Wishart Law Firm

Wishart Law Firm LLP can trace its beginnings to the day in 1900 when the McFadden brothers hung out their shingle.

Moses and Uriah McFadden set up office at the intersection of Brock and Queen Street. They practiced together until Moses was appointed to the bench in 1915. Ernest McMillan, a young lawyer from Prince Edward Island, then joined the firm. When Uriah McFadden was appointed a judge in 1931, Ernest brought his younger brother, Gordon to the City of Sault Ste. Marie to join him in the practice of law. The firm was known as McMillan and McMillan until 1939, when Arthur Wishart, a New Brunswick-born lawyer, left his practice in Blind River to come to Sault Ste. Marie. The name of the firm was changed to Wishart and McMillan. By the end of World War II, illness had forced Gordon McMillan to leave the firm.

Mr. Wishart recruited two young lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald and Derek Holder. This enabled the firm to accept an appointment as solicitor for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. Wishart was a former mayor of Blind River. He later served as alderman in the City of Sault Ste. Marie and in 1963 he was elected as the Progressive Conservative member to the provincial legislature. He was appointed Attorney General of the Province of Ontario and was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978.

Mr. Wishart retired from active practice when he was elected to the Ontario Legislature. Gerald E. Nori and C. Bruce Noble assumed leadership. Mr. Noble thereafter accepted an appointment to the bench, leaving the firm in the capable control of Mr. Nori.

Mr. Nori was widely known and highly regarded for his talent, wisdom and knowledge. He practiced law for over 40 years and will always remain an important part of the Wishart firm. Mr. Nori passed away on January 31, 2007 but continues to be respected and fondly remembered by the clients, partners and staff of Wishart Law Firm LLP.

Wishart Law Firm LLP has produced a total of seven judges: Moses McFadden, Uriah McFadden, Derek Holder, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Wright, Stan Kuvisko, and Bruce Noble. Drawing on our past experience we have built a firm rich in talent and experience. Under the leadership of Gordon P. Acton, Orlando M. Rosa, J. Paul R. Cassan, and Steven G. Shoemaker, the lawyers and staff of Wishart Law Firm continue with to provide excellent solutions to all clients.

Locations served

Wishart Law Firm LLP serves clients all over Ontario. While we are based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, our competitive rates allow us to serve out of town clients extremely well, even when factoring in travel costs. Below you will find some of the locations we serve on a regular basis, it is not an exhaustive list and we welcome inquiries from other locations as well.

• Blind River, Ontario

• Desbarats, Ontario

• Echo Bay, Ontario

• St. Joseph's Island, Ontario

• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

• Thessalon, Ontario

• Toronto, Ontario

• Wawa, Ontario