​​​​Sidney Troister​

I was called to the bar in 1974 and am a partner at Torkin Manes LLP.

 

I articled and in the first seven years of my legal career worked at the law firm of Strauss and Strauss.  I was the 5th of five lawyers in what was an established general law practice. I had great mentors and role models, who had respect for the law and respect for our profession. In those days, young lawyers did everything—real estate, incorporations, leases, commercial litigation, mortgage litigation, motor vehicle claims, family law and even criminal law. I did it all.  As a partner in that firm, I learned the pressure and economics of the small law firm.

 

In 1981, I joined the fledgling Torkin Manes, mostly because I played tennis weekly with a number of the partners and they said, "come join us, we are having fun building a law firm."  (They told me that they weren’t making much money but they were having fun trying.)  I thought it was an opportunity and if I was not going to take a chance then, I would never do it.

 

We were eight lawyers and upstarts, never knowing where the next client or file was coming from.  From new kids on the block, we have been fortunate to grow into a solid and successful mid-sized law firm.  But we knew the tough days, three recessions, entrepreneurial clients, demanding banks as our lenders, and sometimes fickle clients.   As a result, I understand the pressures of small firm practice, the insecurities, the demands and the neuroses of running your own practice. 

 

With greater support in the firm for some of the things I did not like to do, I gravitated to commercial law and real estate—solicitor’s work.  For me, gratification came in completing projects within a reasonable time frame without much gamesmanship.  While I enjoyed the academic and strategic side of litigation, the process was not for me.  I would like to think that getting the job done in a reasonable time frame might be an asset as a bencher.

 

Early on, I got involved in legal education, at a time when it was an honour to be an instructor in bar admission. Over the years, I was promoted to assistant head of real estate and then from 1990 to 2000 was the co-head of the section.

 

I have a long record of lecturing and teaching in Bar Association and Law Society continuing education.  It is important to me to lead by example and to ensure that our lawyers are well trained, competent and current.

 

In 2002, Paul Perell and I co-chaired the Law Society’s Special Lectures on real estate, the first time in 30 years that the Special Lectures were devoted to real estate law. It was a huge honour even to be asked. By Special Lectures’ standards, the 400 attendees made it a huge success. That programme was the catalyst for the creation of the annual Law Society Real Estate Law Summit, which I founded and continue to chair and which in 2022, its 19th year, was attended by over 1450 lawyers across the province.  Its focus is on the practical and its audience tends to be lawyers in solo or small firms.  Clearly, the careful selection of speakers and topics and the style of presentations that I encourage resonate with many general practice and real estate lawyers across the province.  I like to think that I understand their day-to-day concerns of practice.

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In 1988, I wrote “The Law of Subdivision Control in Ontario,” the only text on section 50 of the Planning Act. Section 50 of the Planning Act is a basis for lots of errors made by lawyers, the result of which make transactions invalid. It is hardly a nail biter of a book but it has become an essential resource for real estate lawyers in Ontario.  Some call it the Planning Act "bible".  Our courts and real estate lawyers across the province rely on it.  For over 20 years, i lobbied the Ontario Govenment to amend provisions in the act that were troublesome to lawyers and the citizens in Ontario.  In 2022, the act was finally amended.  The fourth edition was published in 2022.  

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In 2000, real estate and mortgage fraud became front page news.  For LawPRO, I wrote the definitive article on how lawyers can be fooled by fraudsters and for several years later, I lectured widely on real estate and mortgage fraud and the standard of practice for real estate lawyers.  I sat on the Ministry’s task force on real estate fraud and was counsel to the Law Society on changes to the rules of professional conduct as they relate to real estate fraud.

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Over 1500 lawyers across the province receive my real estate email bulletins, all focussed on new changes to the law, recent important real estate cases and ensuring the careful practice of real property law.  

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These days, in addition to mediating and arbitrating real estate disputes and troubleshooting and advising in connection with mistakes some lawyers have made on real estate transactions, I devote considerable time to the job of being a bencher, a job I take seriously and with commitment.

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I take great pride in being a lawyer, doing a good job, being respected, being appreciated and being a professional. Reputation in our business is key. Some say our reputation is really all we have. We all have a hand in delivering professional and competent service to our clients and as a bencher, I strive to lead by example in promoting those values.

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