Founded in 1988, the boutique firm Hill Sokalski Walsh is noted for cultivating “a healthy mix of litigation files,” according to peers. “They keep it interesting! They take on any files they want and work them with equal vigor. It could be a ‘bet-the farm’ case or it could be an employment case – either way they’ll take it on and deliver the goods.” Firm founder Dave Hill is uniformly praised by peers. “Dave is certainly one of the most active litigators in Manitoba, hands-down.” Another peer elaborates, “I’ve had two cases in which I acted against Dave Hill. They were two pieces of commercial litigation, two credit unions, dealing with creditor’s rights, and Dave was a spirited fighter, as always.” Another elaborates, “Dave, and his firm, have noticeably been attending to a lot more plaintiff work as of late. He doesn’t always win the case[s], but he sure has the backbone to keep bringing them.” Hill lays claim to a precedent-setting win for his client in a case against the City of Winnipeg. After obtaining a rare mandamus against the City in 2018 on behalf of a developer client, in 2019, after the City did not follow this order, Hill was successful in having the City found in contempt. The ruling was issued in August 2019. As a follow-on, Hill led his client through three more contempt hearings, after which the City counselors changed their minds and granted the client the zoning permits that were originally denied. Now that this has been approved, Hill has filed a $30 million suit against four individuals who allegedly obstructed the case along the way. This case is scheduled for an eight-week trial in October 2021. Hill’s triumph in this matter has driven an increased level of other municipal work to the firm. Sherri Walsh has recently been appointed the first Appeals Commissioner outside the City of Winnipeg, a provincial appointment. Bob Sokalski is still noted for a lot of work in the sports and defamation areas. “He does mostly administrative law stuff,” declares a peer. “He acts for a lot of people who have been disciplined by certain associations. He wouldn’t be involved in trial work at all but he’s known as ‘The Motion Man.’” The firm has also kept its eye on building out at the younger level, welcoming Kevin Toyne to the partnership. Toyne, originally from Toronto where he worked in that city’s office of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, makes his debut appearance in this edition of Benchmark Canada.
