate change is no longer a sub-discipline of an environmental or energy law practice. It is an important part of the legal landscape for mainstream commercial lawyers,” says Dennis Mahony, editor of this 1,145-page tome.
Publishing the first book of its kind in Canada puts Torys out front in this ascending practice area.
Dennis Mahony (Partner, 1995 call) of Torys. Nine of the book’s 28 co-authors are also from Torys.

Human Resources Guide to Preventing Workplace Violence, 2nd ed.

(Canada Law Book, 2010)
If you’ve noticed a new workplace violence policy circulating at your office, Norm Keith and Goldie Bassi of Gowlings can tell you why. They wrote the book on Bill 168, Ontario’s new workplace health and safety act that imposes a positive duty on employers to prevent and manage workplace harassment.
Norm Keith (Partner, 1983 call) and Goldie Bassi (Associate, 2004 call) of Gowlings.

HR Manager’s Guide to Background Checks and Preemployment Testing

(Carswell, 2006)
After a rush of corporate governance scandals, Adrian Miedema and Christina Hall set out to give employers the goods on how and when they can screen potential employees, helping them walk the fine line between exercising diligence and respecting privacy and human rights.
Adrian Miedema (Partner, 1997 call) and Christina Hall (Associate, 2004 call) of FMC.

The Professors

Those who can do, teach. At least that’s the case with these three young adjunct professors, whose expertise makes them favourites with both students and clients alike.

The Advocate

Sarit Batner, McCarthys
(Partner, 2000 call)
Teaches: Trial Advocacy at U of T

After Sarit Batner won a student advocacy competition while at U of T, the school invited her back as a junior instructor to bridge the gap between students and professors. More than 10 years later, she still finds time to teach Trial Advocacy at her alma mater. Batner relishes getting students off the sidelines and into the game. “It’s an opportunity for students to get on their feet,” says Batner. “The best way to learn is to do, not watch.”

The Music Man

Casey Chisick, Cassels
(Partner, 1999 call)
Teaches: Copyright at Osgoode Hall Law School

A former musician and producer, Casey Chisick, began teaching Copyright Law in 1999 (the year Napster was introduced) and his subject remains controversial. “Students come to class with powerful ideas and sometimes preconceptions,” says Chisick. “My job is to help them break it down so they can analyze the issues without being distracted by politics.” Years spent working in the music industry lend Chisick a unique perspective on the subject, but it’s teaching that keeps him sharp: “It’s a luxury to be able to go back every fall and approach the subject from the ground up.”

The Dealmaker

Christian Gauthier, Bennett Jones
(Partner, 2002 call)
Teaches: Art of the Deal at Western

After a few years co-teaching advanced corporate law at Queen’s, Christian Gauthier has a new gig. This year, with colleagues Russel Drew and Frank Allen, he is teaching Art of the Deal at Western, a tactical course about how negotiation works and how deals are struck in various contexts. The course is built around case studies, with the lawyers who were involved dishing the details. “It’s war stories,” says Gauthier. “That’s how a lot of people learn.”

Final Score

Books

1. Blakes 16
2. McCarthys 14
3. Gowlings 13
4. Cassels 12
5. Osler 6

Professors

1. McCarthys 15
2. Gowlings & Blakes 11
3. Cassels 8
4. Bennett Jones 8
5. Torys 7