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PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-7 1 The SOME PRACTICES THRIVE IN DOWNTURN Law fi rms are searching for tal- ent in the areas of insolvency, lit- igation, and labour and employ- ment as the economy turns sour, reports Robert Half Legal. The legal staffi ng company recently released its 2009 Salary Guide, reporting that fi rms are moving to beef up their presence in those areas to make the most of new opportunities. "Law fi rms are in need of top talent to enhance their ser- vice offerings and grow revenue in a highly competitive busi- ness environment," said Jona- than Veale, division director of Robert Half Legal in Toronto, in a release. "While some fi rms are consol- idating resources — in part as a response to contracting budgets — others are hiring experienced lawyers who can contribute to building niche practice groups." The report suggests that corporations will seek lawyers with at least three years of gen- eral corporate and securities law experience who have litigation management experience. Mean- while, law fi rms will pursue law- yers with fi ve or more years of experience dealing with complex bankruptcy matters. Also, with organizations shrinking their staffi ng levels to cut costs, law- yers with at least three years of labour and employment experi- ence will be in high demand, ac- cording to the report. IBA LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE The International Bar As- sociation has unveiled a new, wiki-style web site that aims to improve access to non-judicial methods of resolving disputes between companies and society. "This comprehensive and interactive web site will ben- efi t many in global society by spreading information about dispute resolution resources to those who need it," said John Sherman, co-chairman of the IBA corporate social responsibil- ity committee, in a release. "The benefi ciaries will include compa- nies and the people and commu- nities they affect, as well as law- yers, courts, dispute resolution professionals, non-governmental Reinventing the Will www 1/26/09 3:38:37 PM Inside Story organizations, environmental bodies, academics, and govern- ment offi cials. Over time, the increased information will help to reduce the critical defi ciency in awareness and facilitate the prompt and fair resolution of disputes between business and society." The web site, BASESwiki.org, also will serve as a learning cen- tre for anyone interested in how to resolve these disputes outside a courtroom. The IBA said it will increase public understand- ing as to how the various mecha- nisms are viewed by key stake- holder groups, what patterns are emerging in settled disputes, and how these might impact the development of policies, proce- dures, and standards in order to prevent future disputes. VICE-CHAIRPERSON APPOINTED TO CIRB William G. McMurray has been appointed vice-chairperson of the Canada Industrial Rela- tions Board effective March 31. "I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mc- Murray," said Labour Minis- ter Rona Ambrose in a release. "The Canada Industrial Rela- tions Board will certainly benefi t from his extensive knowledge and valuable experience in la- bour and employment law." McMurray has practised ad- ministrative law since 1986, specializing in labour and em- ployment law. He has acted as counsel for some of Canada's largest employers in the federal transportation and telecommu- nications sectors. He has appeared before and successfully handled a num- ber of complex cases before the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the Canada Appeals Tri- bunal, the Canada Transporta- tion Agency and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecom- munications Commission. McMurray studied common law and civil law at the Uni- versity of Ottawa and studied political science at Université Laval. He has been teaching law course at McGill University since 2000. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "Remember: the only thing they have to fear is fear itself. Right, Mr. Fear?" For monthly specials call Sandy Shutt 905-713-4337 www.lawtimesnews.com Untitled-2 1 2/18/09 4:40:05 PM PLANES, TRAINS, NO AUTOMOBILES BUDAPEST, Hungary — Talk about a career criminal. The courts have convicted Kosztor Sandorne 20 times, with her fi rst crimes dating back to the 1950s. Now, police have arrested the 83-year-old for entering a stranger's home in Komarom in northwest Hungary. "At the hearing, she said she wanted to fi nd a cheaper lodg- ing than in Budapest, where it is too expensive," a police spokes- woman told Reuters. Sandorne, a thief known as Flying Gizi for her penchant for fl eeing from crime scenes by plane, was already under investi- gation for another alleged crime in a town near Budapest. She now prefers to travel by train, however, since pensioners can ride the rails for free in Hungary. Police have yet to charge San- dorne for the break-in pending a decision by the homeowner. NEXT TIME, TRY PANTYHOSE DENVER, Colo. — When you're in the business of robbing convenience stores, you don't always have time to select your wardrobe carefully. In Joaquin Rico and Joseph Richard Espinoza's cases, they walked into a store wearing women's thongs to cover their faces. Last week, Rico, 20, and Espinoza, 25, pleaded guilty to charges in the May 15 robbery, The Associated Press reported. Prosecutors say the pair threw a rock through the store's front February 23, 2009 • Law Times ™ Bizarre arrest, police charged him with theft over $500. Briefs By Viola James window before stealing $100 in cash and smokes. One of them wore a green thong; the other blue. But while their wardrobe was light, their actions were not. Prosecutors say Rico broke the clerk's jaw after he grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the face several times. He is to face sentencing this week. SELF-SNITCHING JUST BAD TATTLING METAIRIE, La. — We all know tattling is bad. But what about people who tattle on themselves? That's the question after a Louisiana store manager reported a theft he's now suspected of com- mitting. In early January, 44-year- old Mark Wilborn contacted the sheriff's offi ce in Jefferson Parish claiming that 70 rolls of copper wire sheets worth $10,000 were missing from his appliance store in Metairie, The Times-Picayune in New Orleans reported. Ac- cording to police, the man said his head offi ce had informed him of the missing inventory and told him to fi le a report. Wilborn also said the mystery may have been the result of an oversight by the shipping offi ce, but after a company audit turned up evidence of $203,000 worth of missing goods, he allegedly confessed to selling equipment for cash. The crimes went on for the past year and a half, police said. He allegedly met with a cus- tomer more than 70 times, earn- ing more than $50,000. Now, Wilborn fi nds himself in legal hot water. Following his SHOULDN'T IT BE RED? MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — A Michigan senior accused of painting over a children's art proj- ect won't be going to jail, a judge has ruled. The kids had painted a fi re hydrant in the Detroit suburb of Mount Clemens white with black spots as part of the city- wide initiative, something that bothered 68-year-old Gloria Haller. So, arguing it was a safety issue and that the hydrant would be diffi cult to see in the winter, Haller painted it yellow again, The Associated Press reported. Authorities charged the senior with defacing public property and violating the fi re code, of- fences that could have netted her 90 days in jail and a $500 fi ne. But a judge recently took mercy on her, dismissing the charges. NINE OUT OF TEN DOCS DENIED BEIJING, China — They look spiffy in their lab coats, but Chi- nese authorities have had enough of so-called non-accredited per- sonnel posing as medical experts in TV ads. So, China's State Administra- tion for Industry and Commerce is banning the fake experts from broadcasting further claims. The move follows reports last month about a slew of false advertise- ments in eastern Shangdong province, Reuters reported. Authorities now say they will revoke the ad licences for com- panies that violate the ban. The problem is a big one in China. Allegations about fake drugs have surfaced repeatedly, a sce- nario that led to the arrest of fi ve people allegedly connected to a bogus diabetic medication linked to the death of two people. LT