Toronto boutique Polley Faith continues to enjoy its place as a maverick litigation shop free to take on a variety of work, much of which is not typical for Bay Street. That said, many Bay Street peers turn out to voice their appreciation for the firm and confirm themselves as referral sources or collaborators. “Lawyers at Polley Faith excel in their management of complex commercial disputes,” states one peer. “They bring the right mix of legal expertise and practical approach tailored to each file. Our firm collaborated with them in respect of a significant shareholder arbitration with several hundred million dollars at stake.” Another testifies, “They are my go-to firm for any conflict work or other litigation matters that we cannot take on as a firm. They provide excellent consistent service among associates and partners.” Another declares, “They bring an ideal mix of subject-matter expertise, client focus, and integrity to the practice of law. It is wonderful to work with a firm comprised of folks who are both top-level lawyers and compassionate, pleasant people!” A satisfied client remarks, “The Polley Faith team is incredibly knowledgeable and deep in expertise. The key item here is that when you reach out to them, they actually have the answer (they don't have to go looking for it), and they can apply a pragmatic business-minded approach. There have been many times where they have been honest and identified areas not worth pursuing due to the extended costs associated with pursuit. [I get] Excellent service from this team.”
Name partners Mark Polley and Andrew Faith each command a healthy level of praise from peers and clients. One client notes, “Mark brings his considerable experience and expertise to bear in representing our institution. He communicates clearly and understands both needs and desired outcomes. His approach is practical and solution focused.” A retired member of the bench steps forward on Polley’s behalf: “He conducted a lengthy trial in front of me on an important case and did an excellent job while succeeding in the result. He is well regarded by judges and his peers. He is also excellent at thoroughly preparing a case and settling it if it is sensible to do so.” A peer offers a fulsome and glowing accolade: “He's a very pragmatic sensible lawyer who is sure to implement business-minded concerns into his analysis. His guidance is real-world and real-time, which means that he considers the business environment that the client is operating within, and provides real-time insight, as if he is sitting at the executive table. Not to mention, he focuses heavily on leadership and how to build his team from within, which is a great thing to see in terms of development of his associates. I've watched his associates grow as professionals, and there is no doubt that his specific focus on leadership development has contributed to that.” Faith is similarly championed by the legal community. A peer offers, “Andrew is considered to be one of the province's top litigators. He has been lead counsel on some of the most important cases over the past seven or eight years. His courtroom demeanor is second to none. He is also excellent at dispute resolution. He is a favorite amongst the judges. He is one of the most sought-after lawyers for the really important cases.” A client confirms, “Andy was our primary counsel on a highly contentious partnership dispute. He distills complex concepts into simple non-legalese terms, making them easy to understand for internal stakeholders and arbitrators. In this manner, he is a clear, simple and direct communicator, both in his written correspondence and in person. I found this to be highly effective not only for him to explain legal issues to us but also in communicating our points to opposing counsel. He is also very practical and business minded, which is a huge asset, as he takes the time to understand our business and evaluate the risks that matter versus those that don’t. When Andy is brought onto a matter, he is not just external counsel but valued as a true member of the internal team. His thoughtful advice, technical legal knowledge, quick responsiveness and ability to see things three steps ahead have been invaluable to our organization and resulted in very successful outcomes.” Beyond the name partners, others have been increasingly making their mark. Jeffrey Haylock is addressed by a peer as “an excellent analyst. He considers all angles of a problem and provides reasoned advice. There is rarely an aspect of a problem that he has not considered. This builds an extraordinary amount of trust. We would not hesitate to recommend him.” Brookelyn Kirkham is respected by peers as someone who “invests significant time into understanding her clients and their needs. She is a fearless advocate, who blends practicality with a rigorous approach to litigation. She instills confidence in her clients and is an excellent strategist.”
