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Lerners LLP presents “The Practice of Law in the Post Groia Era and other Professionalism Topics”

On October 11, 2018, Lerners LLP is hosting a Professionalism Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar at the Windsor Club from 4:30 – 7:30 PM. This seminar, moderated by Peter Kryworuk, Partner at Lerners LLP will include three presentations on professionalism and will give attendees 1.5 hours of professionalism CPD credit.

In the first segment, Earl A. Cherniak Q.C, Senior Partner, Lerners LLP and counsel for Joseph Groia in the landmark case Groia v. Law Society of Upper Canada, will discuss the key points from the case, along with the lessons that lawyers can learn from it in conducting their practices. This seminal decision, followed with great interest beginning in the early 2000s, ultimately concluded with the professional misconduct charges being overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). In his presentation, Earl Cherniak will discuss the civility issues, the problematic Law Society Ontario (LSO) investigation, the charges, the settlement negotiations and why they failed, as well as the LSO’s argument. In addition, Earl will outline the hearing and appeals, what the SCC accepted and what it did not and, most importantly, the lessons learned and the implications for advocates and clients.

In addition to Earl’s presentation, David Waites, Partner at Lerners LLP, will speak on the importance of addressing conflicts of interest that arise when lawyers represent commercial clients. This discussion includes the connection between conflicts of interest and lawyers’ obligation to zealously represent their clients and the financial implications for lawyers and law firms if they are found to have acted where a conflict of interest existed.

Finally, Chris Dawson, Partner at Lerners LLP, will provide an update on referral fees as recently set out by the Law Society of Ontario including the change to the Rules of Professional Conduct and recent case law.

We are looking forward to offering this very valuable and free CPD seminar to lawyers. For more information please contact Christine Hewton at chewton@lerners.ca.