McMillan LLP finds strength in employee engagement

When the team at McMillan LLP began their first tentative steps back to the office at the end of quarantine, something still didn’t seem right. “The problem was, everyone was in the office on different days,” says Julia Fiss, a human resources generalist with the law firm. “There was a lack of togetherness. That camaraderie we had before COVID was missing.”

McMillan quickly created a solution in the form of a weekly community day every Tuesday. “It’s a day to host socials, to have community lunches and spend time in person with colleagues,” says Fiss. The initiative was so popular and successful that Tuesday community days have become ingrained in McMillan’s culture. “It really reinforced to me that while management cares about getting the work done, they also care about how every firm member experiences their time at McMillan,” she says.

McMillan LLP is a leading Canadian law firm specializing in business matters with a full slate of services and sophisticated expertise for business clients. The firm serves its clients from five major markets across Canada in both national and international matters, including serving international clients with interests in Canada. “To be positioned in that way is exciting,” says CEO and managing partner Bruce Chapple, “because we get to see legal work that’s on the leading edge of the economy worldwide as it affects Canada.”

McMillan’s competitive advantage is its people and culture, says Chapple. Giving those people a chance to contribute and bring their own set of unique skills to the workplace is vital. “We value people as individuals,” he says. “When they come here, they know they can bring their authentic selves to work, even when they have their game faces on and are ready to get the job done. You get to see much more of everyone’s personality here at McMillan.”

A culture that lets everyone be themselves is even obvious in the way that McMillan presents to clients, says Chapple. The firm has avoided the hierarchical layers that are apparent on most legal teams in favour of group-wide collaboration. “We encourage younger members of the team to be full participants,” says Chapple. “It’s an exciting place for people to work, no matter what demographic they’re in.”

Continuous education, training and support play a huge role in achieving that collaborative atmosphere and cohesive culture, says Chapple. McMillan offers employees a range of support including a robust health and wellness program that includes a unique initiative called the Associate Well-Being Program. This provides associate lawyers the opportunity to participate in mental well-being check-ins. There are also formal mentorship programs and an initiative called McMillan Business Academy designed to help new lawyers develop skills and map out their careers. Professional operations leaders also have access to comprehensive leadership training programs.

The firm knows how to have fun, too. McMillan hosts a variety of engaging events to bring people together, strengthen relationships and contribute to the culture. Whether it is singing karaoke at firm events or showcasing talents at the United Way lip syncing event, the firm loves to have fun together.

McMillan also offers many events for the spouses and families of employees to thank them for their support, too. “We’ve got about 450 people here in Toronto, but we still have that small-office feel – it’s a close-knit community” says Fiss. “We just had a social this afternoon; one big room with people at all levels of the firm, everyone chatting, laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company. I love that about McMillan.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 3, 2024 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.