Horne Coupar LLP Lawyers + Notaries partners, back row, from left: Paula Bosenberg, Fiona Hunter, Heather Fisher and Caroline Deane. Front row, from left: Mark Horne KC and John Coupar
VICTORIA – Horne Coupar LLP Lawyers + Notaries is arguably the greenest law office in Greater Victoria.
That commitment to environmental sustaina-bility started in 2007 when the partners became the first law firm to participate in the “1 Percent For The Planet” program.
“We did that because we felt a generational obligation to at least give something back to the planet,” says partner Mark Horne K.C. “Our contribution over the years since is around $500,000, which is not an insignificant commitment by us. The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Files, started a worldwide movement to get businesses to donate 1% of their gross revenues to approved environmental causes.
Mark Horne K.C.
We donate through the Victoria Foundation as a conduit to a number of smaller environmental groups on Vancouver Island.”
Horne Coupar LLP was recently recognized by Canadian Lawyer as a top 10 Wills, Trusts & Estates boutique firm for the third successive year. Horne notes the award winning firm has also earned a solid reputation within the legal community for being a great place to work.
“We have very little staff turnover here, and many of our employees have been here for over 25 years,” he states. “We think that’s a key driver for us, as it enhances expertise in all of our practice areas. But our values are not simply business driven, as there is a sense of family here, which is a big part of our firm culture.”
The company started in 1944, and the firm was founded by the fathers of two current partners, Ian Horne (Mark Horne) and Robert Coupar (John Coupar). Mark joined the firm in 1979 and became a partner in 1984. Other partners are Fiona Hunter, Heather Fisher, Paula Bosenberg and Caroline Deane.
“Four of our current partners have been partners for at least 20 years, and two are somewhat younger which ensures a smooth succession plan” he notes. “There’s a huge depth of experience in our practice, and that wealth of experience helps us deliver for our clients.”
Revenues have grown 600 percent since the late 1980’s and staff has grown over threefold to 42 people, including 12 lawyers.
The Horne Coupar LLP Lawyers + Notaries office
Their practice focuses on succession planning, through wills, estates and trusts, although it does have a thriving corporate commercial department as well. “That dovetails with succession planning when you have entrepreneurial clients, because they need to focus on what happens to their business. Horne explains,
“We have had a focus on Wills, Estates and Trusts as long as I’ve been at the firm,” he adds. “The forbearers of the firm were mindful of Victoria’s early reputation as a retirement community.”
That focus continues to be a key to the company’s longevity.
“I think we are successful because we’ve focused on our practice area, we’ve refined it, and attracted expertise over the years in that practice area,” Horne states. “We also do a lot of work on the basis of referrals from other firms, so that reputation has helped us to continue to grow.”
