Labor & Employment Law

Where Are You? and What's Up?

By Michael Fitzgibbon

Those are subject lines from two email I received recently.  I looked back and could not believe that it's been over a month since I last posted which is a sign, not of lack of interest or topics to write about, but lack of time to write.

The firm is going full-steam ahead and is doing tremendously well.  Our model and approach has clearly resonated with employers of all sizes, local, national and international and we're tremendously grateful.   In many ways, as I have said before, it's humbling to be closing in on the one-year mark since we flicked the switch on our firm to be where we are and to be working with the fantastic group of clients that we are.  

We're expanding, entering into some "cool" new office space (as our design folks describe it) that includes space for a pool table (and, if we're daring, which we are, a hockey net) that we will grow into and have a few innovative service offerings in the works.  Time is the only constraint, but, oddly, that too can be solved.  It's unquestionably been one of the best experiences and I'm having fun.

We're working with some incredibly smart and creative people in answering the question "what can and should a law firm be?" all the while continuing to provide the highest quality legal services.  

The downside is that blogging has suffered.  A good news, bad news sort of thing.

So in answer to the "where are you?" email and the more familiar "what's up?" email, that's where I am and what's up with much more exciting stuff happening over the next 90 days.  

I've also been doing a lot of presentations at conferences.  Most recently:

• Ontario Bar Association - Fundamentals of Employment Law Conference (September 21, 2010) where I spoke about Employment Agreements. 
   
•  Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario (HRPAO) - HR Law Conference (October 21, 2010) where I spoke about Family Status Discrimination and the Duty to Accommodate
   
•  Canadian Institute - Managing and Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (October 22, 2010) where I was on a panel discussing (from the employer's perspective) Overcoming Duty to Accommodate and Return to Work Challenges in Today?s Tough Economic Times 
   
• Canadian Institute - 10th Annual Advanced Forum on Employment Law Conference (October 27, 2010) - where I spoke about the Duty to Accommodate: Critical Trends to be Aware of

 I'll be speaking with my partner Steve Mendelssohn at the HRPAO Annual Conference and Trade Show on February 3, 2011 on Maintaining Positive Employee Relations in a Non-Union Environment.  

Lot's going on to be sure and a very exciting time.  More regular blogging should pick up shortly.  

Full post as published by Thoughts from a Management Lawyer on October 30, 2010 (boomark / email).