The Firm

Partner

R. Scott Whitley

Scott has 35 years' experience in diverse aspects of the legal industry. Scott began his career as a corporate, commercial lawyer, assisting business clients with their governance and transactional needs. Scott's current practice focuses primarily on NFP matters, as well as assisting small to mid-size businesses with their governance and corporate and commercial affairs.

Scott's practice experience, along with his business experience in law firm management with two large Bay Street firms, makes him uniquely positioned to assist not-for-profit and corporate clients with their corporate governance and risk management matters. He has managed all matters relating to law firm conflicts of interest, and implemented practical policies to ensure that lawyers comply with applicable regulations and implement best practices. Scott's experience in lawyer and student recruiting, retention and development also benefits organizations. 

In his role as Director of Professional Development, he planned and implemented recruitment campaigns, developed orientation and continuing education programs, mentored and counseled employees, and planned and implemented performance reviews for all levels of his organization.
As a well-established member of executive and knowledge management teams, Scott is very cognizant of the financial and operational stresses on today's not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, and the steps they may take to become more efficient. Understanding these pressing needs, Scott helps organizations craft legal solutions that can help them meet their goals.

Scott acted as a mentor for seven years in the Law Practice Program at Ryerson University (as it was then was), where he took an active role in shaping the day-to-day development of the members of his "virtual firms" who were completing the final stage before their calls to the Bar of Ontario.

Scott has contributed as an author and editor to many legal publications and seminars, including Ontario Corporate Law & Practice, Gray's Commentaries on Ontario Corporate Laws and Gray's Commentaries on Federal Corporate Laws, as well as writing on non-legal topics. Scott has also spoken at numerous seminars and conferences on such topics as conflicts of interest, professionalism, resume and interview preparation, and career development.


Areas of Practice
  • Not for Profit Corporations
  • Corporate Commercial
Bar Admissions
  • Ontario, 1985
Education
  • Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
    • LL.B. - 1983
  • Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
    • B.A. (Honours) - 1980
Published Works (Legal)
  • Ontario Corporate Law & Practice, Associate Editor, Carswell
  • Gray's Commentaries on Federal Corporate Laws, Associate Editor, Carswell
  • Gray's Commentaries on Ontario Corporate Laws, Associate Editor, Carswell
  • O'Brien's Encyclopedia of Forms, Division IV - Leases, Eleventh Edition, Co-ordinating Editor, Canada Law Book, 2002
  • Title Insurance: A Guide to Regulation, Coverage and Claims Process in Ontario by Lang Michener, Contributor, CCH Canada, 1999
  • Canadian Securities Law Precedents, Coordinating Editor, Carswell, 1989-1996
  • Canadian Corporation Precedents, Third Edition, Coordinating Editor, Carswell, 1988-1996
Classes/Seminars
  • Mentor, Law Practice Program, Ryerson University, 2015 - 2021
  • Sessional Lecturer, Canadian Business Law, Professional Golf Management Program, Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, 2004-2006