Firm History

An Overnight Sensation – One Hundred Years In The Making

What’s in a name?

From:	And From:
Lee & Farmer	Christilaw, sole practitioner
Lee, Farmer & Simpson	Christilaw in association with John Poulson
Lee, Farmer, Simpson & McCullum	Christilaw, Gage
Lee, Simpson & Murgatroydt	Christilaw, Gage & Wigle
Simpson & Duncan	Christilaw, Gage, Wigle, Miller & Whitney
Simpson, Duncan & Hamel	Christilaw, Gage, Wigle & Milne
Simpson, Duncan Hamel & Jackson	Christilaw, Wigle, Callahan & Milne
To: SimpsonWigle LAW LLP

From 1886 to the present, there has been a consistent thread through all the name changes – sound legal advice, excellent client service, respected individuals and active involvement in the local community.

The merger of CHRISTILAW, WIGLE, CALLAHAN & MILNE and SIMPSON, DUNCAN, HAMEL & JACKSON occurred in 1986, and the signage brushes came out once more to announce the law firm of SIMPSON WIGLE.

Today the firm serves clients out of its offices in downtown Hamilton and downtown Burlington. SimpsonWigle LAW LLP is still the practice of Simpsons and Wigles. But in its ascendancy as one of the largest law firms in the Region it is also the practice of over two dozen other talented lawyers and half a dozen law clerks – a number with enviable professional reputations, and all extremely well regarded by their peers and by those in business. The firm is also the employer of some forty administrative staff plus part time students.

Simpson Wigle today is a law firm that supports business - large and small, privately owned and publicly held, not-for-profit and charities, as well as the individuals who own and run these enterprises. The areas of practice keep pace with business demands and include Corporate and Commercial Law, Tax Law, Litigation, Wills, Trusts and Estates Planning, Immigration, Employment Law, Condominium Law, Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Restructuring, Business Succession Planning, Real Estate Development and Construction, Municipal Law and E-Commerce.

Simpson Wigle established itself as a Hamilton law firm, serving the local community. As the client base of the firm grew and the size and nature of client business evolved, the scope of the practice grew. Today clients view the firm as a viable alternative to expensive Bay Street law firms. Not only are these clients involved in local Regional business matters, but they have involved Simpson Wigle in cross-border transactions in US and Mexico and a number of European nations.

We attract excellent junior lawyers anxious to build a career in a supportive and well-respected legal environment. We attract successful senior lawyers who want to practice in our dynamic environment, and contribute to our sophisticated work product. The firm’s expertise is recognized by other lawyers and accountants in southern Ontario who regularly refer clients and complex matters to us in a number of areas.

The lawyers of the firm remain active in the community at all levels, from schools to sports to social services to business. We serve on hospital, and charitable Boards. We support local business and entrepreneurs through our participation in the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre and pioneering well recognized initiatives such as establishing the Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum.

In our first one hundred years the law firm of Simpson Wigle has provided a valuable contribution to the Hamilton region and helped secure the employment of thousands of individuals who work for the clients we have assisted in maintaining healthy and competitive businesses.