Heenan Blaikie: The Making and Unmaking of a Great Canadian Law Firm

by Adam Dodek

In 1973, three young lawyers established Heenan Blaikie. It would become one of Canada’s highest-profile law firms, counting former prime ministers, premiers, and Supreme Court justices in its ranks. It was like a family, according to many who worked there. But it was a dysfunctional family. In 2014, the firm’s dramatic collapse became front-page news.


Based on extensive interviews with firm lawyers and legal industry insiders, Heenan Blaikie is the story of a respected law firm that ultimately buckled under weak governance and management. Heenan Blaikie seemed to punch above its bilingual, humane, national with international aspirations. But beneath its unique culture as a kinder, gentler law firm lay workplace bullying, challenges for women and visible minority lawyers, and sexual harassment.


Adam Dodek, an unbiased outsider, situates the firm’s evolution within the context of a changing legal profession and society, producing an account that is gripping from beginning to end.

Genres: Business, Law

396 pages, Hardcover

Published November 18, 2024

About the author

I’m a proud Canadian, teacher, scholar, husband and father.

At the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Faculty, I teach courses in Public Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics and a seminar on the Supreme Court of Canada. I love teaching and have been fortunate to teach so many great students at the University of Ottawa and before that at Osgoode Hall Law School and at the University of Toronto where I began my teacher career before moving to Ottawa. One of the highlights of my career was receiving the Capital Educators Award as one of the top teachers in Ottawa in 2012.

I have been fortunate to have had many great opportunities in my career. I grew up in Vancouver and will always be a lifelong Canucks fan. I then went off to McGill University and then Harvard Law School. I received a Fulbright Scholarship to research Israeli constitutional law while clerking for the Supreme Court of Israel. After being called to the bar in California, I practiced law in San Francisco and then clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena. I returned to Canada and clerked for Justice Claire L’Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada. After being called to the bar in Ontario, I joined the Public Law Working Group in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Toronto office where I practiced until the fall of 2003. At that time, I joined the staff of Ontario’s Attorney General, first as Senior Policy Adviser and then as Director of Policy and from 2005-06 as Chief of Staff.

I also love researching and writing. My areas of research include Canadian constitutional law, the Supreme Court of Canada, the legal profession, the judiciary and legal ethics.

Some other research projects involve Conflicts of Interest, the regulation of the legal profession, judicial ethics, the ethics of the expert witness, the enactment of the Canadian Charter Rights and Freedoms and the Supreme Court of Canada.

I spend a lot of time watching baseball and have enjoyed going on baseball road trips with my son. We cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Vancouver Canucks and the Ottawa Senators.

Reviews

[Bonnie Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for all my legal and business nerds out there. A comprehensive, well sourced, well resourced and compelling exploration of the demise of a large national Canadian law firm. I would imagine the circumstances described by Dodek are painful for those who were involved but for anyone else who wants to understand what not to do when you are involved in law firm management or how to make more informed legal career choices, this is the book for you highly recommend.

[Sairam Sanath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great accomplishment about this work is that it's written like a potboiler. Canadian law firm insiders may have a cursory understanding of what led HB's collapse, but reading this work is like watching a predictable thriller that manages to pique your curiosity as if it's all new.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling research. Disturbing for anyone in the practice of law, as we can all find resonance in our firms, to a greater or lesser extent. Well done Adam!

[Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding and well researched account of the tragic breakdown and eventual collapse of one of Canada's leading law firms. A gripping read, Dodek meshes insights from management theory with accounts from large numbers of Heenan lawyers whom he interviewed over a significant period of time. The book offers valuable insights on how lawyers can avoid similar pitfalls and how even profitable firms can go awry without proper governance structures in place. Dodek also addresses issues relating to women and racialized lawyers. This book is one that every entrepreneurial lawyer should read and learn from. Buy it today.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book by an amazing scholar/author! At times it felt relatable (as a law student), and it also prepared me for what my future might look like and what to avoid. I will say, and the reason it didn’t get a higher rating, is that the book is a bit repetitive. I felt like I read the same sentence multiple times in various chapters.

[Bradley Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts off strong; however, tails off as the collapse takes hold of HB. Presumably this is due to (a) the individual lawyer departures being not on the public record and (b) many being bound by confidentiality.

Nevertheless it is a page turner that I would recommend reading for anyone in the legal profession.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un récit passionnant et fort documenté d'un événement qui a secoué le monde juridique.