TORONTO, Nov. 16 /CNW/ - McCarthy Tétrault is proud to announce that it
garnered the Canadian National Pro Bono Law Firm Award this evening at the
first-ever National Pro Bono Conference, being held at the Metropolitan Hotel
in Toronto on November 16 and 17, 2006.
    "While this recognition of our efforts is certainly an honour, we view
pro bono work as a responsibility that our firm and the entire legal industry
must continue to shoulder," said W. Iain Scott, McCarthy Tétrault Chair and
CEO. "We are proud of the $1.2 million in pro bono services that 192 McCarthy
Tétrault lawyers contributed so far this year to communities across Canada in
2006, but there is still much work to be done. It is our hope that this award
serves as an instrument of inspiration and change, beginning with the
formation of Pro Bono Law organizations all across Canada."
    The Canadian National Pro Bono Law Firm Award recognizes the outstanding
contribution the recipient firm has made in the provision of pro bono legal
services and the significant strides the firm has made towards the
establishment of policies and programs that encourage lawyers to volunteer to
represent low-income individuals. The firm has demonstrated dedication to the
development and delivery of legal services through its pro bono program and
has contributed significant work towards developing innovative approaches to
volunteer legal services.
    In its pro bono services, McCarthy Tétrault lawyers work with the Regent
Park Neighbourhood Initiative, which was established to advocate and protect
the interests of the residents of Regent Park in Toronto, and to reduce
poverty and increase the quality of life for all its 7,500 residents.
    McCarthy Tétrault also help make a real difference for law schools,
students and communities in need through financial support and as the sole
national law firm partner to Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC). This national
organization of more than 6,500 law students works with over 500 public
interest and community groups in need of legal services. This is a quadruple
win situation - for law students, law schools, the community and McCarthy
Tétrault lawyers.
    The firm also helps children in the Unaccompanied Minors Project, in
partnership with Pro Bono Law Ontario and the Immigration and Refugee Board of
Canada. This program matches McCarthy Tétrault lawyers with children who
arrive alone at Toronto's international airport from foreign countries and
helps them navigate the complicated refugee claim process.
    The firm's lawyers also support ArtScape, a non-profit organization
devoted to enhancing creativity in communities, and its Green/Arts Barn
Project, which will restore and redevelop the historic Wychwood TTC streetcar
repair barns in Toronto. The Project will provide affordable housing and work
studios for artists, offer affordable office space for arts and environmental
non-profit organizations and provide a venue for community festivals. The land
surrounding the barns will become a park. Our lawyers help in negotiations for
the lease of land, land-use planning and zoning, easement agreements and
sub-leases for artists and others.

    With offices in all major Canadian financial centres, as well as London,
U.K., McCarthy Tétrault advises on the largest transactions and cases in
Canada. Authoritative legal directories such as the International Financial
Law Review and the Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada consistently
rank McCarthy Tétrault among the world's top law firms. Chambers Global: The
World's Leading Lawyers has described McCarthy Tétrault as "clearly a leader"
with "an enviable position in the marketplace." With close to 700 lawyers
representing a broad spectrum of practice areas, McCarthy Tétrault is clearly
Canada's premier law firm.

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact Amanda
Burgess at (416) 601-8988 or email aburgess@mccarthy.ca