Client Service Initiative
youWe recognize that knowing and understanding the business of our clients is a fundamental key to delivering effective legal services. Working in tandem with our clients, we've instituted our Client Service Initiative. Under this program, summer students are given the opportunity to tour client facilities. These visits provide students with the chance to meet with members of the client's senior business and legal teams to discuss issues faced by the client in running their business operations and to hear firsthand what they look for from their legal counsel.
Select one of our client visits to learn more:
 Canadian Pacific Railway
by Nick Gefucia, 2011 Summer Student
All Aboard. Next Stop, CP Rail.
It can be easily taken for granted that most of our wares are readily available for purchase at convenient centres such as shopping malls, food markets and car dealerships. What we seldom remember is that the Canadian railways provide the arterial transport system that facilitates the flow of goods across our vast country. While the technology has not changed much in the past 50 years, the Canadian Pacific Railway remains an integral part of Canada's commercial infrastructure.
On June 8th, 2011, the summer students at Faskens made their way to the historic Toronto yard of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Our guide, Trainmaster Drew Duquette, brought the students for a comprehensive tour that included a bus ride through the yard and a visit to the control tower. The students gained an appreciation for both the history and the continuing relevance of Canada's heavy rail system.
As the bus trolled through the trainyard, Drew delivered a fascinating presentation on the mechanics of train cars and the daily operations of a train yard. The students were given insight into the personnel required to operate the yard as well as the unique experiences that come with the job. Drew then took the students to the control tower where three technicians closely monitored the trainyard and, most importantly, the 'hump'. The hump is a slight hill where the train cars disengage and are organized on various tracks to prepare for their final destination.
A few hours at a train yard can work up quite an appetite so the students, along with CPR Senior Claims Agents Louis Arseneau and Brian Gemmel, headed to Boston Pizza for lunch. It was interesting to hear from the client's point of view how the Fasken-CPR relationship has developed over the past 20 years. Louis and Brian, who are veterans in the insurance industry as well as experienced railroaders, happily shared their experiences and answered questions from the students.
After lunch the students headed back to the firm for a sunny Wednesday afternoon. The students reflected on what was a very unique, informative and enjoyable 'hump' day.
Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Deanne Sowter, 2011 Summer Student
On May 31st, the 2011 Fasken Summer Students were treated to lunch and tea with Craig Brown at The Toronto Hunt for a Business Development Techniques seminar. Craig Brown is a Partner and Chairman of the firm's Private Equity Group and an active member of several other practice groups including Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions and Investment Funds.
After we enjoyed a bit of sunshine and soaked in the beautiful view we settled down on the patio to a light lunch. Craig started by welcoming us warmly to the firm and then quickly shifted gears and spoke to us as colleagues and future associates who will be building our own networks of clients in the very near future. Surrounded by the first signs of summer we had the opportunity to learn from him some of the key points in building and maintaining a diverse professional network. He reminded us that just as compassion and kindness are the keystones in developing personal relationships they are also central in professional ones. He told us that often the most successful lawyers are those who are doing what they love which is just one of the reasons he suggested that we follow our passions in our pursuit of a practice area.
On behalf of all of the 2011 Summer Students, thank you to Craig Brown and the entire Professional Development Team for a relaxing and informative afternoon and lessons that we can each carry with us throughout our careers.
 Ornge
by Graham Hood, 2010 Summer Student
The amazing men and women at Ornge are real-life superheroes. They fly through the sky, and save lives, too. They travel great distances and descend from great heights to transport thousands of Ontarians every year. And while they don't wear capes, they do fly helicopters and airplanes and also transport patients in critical care land ambulances. . . bright orange vehicles.
On Friday, June 11, 2010, the students of Fasken Martineau made their way to the (not so secret) headquarters of Ornge, a non-profit charitable organization that provides sophisticated medical transport for very ill and critically injured patients, in the air and on the ground.
Officially incorporated in 2004 under the name "Ontario Air Ambulance Services Co.", Ornge assumed its current form two years later, changing its name in honour of the distinctive hue of its fleet of vehicles, which includes 11 Sikorsky S76 helicopters and four Pilatus PC-12 airplanes. It is one of the largest and most intricate transport medicine organizations in North America.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by our hosts, COO Tom Lepine, former paramedic with over 20 years of in-the-field experience and Jennifer Tracey, Director, Corporate Communications. Tom shared with us the history of Ornge, its medical operations and its plans for the future. He walked us through a 9-1-1 distress call, and the myriad challenges that paramedics and pilots face every day in their heroic response to such calls. Jennifer guided us through the Ornge facility, including a tour of the OCC (Ornge Communications Centre) and the emergency operations centre.
While touring the Ornge education and training centre, we met "Stan". Stan is a quarter-million dollar, anatomically-correct practice mannequin used to train paramedics. Stan blinks and breathes like a human, but he is not in fact a human. Indeed, were he a human, he would have likely died at the hands of one Fasken student whose lack of CPR training was fatally apparent.
Our next stop was the OCC, where we observed the highly skilled staff thru a two-way mirror—lest we distract the OCC officers within, who had their hands full taking calls and cooridinating the fleet across all 1,076,395 km of Ontario. Within the OCC, is an area for the "Doc in a Box". It is often staffed by medical doctors who participate in the medical direction of critical cases and triage the calls. In fact Ornge's CEO, Dr. Mazza, often takes his turn in the centre fielding calls. It is this obvious passion for the services they provide which drives each member of the Ornge team.
Finally, we met with Fasken's own Cynthia Heinz, who is currently on her second secondment to Ornge. In a conversation peppered with insightful anecdotes, she told us about the pros and cons of working in-house, and the daily thrill of providing quality legal advice to a client that plays a critical role in the lives of over 20,000 Ontarians every year.
As our tour wrapped up we came to realize for ourselves just how thrilling it is to work for a firm that serves an organization with over 400 real-life superheroes.
On behalf of all the summer students, I am grateful to Cynthia Heinz, the Professional Development Team and of course our good friends at Ornge, without whom this amazing tour would not have been possible. Thank you.
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 Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Natasha Prasaud, 2010 Summer Student
On June 10th, the Fasken summer students attended Part I of this summer's Client Services Initiative held at the picturesque Toronto Hunt. Our presenters were Rosalind Cooper, a partner in the environmental group and a member of the Firm's National Board and Peter Barbetta, a Fasken alumnus and currently Executive Vice-President and General Counsel with Cadillac Fairview.
Rosalind and Peter were engaging speakers who shared with us a wealth of information and advice regarding Client Service, Building your Profile and Practice and how to develop important networking and business development skills. Important lessons and advice, which I know we will carry throughout our careers.
Roz stressed the importance of a building a good reputation in the legal community. She also impressed upon us that our networks should be based on genuine relationships /interests . She encouraged us to ensure that whatever practice we decide upon , to make sure that we truly love it.
Peter spoke to us about client relationships, and how having meaningful social interactions with your clients, not only builds loyalty but makes the work experience that much more significant. His advise included the following ..." the most important thing for building a strong client base is to do high quality legal work " .
Following a vigorous Q&A period, the summer students had a chance to enjoy the lake, sunny weather and a delicious high tea.
On behalf of all the students, we would like to thank Rosalind Cooper, Peter Barbetta and the Professional Development Team for a great learning experience.
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 CTVglobemedia Tour
by Dev Singh, 2009 Summer Student
On June 11th, the students of Fasken Martineau had the pleasure of visiting CTVglobemedia as part of the firm's Client Services Initiative.
Upon our arrival, we were given an elaborate tour of the premises. We were taken to the sets of some of Toronto's most well-known television channels such as CP24 and MuchMusic. In addition to the state of the art equipment, there are sophisticated operations in place in order to achieve seamless transitions between the numerous programs filmed at the studio. In this highly energized and fast-paced environment, effective communication is critical.
Following the tour we were treated to a wonderful lunch with the most senior members of CTVglobemedia's in-house legal group. They spoke candidly with us about their practice, current industry challenges and trends they foresee developing in the coming years. They graciously fielded students' questions and provided us with invaluable advice.
One of the key takeaways from our discussion was the importance for young lawyers to understand their clients' businesses. Sound, and practical, legal advice is needed by our clients in order to retain their competitive advantage. To ensure we continually offer quality legal solutions to complex business issues, we must think globally, act strategically and operate in a manner that takes into account the broader corporate objectives.
On behalf of all the students, I would like to thank CTVglobemedia, Fasken's partner, Roxanne McCormick, and the Student Committee for planning this very special and informative tour.
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 Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Keri Bennett, 2009 Summer Student
On June 4th Fasken summer students were whisked off to greener surroundings at The Toronto Hunt to attend this year's Business Development Seminar presented by Rosalind Cooper. Not only was the lake view stunning, the scones were out of this world!
The students were eager to hear Ms. Cooper's insights into building a solid reputation and legal practice. Ms. Cooper described her journey, staring out as a young lawyer to becoming a recognized expert in the environmental area, inspiring all of us to take on the challenge of meeting and exceeding our own aspirations.
She encouraged students to build a network and reputation by getting involved in activities and interests that they enjoy. Good legal skills make good lawyers, but the most successful lawyers are engaged and involved in activities within and outside the firm. Dedication and passion breed success and will result in work including, sometimes, from unexpected sources.
She also encouraged the students to take this time to learn what style suits each student best. There is not one single model for business development, and the exposure to many lawyers at the firm is a great opportunity for students to learn different techniques, as well as the chance to begin developing our own relationships.
Many thanks to Rosalind Cooper and the Professional Development Team. With sustenance of body and mind, we are ready to embark on our own business development plan.
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 Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Laurie Turner, 2008 Summer Student
On June 17th, this summer's final Client Services Initiative was held at the Toronto Hunt. After having visited CP Rail in May and meeting with the Attorney General at Queen's Park a few weeks ago, a meeting with senior partner Alfred Apps was next on the agenda.
Alfred originally joined the firm in 1989 and became a partner in 1991. He withdrew from the partnership in 1993 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of then client The Lehndorff Group, a private, international commercial real estate ownership and management concern (with assets of $3.5 billion under management).
In 1998, he was appointed CEO of Newstar Technologies, overseeing its subsequent merger with three other leading North American software companies and subsequently became Chief Executive Officer of the merged entity, RealPulse.com, Inc. (dba "The REALM"). The REALM, a Dallas-based company, continues to be the leader in providing information technology and B2B e-commerce services to the North American commercial real estate industry. At The REALM, he completed one of the largest first-round private equity financings (US $132 million) during the year 2000 in the United States.
In 2001, with his return to the firm, Alfred became a "boomeranger" long before the term was made popular. He has lived, worked and raised capital in Canada, the United States and Europe. He is recognized as one of Canada's leading counsel in relation to private equity firms and transactions.
Given these credentials, the summer students eagerly anticipated this presentation.
The fact that the students remained strongly engaged, despite their near gluttonous consumption of the delicious High Tea was a testament to Alfred's skill as a speaker (and performer, alike). After hearing about Alfred's past and present achievements within politics and the legal field, together with his stated commitment to his family and friends, there was a consensus among the students that this level of success was one to aspire to in the future. Armed with some of Alfred's wisdom, the students prepared to return to Faskens where they would endeavor to utilize their newly acquired knowledge in the embarak on their path towards success.
A sincere thank you is extended to Alfred for his time, candour and generousity, as well to the members of the Professional Development staff.
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 Queen's Park Tour
by Brendan Gray, 2008 Summer Student
I'm no slouch as a law student; I know that Ontario has laws. But, I have always been plagued by a difficult question: who makes these laws…. and where? I had imagined some giant pink-hued sandstone building, very old, and surrounded by a beautiful park. Preferably this building would have a rose window on its southwest pillar in place of a clock that was never built. Fortunately, Queen's Park lived up to my expectations.
Our tour began with a trip up a long and scenic staircase to the assembly chamber where we observed a lively, some might even say raucous, question period on the current government's commitment to preserving jobs in the auto sector in Ontario. We were led into the Chamber by our tour guide Rosa who impressed upon us the importance of maintaining a quiet and respectful demeanour while sitting in the public galleries (instructions soon forgotten by at least one of the co-chairs of our student committee). Following this we were led into a miniature assembly chamber to be debriefed by Rosa on what we had observed. We were all given roles to play to demonstrate the functioning of the Chamber. Whereas others were given the role of speaker, clerk, or got to sit in the "rump", I, alas, was given the role of page. When we were finished in the mock chamber we were taught about Ontario's official gemstone (amethyst), flower (trillium), and bird (loon).
After our tour was complete we returned to the ground floor for a meeting with Ontario's Attorney General the Honourable Chris Bentley. The AG spoke frankly with us about the practice of law, reforms being made by his department, and his own personal experience as the lawyer for Canada's largest province. We were then treated to a discussion with three senior political advisors serving in different government departments. Omar Khan spoke to us about his role as senior advisor to the Hon. Chris Bentley and about how he found himself in politics. Jamison Steeve, Chief of Staff to the Hon. George Smitherman, and a Faskens Alumnus, told us about the strong relationship between the Firm and politics and about what drew him from Bay Street to Queen's Park (less pay and longer hours). Lastly, Brent McCurdy spoke to us about the civil justice reform initiative and about his role as a policy advisor to the AG.
Sincere thanks to our hosts the Hon. Chris Bentley, Omar Khan, Jamison Steeve, Brent McCurdy, and to our tour guide Rosa.
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 Canadian Pacific Railway
by Sébastien Kwidzinski, 2008 Summer Student
When you were young, did you ever dream about being a railroader and "riding the rails"? I sure did. Well on May 21st, the 2008 summer students at Faskens got the chance to live out those dreams during a field trip to our client Canadian Pacific Railway.
Our field trip took us to the CPR facility at McCowan, where we were hosted by Duncan Simpson, Yard Manager, Toronto and Louis Arseneau, and Brian Gemmell, Senior Claims Agents.
During our 3-hour visit, Duncan took us through the inner workings of one of Canada's most famous railways and also introduced us to some interesting railroad terminology such as the term "humping", which is basically the method used for assembling railway cars for distribution across North America. We saw first hand how the team at CPR are able to assemble trains by unloading boxcars from the top of the "hump" and directing them to one of more than 70 different tracks. This operation is handled by highly trained operations using a sophisticated computer system which takes into account various factors such as weight, speed, wind and weather to ensure that each car is unloaded at the precise speed necessary to deliver it within coupling distance of the preceding car without mishap.
Duncan, Louis and Brian are life-long railroaders, each with more than 30 years service and they were extremely generous in sharing their knowledge of the railroad business and in fielding the dozens of questions raised by the students.
Our tour included a trip to the control tower elevated 7 floors above the facility where we had a great view of all the action taking place in the yards below us.
After lunch we boarded our bus for the trip back to the office. Our knowledge was tested by a CPR trivia game for which FM merchandise was awarded as prizes. Congratulations to the winners: Nicole, Heela, Sean, Andrew and Francesco.
Sincere thanks to our fantastic hosts Duncan, Louis and Brian at CPR for their generosity and patience in providing us with such an amazing experience. I know we all left the tour with a greater understanding of the railway business and our client's needs.
 
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 Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Ida Martin, 2007 Summer Student
On Thursday June 14th, the Summer Students had the pleasure of going to the Toronto Hunt Club for afternoon tea with Rosalind Cooper. The weather was good, and the views were spectacular. The scenic drive through the club's wooded land and the vistas of lake Ontario left many of us feeling that we had left Toronto all together. After being treated to afternoon treats and taking in the sun on the clubhouse porch, we all congregated inside to listen to Rosalind's talk: "Networking and Business Development Tips and Techniques." Rosalind shared her low-key strategies for developing new business as well as a few stories about finding new clients in unlikely places. She impressed upon us the importance of maintaining good working relationships with everyone whom we have contact, and of developing a reputation for working diligently and carefully. Rosalind then shared some stories about how her career evolved from working in-house to being an environmental partner at Fasken Martineau. In closing, she urged us to choose work and develop expertise in a field that we enjoy. After Rosalind's very enjoyable talk we had a few more moments to bask in the beautiful surroundings. On behalf of all the summer students I would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped to organise this delightful and informative afternoon and to send a special thank you to Rosalind Cooper for taking the time to share her gems of wisdom with all of us.
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 Dufferin Aggregates
by Jim Elson, 2007 Summer Student
On a bright late-may morning, we boarded a bus at the base of the TD Tower. Doug Scott, John Inglis together with the Professional Development Team greeted us with open arms (as they have all summer) and led us on our journey to the Dufferin Aggregates quarry in Milton Ontario.
Dufferin Aggregates is a subsidiary of St. Lawrence Cement, one of Canada's four major cement and concrete suppliers, and a long-standing client of the Firm. Aggregate is one of the three critical components used to manufacture concrete, and is usually comprised of sand, natural gravel and/or crushed stone. In particular, the kind of limestone found at the Milton Quarry location makes it a perfect source of aggregate material for concrete.
The abundance of the limestone found at the Milton site is a function of its geological history. Millions of years ago, the escarpment was below a large sea. Tributaries deposited sediments and organic material on the floor of the sea so that over time, and under the pressure of the water above, layers of sedimentary rock formed. As it turns out, the prevailing conditions formed layers of high-quality limestone nearly 30 metres high, providing the Milton quarry site with a vast reserve of potential limestone resources.
Immediately upon arriving at the Milton quarry site, we were struck by the prominent geological features and immense natural beauty of the escarpment, which was designated in 1990 as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. This designation indicates that an area has demonstrated a sustainable relationship between humans and the biosphere.
After describing Dufferin's business and how Dufferin fits into the overall business strategy of its parent company, Doug indicated how his relationship with Dufferin began almost 30 years ago, as a junior lawyer. In particular, he indicated that having a strong understanding of a client's business operations and objectives lays a foundation upon which a mutually beneficial relationship can be based.
At the site, we were joined by Andrea Bourrie, Property & Resource Manager, and Sean Routledge, Production Superintendent, who guided our bus driver through the lunar-like terrain of the mine site, weaving along the quarry's treacherous left-hand-drive roads and around the "7-7-7's": the Quarry's fleet of enormous dump trucks. Between instructions to our driver (who looked a bit shaken, but was more than up to the task), Andrea found the time to explain that after blasting a section of limestone, the material is loaded into the 7-7-7's, and transported to the crusher. The crusher reduces the enormous slabs of limestone into more uniform, manageable pieces that are later processed further into finer aggregate particles, ready for loading onto one of the 800 trucks that make about 1600 trips daily, from the Milton quarry to support local construction and development.
Doug also indicated that at that time he first worked on the file, as today, there was significant public concern about the environmental impact of Dufferin's operations. With that in mind, after our bus-tour of the active quarry, we were able to tour an inactive quarry on the Milton site by foot. Dufferin's ongoing environmental compliance efforts have led it to develop a complex rehabilitation plan for the site along with Government and community stakeholders which includes planting over 100,000 trees, a water management plan and a trust fund for the operation of the site which will be handed over to the public upon the closing of the quarry.
After our tours, we were treated to a BBQ lunch, and some relaxation time in the sun. What a day - I was amazed at the efficiency of the active operation, the wide range of legal services provided by Faskens to this single client, and the natural beauty of the escarpment and the rehabilitated quarry. And the big dump trucks were pretty cool too.
Thanks so much to our friends at Dufferin Aggregates, Doug Scott, Neil Smiley, John Inglis and the Professional Development team for a great day!
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 Toronto Hunt Seminar
by Melissa Insanic, 2006 Summer Student
A short afternoon drive transported us from the concrete jungle of Toronto's downtown core to the pristine grounds of the Toronto Hunt Club, overlooking Lake Ontario. The purpose of our trip was to enjoy afternoon tea with Alfred Apps, a partner in the EGBG Group (Emerging Global Business Group) and to gain some insight from a veteran on how to provide excellent client service and develop strong business-building and networking skills.
Few would be more suited to speak to us on this subject than Mr. Apps, given his success both as a lawyer and as a businessman. While we enjoyed some tea in beautiful surroundings, he took the time to share some pearls of professional wisdom about business development.
Mr. Apps has been able to develop and maintain a large and diverse network of business and personal contacts over the years through engagement in a wide variety of organizations and activities. As a result of the time invested in his relationships, his list of contacts includes some of Canada's most influential business and political leaders.
Mr. Apps also discussed the importance of maintaining balance between one's professional and personal lives, encouraging an approach that permits the best of both worlds. For Mr. Apps (a very early riser it would appear) this means beginning his day at the crack of dawn so that he may end his day with his family.
He also suggested the importance of giving back to the community - whether one's interests are professional, political or charitable.
Mr. Apps also provided us with some extra keys to becoming a successful lawyer. For instance, we ought to always strive to do the highest quality work, with special attention to detail. Moreover, it is important for lawyers to develop a solid understanding of their clients' businesses and become intimately familiar with their challenges and opportunities in order to anticipate issues and contribute valuable ideas as problems arise.
On behalf of the students, I would like to thank Alfred for inviting us to the Hunt Club and taking time to speak with us! As one of the students put it, your discussion got us "all fired up". We are eager to begin putting your lessons into action.
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 Maritime Ontario FreightWORKS
by Daniel Fuke, 2006 Summer Student
On Tuesday, May 30, the summer students embarked on another "client field trip" as part of the 2006 Summer Student Program - Client Service Initiative.
The trip took us to the Brampton offices of Maritime Ontario FreightWORKS (M-O). This was the second of three such trips. First introduced in 2005 with a trip to Dofasco, the purpose of the initiative is to expose the firm's summer students to the clients' perspective on the client/firm relationship. The first excursion was to Ontario Air Ambulance, and the third and final visit will be with Alfred Apps, a senior partner in the Firm's EGBG group for a discussion on how to provide excellent client service.
Today's visit to M-O was graciously arranged through Doug Munro, M-O's President and Sam Rickett the responsible partner at the firm. Founded in 1962, M-O has expanded into an industry leader both in terms of size and innovation. With over 21 terminal locations across Canada, M-O has the ability to provide first class transportation service from coast to coast.
Our visit began in the Company's auditorium, which is used to provide informational presentations to current and potential clients. Led by our host for the event, Karen Hammel Director, Marketing & Sales and John Lepore, Vice-President Corporate Alliances & Market Development, the presentation included a history of the company, an explanation of its divisions, and customer testimonials. The presentation was excellent and one was left with the strong belief that M-O is firmly committed to customer service.
From the auditorium we continued our tour of M-O's new $25M facility. The building and office space are extremely well designed but the most impressive element of the tour was the warehouse facility. Over 170 feet wide with 99 truck bays and room for further expansion, the facility was incredible.
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 Ontario Air Ambulance
by Sam Ault and Michael Shour, CILP Fellowship 2006
Christopher was lying on the table, covered by a white sheet. His chest heaved and his blood pressure rose sharply. "Is he hyperventilating?" asked a concerned Fasken's student. "Yeah, he's hyperventilating, all right",replied our host, "because he's bleeding to death." Fortunately, "Christopher" is a $160k training mannequin that looks and acts like a real patient, and can be programmed to simulate numerous medical emergency scenarios. Thus began our tour at the Ontario Air Ambulance head office in north Toronto.
Our visit to the OAA offices is part of the Client Service Initiative. Given that the best lawyers are those who truly understand and appreciate their clients' businesses, the firm's summer program provides students with the opportunity of visiting with various client organizations to fully experience the environment, to meet with members of the client's team and to hear first hand about the issues and challenges that the client faces in operating their business.
The program was first introduced last year when Sally Woods our Director of Professional Development arranged a day visit to Dofasco. The resounding success of that trip resulted in an expanded program this summer to include outings to Ontario Air Ambulance, Maritime-Ontario Freight Lines Limited, and a session with Alfred Apps, a senior partner in the firm's EGBG (Emerging Global Business Group) to discuss client service.
Our trip to OAA was extremely interesting. OAA was first established by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 1977 and, until recently, operated as a program out of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. In 2004, OAA was incorporated as a separate legal entity (a not-for-profit corporation) and in 2005 the Province of Ontario approved the consolidation of various aspects of the Ontario air ambulance system under the umbrella of OAA. As a result, its operations have vastly expanded and include but are not limited to the procurement and dispatching of air ambulance services and the provision of medical direction and continuing medical education to medical staff. Today, it operates over 17, 000 emergency flights per year out of 26 bases throughout the province.
OAA also manages a highly specialized, rapidly deployable emergency response team. With a complement of nurses and doctors in striker suits, a 56-bed mobile hospital, and HEPA-filtered tents, this team is capable of responding to chemical, radiological, biological, and nuclear threats. We learned about the dedication, perseverance, and organizational capabilities required to manage an operation of this magnitude.
After the tour, we reconvened at the company boardroom for a discussion of OAA's inner-workings and the legal issues affecting the organization. Dr. Christopher Mazza, the CEO of OAA, stopped by the boardroom and offered some words of wisdom regarding the role of lawyers in advising businesses. He reminded us that practicing law is about much more than simply regurgitating rules and regulations; it also requires consideration of practical and moral issues.
Our trip to OAA was arranged through Tasha Dean, a member of the Communications group at OAA and Cynthia Heinz, the partner responsible at the firm for all OAA matters. To complete the picture, Cynthia Heinz and the Chair of Faskens' National Health Law Group, Lynne Golding, both involved in the 2005 reorganization of OAA, will present an overview of the legal issues involved in the successful completion of the transaction.
We are all looking forward to future client visits and continuing to learn more about the confluence of law and business. This is truly an important initiative, which provides students with a window into our clients' world. A truly Faskenating event!
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 Dofasco Tour
by Dawn Robertson, 2005 Summer Student
The summer of 2005 got off to an early start in Toronto with record warm temperatures through the month of June. The students might have thought it couldn't get any hotter - until we took a field trip to Hamilton for a tour of Dofasco, one of Canada's most successful steel producers and a Fasken client.
After a short welcome from Joan Weppler, VP of Corporate Administration and General Counsel (and a Fasken alumnus), we boarded a bus for a tour of Dofasco's huge operation. We were each issued a hardhat, radio, safety glasses, gloves, and earplugs - which gave us a hint of how "up close" our tour would be!
The tour took us through all of the stages of the steelmaking process - from the docks where the iron ore and coal arrive at the plant, to the blast furnace where the ore is converted into molten iron, to another furnace where the molten ore is mixed with other alloys to make steel according to the exact metallurgical specifications of the customer. Highlights of the tour included climbing the stairs to a catwalk four stories up to watch the red hot (1200°C!), 20 ton steel slabs roll off the line and watching rolls of steel slide through a pool of liquid zinc as part of the galvanization process. Along the way, we learned about Dofasco's use of leading-edge technology, search for efficiency and commitment to environmental standards.
After the tour, we were hosted for lunch by Urmas Soomet, Dofasco's Corporate Secretary, who answered our questions and shared his thoughts about how Fasken can best serve its clients. It was a great opportunity for the students to learn first hand about the challenges faced by one of our clients and to understand their business goals.
Thanks to Joan Weppler, the Dofasco staff who led our tour and the Fasken Professional Development team for planning our visit.
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