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PAGE 16 WillBuilder Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com ntitled-2 1 The Inside Story PRO BONO IN HAITI FOR BLG LAWYERS A pair of McCarthy Tétrault LLP lawyers are off to Haiti for their first pro bono mission with Lawyers Without Borders, packing with them an immense knowledge of environmental law that will help the country's legal community. "Giving back to the com- munity is a fundamental part of McCarthy Tétrault's identity and values," says the firm's Quebec managing partner, Marc-André Blanchard, in a release. "Our partnership with Lawyers With- out Borders gives us an excellent opportunity to contribute to the progress of human rights initia- tives around the world." The firm noted that envi- ronmental issues have become a human rights issue in Haiti, and the Universite d'Etat d'Haiti has sought help for the creation of an educational program in environmental law. McCarthy lawyers Cindy Vail- lancourt and David-Emmanuel Roberge are answering the call. They will visit the country from Feb. 3 to 17, offering training to students and jurists. The effort is part of the firm's three-year partnership with Law- yers Without Borders. McCarthy Tétrault has received the orga- nization's highest donor status, "Partner Without Borders." "We are very proud to under- take this first mission with McCa- rthy Tétrault," said LWB Canada executive director Pascal Paradis. "The firm's contribution of its ex- pertise, dynamism, and resources to our Haiti project and to our organization is invaluable." LCO CONSULTING ON FAMILY LAW The Law Commission of On- tario has issued a consultation paper that seeks input on a po- tential family law reform project. The commission envisages two possible projects in the pa- per. The first would see it con- sider an "overarching process issue within the family justice system — the need to clarify the roles" of system users and workers for enhanced efficiency, said the LCO in a release. The second proposed proj- ect relates to the matrimonial home. "The project would analyze how different pieces of legislation regulate ownership and use of matrimonial homes in Ontario and also look at the impact of this legislation on specific groups such as com- mon law couples and aboriginal women," said the commission. "Previous LCO consulta- tions made clear that there are widespread concerns in the area of family law in Ontario," read the release. "Issues range from specific substantive issues such as the non-deductibility of the matrimonial home at the date of marriage in the Family Law Act to overarching process is- sues such as the interaction be- tween public and private dispute mechanisms." LCO executive director Pa- tricia Hughes said it's important for a wide range of Ontarians to participate in the consultation. "We want to be sure our work is informed by different perspec- tives on and experiences with family law," she said. MOVES ON MCCARTHYS' PARTNERS BOARD Two Toronto lawyers are again part of McCarthy Tétrault LLP's board of partners following their recent re-election. Garth Girvan and Philip Moore, both corporate lawyers at the firm's Toronto office, have been named to the 11-mem- ber board, along with Quebec/ Montreal corporate lawyer Marc Dorion. "In the seven years since we pioneered a new governance model, our clients have enjoyed exceptional results," said the firm's chairman and CEO Iain Scott. "By operating as a single, unified partnership, we complement our clients' own business structures and ensure clients have quick access to the full knowledge and resources of our firm." LT STG_05_LT_BaseBar 8/16/06 8:52 AM Page 1 For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com "He just learned that a year on Jupiter equals 4332 Earth days. That's 103,968 billable hours. And no taxes." At Stewart Title, it's how we work that sets us apart. We deal in title insurance and related products, undertaking no part of the transaction that has traditionally fallen to legal professionals. Since our inception into the Canadian market, you will find that we have consistently combined comprehensive coverage with unparalleled support for legal professionals. We are dedicated to streamlining your practice and increasing your revenue through our programs and innovative technology solutions. At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Contact us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com Reinventing the Will www 2/2/09 10:53:45 AM LONG ARM OF THE LAW FIRM LONDON, England — Law firm Allen & Overy is not amused by the erotic scribblings of senior Moscow associate Deidre Dare. By day, Dare's an internation- al finance and projects lawyer earning in the range of $240,000 a year. By night, she pens online erotic fiction. Her online novel Expat tells of the life and antics of Dasha, a promiscuous heroine who describes herself as a "part drug addict, part alcoholic," and who regularly turns up for work hours late and hung over. Dare was told by the firm to stop publishing her torrid online tale as it contravened the firm's rules on employee conduct. "A&O does not comment on individual members of staff. With regard to our general poli- cies on staff conduct Allen & Overy aims to uphold the high- est standards of professional conduct," a firm spokesman told The Daily Telegraph. She has since been suspended by the firm for refusing to take the site down. A check last week at A&O's web site showed no sign of Dare. At press time, deirdredare. com noted: "The author has been forbidden from publishing further chapters of Expat for the time being. She will resume if and when she is permitted to." She's not taking this spat ™ February 9/16, 2009 • Law Times Bizarre that I am a burglar and call the police," says Dumitrescu. Briefs By Viola James lying down, however. "What I wrote is fiction. It's neither about the firm nor the people I work for," she told The Sunday Times. "Why can't I post fictional writings just because I work for a law firm? They don't have a leg to stand on. If I get sacked I'll sue. It's about freedom of speech. "They've picked a fight with the wrong girl." THE LADDER OF THE LAW BUCHAREST, Romania — Eugen Dumitrescu lives on the second floor and for years he en- tered his apartment through the front door on the ground floor. Not anymore, now the 70-year-old has been ordered by a judge to use a ladder to gain entry into his own home. Everything was fine in the village of Pitesti until Dumi- trescu had a falling out with the downstairs neighbours. They went to court and a judge ruled the neighbours owned the en- trance and the old man had to make other arrangements. He now has to climb a 4.5-m ladder and shimmy in via his sit- ting room window. "I am talking to my lawyers because I cannot go on living like this. Passersby see me on the lad- der and think I'm either a win- dow cleaner and ask me if I can come and clean their windows or CORRUPTION RAMPANT IN PA COUNTRY SCRANTON, Pa. — Last week, Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella Jr. and Michael Co- nahan agreed to plead guilty and spend seven years in prison for their part in a scheme to funnel young offenders to a private jail for cash from the jail's owners. A complaint against the judg- es alleges the men accepted more than $2.6 million in kickbacks in exchange for rulings that favoured a juvenile detention centre. According to information from the Juvenile Law Center, Ciavarella was responsible for the adoption of "specialty court" procedures that "created the po- tential for an increased number of juvenile offenders to be sent to the juvenile detention facili- ties." Court papers filed by the JLC suggest the number of ju- veniles who appeared in Luzerne County court without counsel was significantly greater than the statewide average. The ongoing corruption investigation a few days later netted another high-level of- ficial with the filing of federal embezzlement charges against longtime court administrator William Sharkey. Federal prosecutors accuse Sharkey of stealing more than $70,000 in illegal gambling pro- ceeds seized from area taverns that were turned over to his office. He's also agreed to plead guilty and is awaiting a plea hearing. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail.com.