Law Times

Law Times • JuLy 9, 2012 Generalist lawyer straddles multiple legal divides NEWS E BY JULIUS MELNITZER For Law Times arly in his career, Richard Shekter of Toronto' of career counselling. Fortunately, it was 1977, the Shekter Dychtenberg LLP was looking for a bit s Edward Greenspan and, not sur- prisingly, was leaning towards a career as a criminal lawyer. "Dubin told me not to do it," year after his call to the bar, and he was clerking at the Ontario Court of Appeal where no less than Charles Dubin, the former chief justice of Ontario and legendary counsel, was right at hand. Shekter had articled with estates case, Smith v. Rotstein, in which he successfully sought and obtained partial summary judg- ment. It was an unusual result, to say the least, in estates litiga- tion. He then suc- cessfully defended the summary judg- ment order at the Court of Appeal and convinced the Supreme says Shekter. "Instead, he advised me to be a general barrister whose practice included criminal law. He said that would make me an infinitely more effective counsel because I would bring a different perspective to both the civil and criminal practices." A brief look at Shekter' months in practice is proof that he took Dubin' s last 12 In the past year, he won an s advice seriously. year also included a two-month per- sonal injury jury trial and two extra- dition cases that went to the Court of Appeal. As well, he defended an optometrist at the College of Optometrists of Ontario on a discipline matter and prosecuted a massage therapist at the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. But it' to deny leave to appeal. The Court last 'Apart from family law cases, I didn't turn anything down,' says Richard Shekter. new to Shekter. His actions in the personal injury case of Roberts v. Morana earned him the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association's H. Bruce T. Hillyer Award for s not as if trailblazing is 0outstanding contribution to the cause of civil justice in 1998. Roberts, a case against Ontario' Ministry of Transportation, set a precedent in many ways. The $3.8-million award for future care costs and the overall judg- ment were quite likely s ship, Shekter sought work with McMurtry' After finishing his clerk- s firm. its the late Bill McMurtry, a part- ner at what is now Blaney McMurtry LLP, for giving him the latitude to imple- ment Dubin' ever in Canadian history at the time. Shekter cred- the highest s advice. criminal lawyer and branch out, and Bill thought it was an inter- esting idea because the firm had no criminal practice, recalls. "I spent most of my first five years in the criminal courts but I kept an open mind and every now and then someone " Shekter ANNOUNCEMENTS Justice for all begins with a calling for one. It's with great pride that Lerners LLP congratulates our partner Andrew Murray, a leader in Personal Injury advocacy, on his appointment as President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA). The OTLA has 1300 members, all of whom are dedicated to fearlessly championing, through the pursuit of the highest standards of advocacy, the causes of those who have suffered injury or injustice, and to promote safety for all. A long- standing and committed member, Andrew has served on the board since 2006, and on the executive committee since 2008. Andrew is honoured by the appointment and pledges to continue the association's important work promoting positive change for members and their clients. In our view, the OTLA made a very good call. "I suggested that I start as a would hand me a civil case." In 1981, then a partner with McMurtry's firm, Shekter decided to head out on his own as a founding partner of Levitt Shekter & Schnurr. Over time, personal injury, professional dis- cipline, and more criminal cases made their way to him. The pros- ecution side also beckoned when a retainer defending a client at the College of Massage Therapists led to a 25-year relationship as counsel for the regulatory body. Shekter won his first disci- plinary proceeding and Gilbert Sharpe, then with the Ministry of Health and now with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, began referring cases to him. "Then the doctors I represent- in 1995 and co-founded his cur- rent firm, Shekter Dychtenberg. He' advice. "For me, the key is vari- ety and avoiding repetitious work," he says. In recent years, Shekter has s still following Dubin's introduced an additional focus on wrongful dismissal cases. Despite the exponential trend towards specialization in the pro- fession, Shekter believes others can still follow his generalist path. But he recognizes the obstacles. "The problem in the major ed started sending me patients who were in accidents," he says. " Apart from family law cases, I didn't turn anything down." In 1990, Shekter joined Toronto's Fogler Rubinoff and began prosecuting tax evasion think of people who can really call themselves general coun- sel anymore. But that' s hard to outside the major centres where specialization isn't the norm nearly as much." s not true LT Thomas G. Conway has been elected to lead The Law Society of Upper Canada as its 64th Treasurer. Treasurer Conway succeeded former Treasurer Laurie H. Pawlitza on June 28, 2012. A partner at Cavanagh LLP in Ottawa, where his practice is in civil and commercial litigation, Treasurer Conway was and re-elected in 2011. Andrew C. MURRAY including chair of the Professional Development and Competence Committee, co-chair of the Retention of Women in Private Practice Working Group, chair of the Articling Task Force, a member of the Priority Planning Committee, and a council member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, representing the Law Society of Upper Canada. For 2011 and 2012, he is a vice president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He has also been a board member of LibraryCo and a member of the Ontario Bar Association Council. Treasurer Conway has played an active role in the legal community throughout his career. He served as president of the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) from 2006 to 2007, and trustee and executive member of the CCLA from 1995 to 2006. He was a member of the Library Committee of the County and District Law Presidents' Association from 2006 to 2007 and an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa from 2005 to 2009. London: 519 672 4510 Toronto: 416 867 3076 www.lerners.ca Lerners_LT_July9_12.indd 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 12-07-03 2:52 PM SUC_LT_July9_12.indd 1 12-07-04 12:28 PM The Law Society of Upper Canada regulates the lawyers and paralegals of Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society ensures that lawyers and licensed paralegals meet standards of learning, professional competence and professional conduct that are appropriate for the legal services provided. The Law Society has a duty to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario, and to act in a Shekter left Fogler Rubinoff " says Shekter. PAGE 5 cases for the federal government. "So there I was doing criminal and regulatory work and on both sides of the fence, centres is that everyone is so pigeonholed and it'

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