Today, Fillmore Riley is a highly regarded and accomplished full-service regional law firm. Our lawyers are routinely entrusted to work on some of the most complex and sophisticated transactions and litigation involving Canada’s most prominent companies, institutions and individuals. Never compromising our ethics to get ahead, we always do right by our clients, our firm and our community. Under the steady leadership of our firm’s Executive Committee, we look forward to guiding businesses to achieve their objectives in Canada and beyond.
Fillmore Riley celebrates its 140th anniversary. Although our breadth and depth have grown substantially, we have stayed true to our humble roots. Namesake partners, Fillmore and Riley, instilled the importance of being practical-minded lawyers who provide sound business-focused advice with the utmost integrity.
January 1: Sofia Mirza and Stuart Blake are appointed King's Counsel by the Manitoba Government.
September 8: Queen Elizabeth II passes. The longest-reigning monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth ll was admired for her steadfast commitment to serving her nation and the Commonwealth. In accordance with the Court of Queen's Bench Act, the highest court in Manitoba is renamed the Court of King's Bench.
August 4-14: A stalwart supporter of CancerCare Manitoba, the firm participates in the 2022 Challenge for Life. Over the last decade, the firm has raised close to $450,000 that went towards helping Manitobans affected by cancer.
January 1: Executive Chair Jody Langhan announces that Stuart Blake has been selected as the CEO & Managing Partner. Glen Peters, the firm’s outgoing CEO & Managing Partner, held the role for more than 17 years.
Bernice Bowley, the chair of Fillmore Riley’s litigation practice, is admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.
Managing Partner Glen Peters champions a strategic-planning process to strengthen firm leadership with the goal of achieving organizational excellence. Jody Langhan takes the helm as Executive Chair and Michele McClymont joins the firm in the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.
William Parker Fillmore, retired partner of Fillmore Riley son of C.W. Fillmore and grandson of W.P. Fillmore, passes. Known for his wit and his magnetic personality, “Parker” believed providing value to his clients was the best way to honour his father’s and grandfather’s legacy. Generous with his time and expertise, he served on the boards of philanthropic organizations such as the Winnipeg Industrial Skills Training Centre Inc., Main Street Project and TAMARACK Recovery Centre.
Anita Southall, a longtime Fillmore Riley partner and a respected wills and estates lawyer, is elected 99th president of The Law Society of Manitoba.
October 20: Justice David J. Kroft, a longtime Fillmore Riley partner, is appointed a judge of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench in Winnipeg.
September 19: His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, officially opens the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the world's only museum solely devoted to the exploration and celebration of human rights.
September 1: Sofia Mirza, an immigration lawyer and partner at Fillmore Riley, takes office as President of the Manitoba Bar Association. She is the first visibly ethnic woman to hold the position.
Cy Fien, a senior tax partner of Fillmore Riley, is awarded Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to the Canadian Tax Foundation.
Debby the Polar Bear, longtime resident of Assiniboine Park Zoo, dies at the age of 42. At age 41, she was recognized in the 2008 Guinness Book of Records as the oldest living polar bear.
Photo credit: Assiniboine Park Zoo
November 2: Glen Peters becomes Managing Partner after Jim Carlson was at the helm for more than 20 years.
June 30: Ross Yarnell retires after practising at the firm for 53 years.
Randolph B. McNicol, QC, retires. During his career at Fillmore Riley (1973-2003), Randy litigated in virtually every area of the law. He was involved in many significant and high-profile cases, including several public inquiries (Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (1988), Lavoie Inquiry (1995), Inquiry Into the Deployment of Canadian Forces to Somalia (1995), Thomas Sophonow Inquiry (2000) and many others.
Fillmore Riley becomes one of the first law firms in North America to earn IS0 9001 Certification.
December 31: Justice Minister Vic Toews announces longtime Fillmore Riley partner K. Eleanor Wiebe is appointed as Queen’s Counsel, an acknowledgement of her many contributions to the legal profession and the wider community.
Winnipeg gets snowed in with the worst recorded blizzard in this century. Total accumulated snowfall: 48 cm (Friday to Tuesday). Previous record: 1966 - 38.1 cm snowfall. Duration of storm: 24 hours, Average wind speed: 60 km/h, gusting as high as 85 km/h.
Photo credit: Joe Bryksa/Winnipeg Free Press
The firm becomes Fillmore Riley LLP.
The firm moves to present location at 360 Main Street and occupies the 16th and 17th floors. It’s a longstanding tradition for the large law firms in Winnipeg to have offices on the corner of Portage and Main.
The firm becomes Fillmore & Riley and moves to Richardson Building on northeast corner of Portage and Main. W.P. Fillmore retires the following year.
The firm becomes Fillmore, Riley, Hunt, McLachlan, Norton, Philp & Yarnell.
Back row L to R: Alan Philp, Ross Yarnell, Jim McLachlan, Winston Norton and John Hunt. Front row: W.P. Fillmore, Harold Riley
June 9 Charles William Fillmore, the son of W.P. Fillmore, dies of leukemia at 46. “Charlie” followed in his father’s footsteps and practised law at the firm. A resident of St. James, he established the St. James branch of the Y.M.C.A. and took on other leadership roles in his community.
May 24: His Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth come to Winnipeg as a part of their Royal Tour of Canada.
Photo Credit: Winnipeg Free Press
June 15 - Celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Manitoba's formation as a Province and inclusion in Dominion of Canada.
Firm becomes Richards, Sweatman, Fillmore & Riley.
May 15–June 26: The Winnipeg General Strike. The Strike is the largest in Canadian history and results in arrests and bloodshed, but it also contributes to the recognition of unions and collective bargaining in Canada.
Photo credit: William Wilson fonds/Archives of Manitoba
H.J. Riley returns to Winnipeg as a Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the regiment. His military career extends to the Second World War, after which he retired as a Major-General.
H.J. Riley serves in France as Lieutenant-Colonel and Battalion Commander with the 27th City of Winnipeg Battalion. He is in the centre row (position number seven).
Photo credit: 27th ( City of Winnipeg) Battalion, Officers,1918. Royal Winnipeg Rifles Museum & Archives
Harold J. Riley joins the firm as a student.
W.P. Fillmore is admitted to the Manitoba Bar in November at a salary of $75 per month.
William Parker Fillmore joins Bradshaw, Richards & Affleck as a student. The firm’s located at 395 Main Street, also known as the Bank of Hamilton Building.
Firm is founded under the name Richards & Coutlee.
