Episode 26: Building the Best Legal Career with M&A Lawyer Bill Ainley

Synopsis

A 40 year legal career is an incredible thing. Our guest this episode is Bill Ainley. Bill worked for decades in the world of law, mostly in corporate M&A. Right out of university, he joined a firm called Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg and became the head of M&A. After 40 years, Bill retired. He now sits on the Origin Merchant Partners advisory board.

In this episode, Bill dives into his career and shares the aspects he loved about working in M&A at Davies and the key reasons he found working in corporate law fun, exciting, and empowering.

Key Takeaways

• When Bill started at Davies, there were 19 lawyers. By the time he left, there were 245

• The key aspect that led Bill to stay for so long was the team atmosphere at Davies - for Bill, the longer you stay in law the more exciting it gets

• Involved in some of the largest transactions in Canada

• Davies emphasizes empowering its young lawyers early in their career

• One of Bill’s mentors taught him to be a duck: paddling furiously underwater but appearing calm on top

• There are fantastic lawyers in every firm—you can differentiate using interpersonal skills

• When hiring new lawyers, Bill tried to look for creative individuals with life experience and introspective qualities

• Feels he was lucky to have the career he did and accomplished everything he wanted to in his career

Bill’s Background

• Holds a BA and LLB from University of Cambridge and a BCL and LLB from McGill University

• Had a successful 40-year career at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg and played a role in some of Canada’s largest and most significant transactions

• Retired from his career after 40 years