Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP has emerged as the winner of this year’s Daily Bread Food Bank Law Firm Challenge, having raised $40,412. Coming in a close second was McCarthy Tétrault LLP with $39,168 raised. Paliare Roland LLP took third place overall with a total of $32,644, but won the per capita category with $480.
This is the first time that Blakes — the competition organizer — has won since the Challenge started in 2003. Last year’s winner McLeish Orlando LLP raised $37,041.
Over a three week period, creative fundraising initiatives are devised by articling students to see which firm can raise the most money for those struggling with hunger. Blakes raised over $30,000 of their total through a Celebrity Pie Duel, where 12 people from the firm were selected and divided into six duelling pairs. The winner of the duel had to have raised over $500, and more than their opponent. The loser received a pie to the face/head, as demonstrated in the picture of Robin Linley (the victor, on the right) and Thomas von Hahn (the pie victim, on the left), both partners.
This year, 41 of Toronto’s law firms participated and helped raise a grand total of more than $257,700, over $12,000 more than last year’s total.
Photo courtesy of Blakes