Who We Are
Fillmore Riley is a highly regarded and accomplished full-service Manitoba law firm. Since 1883, our lawyers have been entrusted to work on some of the most complex and sophisticated transactions and litigation involving Canada’s most prominent companies, institutions and individuals.
As a result, market sources routinely recommend our lawyers for our proficiency in banking and finance, securities, taxation, real estate and property development and litigation. We advise a wide range of public and private sector clients, including large and small corporations, financial institutions, major national insurers, municipalities and professional organizations on their mission-critical business transactions and commercial litigation. Fillmore Riley also advises individuals on their wills, trusts and estates, tax, family law and civil litigation matters.
Why Fillmore Riley?
We know that the strength of our firm comes from attracting and keeping talented lawyers. When we invest in your future, we invest in our own.
We hold ourselves to extremely high standards of quality and integrity, and aim to instill in our students the skills and confidence to do the same in their practice. At Fillmore Riley, you will work with some of the best lawyers in Manitoba, who will provide you with guidance in not only the law, but also in client care and file management.
We also aim to foster an uncompetitive environment where young legal minds can develop to their fullest potential. You will be part of a collegial group of young lawyers who support each other and wish to see each other succeed.
Articling Students Summer Students
Our articling program introduces students to all facets of the practice of law, ensuring that each student obtains a broad work experience. You will be exposed to the operation of the firm as a whole, the lawyers individually and different practice areas.
We offer summer students a practical, hands-on experience at a leading Manitoba law firm. Summer students will work with some of Winnipeg’s most respected lawyers and gain exposure to various practice areas of law.
What is the Gatekeeper System?
To ensure that you get the most of your student years, we have implemented what we call our Gatekeeper System.
Under this system, one designated partner receives all of the student assignments from lawyers and distributes them evenly amongst the students. By effectively managing workflow, the “gatekeeper” exposes summer students to a diverse range of legal work.
Compensation & Benefits
Diversity & Inclusion
Fillmore Riley is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of lawyers with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates. We are actively engaged in our community—including supporting non-profits and initiatives that benefit these groups—to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Of students hired in last three years from equity-seeking groups 50%
➢ Justice David J. Kroft, Manitoba Court of Appeal
➢ Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick, Supreme Court of British Columbia
➢ Master Shayne Berthaudin, Manitoba Court of King’s Bench
➢ Late Justice Alan Philp, Manitoba Court of Appeal
➢ Justice Colleen Suche, K.C., Manitoba Court of King’s Bench
Awards & Accolades
➢ 23 lawyers named to Best Lawyers in Canada
➢ Named as one of Canada’s Best Law Firms in the Globe and Mail
➢ Recognized as a Top 10 Prairie Firm by Canadian Lawyer magazine
➢ IFLR1000 Tier 1 ranked Financial & Corporate law firm
➢ Benchmark Litigation Highly Recommended law firm
➢ Ranked amongst leading firms in Lexpert Legal Directory
➢ Recognized by the American College of Trial Lawyers
In the Community
At Fillmore Riley, we believe strongly in giving back to our community. Whether it’s serving on the boards of charitable organizations and public companies, coaching community sports teams or contributing to local fundraising campaigns, we take pride in supporting Manitoba and its livelihood.
One example is our longtime support of CancerCare Manitoba. Each year we participate in the Challenge for Life and have raised more than $500,000 that directly helps Manitobans affected by cancer.
Representative Matters and Engagements
➢ Acted as counsel for MacDon Group of Companies in connection with its sale to Linamar Corporation for a total purchase price of $1.2 billion. MacDon is a world leader in technology, innovation and manufacturing of high-performance harvesting equipment.
➢ Represented the Qualico Group of Companies in litigation challenging the validity of the Impact Fee bylaw imposed on the granting of building permits for residential construction by the City of Winnipeg.
➢ Represented the City of Winnipeg in a lawsuit filed by Terracon Development Ltd. which alleged the city backed out of a deal to develop a 237-acre parcel of industrial land in St. Boniface.
➢ Represented the vendor on the sale of a newly constructed multifamily residential apartment building in north Winnipeg to a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) for $42 million, including the purchaser’s assumption of the vendor’s Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) insured mortgage.
Representative Matters and Engagements
➢ Acted as counsel for James Richardson & Sons, Limited on the acquisition of the Bison Transport group of companies.
➢ Act on behalf of all major commercial insurers in the region
➢ Selected counsel to the provincial public sector insurance programs, undertaking substantially all the municipality, school board and other public authority liability disputes
➢ Preferred litigation counsel to the province’s largest police service
➢ Preferred litigation counsel to the province’s largest municipal corporation
➢ Preferred local counsel for Canada’s largest group benefits provider and major life insurer
